Harvard vs. U of R

Deciding between Harvard University and University of Rochester? 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 Rochester

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • U of R Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • U of R Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • U of R 11,946
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • U of R Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • U of R #56
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • U of R -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • U of R Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • U of R

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • U of R $67,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • U of R $67,080
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • U of R $19,792
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • U of R $40,462
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • U of R $45,500
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • U of R 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • U of R 21,384
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • U of R 8,570
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • U of R 40.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • U of R 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • U of R 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • U of R 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • U of R 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • U of R A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • U of R Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • U of R Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • U of R 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • U of R 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required to be considered for admission
  • U of R Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • U of R Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • U of R 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • U of R
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • U of R 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • U of R $71,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • U of R 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • U of R $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • U of R $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 45%
  • U of R 47%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 55%
  • U of R 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • U of R High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • U of R No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • U of R 48%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • U of R 11%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • U of R 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • U of R 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • U of R 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • U of R 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • U of R 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • U of R 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • U of R 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • U of R 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • U of R 45%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • U of R Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • U of R Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • U of R Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • U of R No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • U of R No

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than U of R based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 11,946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Harvard vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or U of R? 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 U of R ($17,525 vs. $40,462).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rochester are 6.6% lower than at Harvard University ($19,792 vs. $21,190).
  • University of Rochester is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,404 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at U of R than at Harvard University (about $5,404 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at Harvard University (72% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 49.5% larger than aid received by University of Rochester students ($68,015 vs. $45,500).

Harvard vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or U of R? 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 U of R and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 70 points higher than at U of R (1480).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at U of R).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; University of Rochester 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required to be considered for admission; U of R - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at U of R (3.75).
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Harvard vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and U of R? 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 Rochester's (83%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $65,700 more per year than U of R graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $71,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $18,000 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($6,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $186 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($67 vs. $253).
  • More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 70%)

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.