Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston

Deciding between Harvard University and University of Massachusetts Boston? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
University of Massachusetts Boston

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15,575
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston #438
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $15,908
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $38,125
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $19,128
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $17,768
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $14,042
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 88%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 21,262
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 17,813
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 83.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3.35
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1070/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $22,060
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $228

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 42%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 36%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 16%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 14%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 81%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 11%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Yes
  • Learn More
  • Harvard Details
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than University of Massachusetts-Boston based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 15,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of Massachusetts Boston is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Boston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of Massachusetts Boston 15:1.

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or University of Massachusetts-Boston? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than University of Massachusetts-Boston ($17,525 vs. $17,768).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Boston are 9.7% lower than at Harvard University ($19,128 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 287.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Boston (about $45,768 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $15,908.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 61.8% higher at Harvard than at University of Massachusetts Boston (about $23,551 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $38,125.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Boston than at Harvard University (88% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 384.4% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Boston students ($68,015 vs. $14,042).

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or University of Massachusetts-Boston? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between University of Massachusetts-Boston and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 370 points higher than at University of Massachusetts-Boston (1180).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 10 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 25 at University of Massachusetts-Boston).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of Massachusetts Boston 1070/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; University of Massachusetts Boston 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; University of Massachusetts-Boston - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.65 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at University of Massachusetts-Boston (3.35).
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.3% at University of Massachusetts-Boston.

Harvard vs. University of Massachusetts-Boston Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and University of Massachusetts-Boston? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Massachusetts Boston's (40%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $85,500 more per year than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $51,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,560 lower median loan debt than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($6,500 vs. $22,060).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $161 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates ($67 vs. $228).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Massachusetts-Boston students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.