UVA vs. Harvard vs. Columbia vs. Princeton

Compare University of Virginia Main Campus, Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York, and Princeton University in one place. The table aligns tuition and aid, admissions, student body, campus context, graduation outcomes, and earnings so you can weigh fit as well as cost. Figures use the same comparable fields we publish for more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities.

University of Virginia Main Campus
Harvard University
Columbia University in the City of New York
Princeton University

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Columbia New York, NY
  • Princeton Princeton, NJ
  • Setting
  • UVA Small City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Columbia Large City
  • Princeton Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UVA 26,409
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Columbia 35,173
  • Princeton 9,137
  • Type
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Columbia Private 4 Year
  • Princeton Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UVA #58
  • Harvard #4
  • Columbia #22
  • Princeton #1
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UVA -
  • Harvard -
  • Columbia -
  • Princeton -
  • Status
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Columbia Non-profit
  • Princeton Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UVA
  • Harvard
  • Columbia
  • Princeton

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UVA $21,803
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UVA $59,512
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Columbia $71,845
  • Princeton $62,688
  • Room & Board
  • UVA $14,800
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Columbia $17,580
  • Princeton $20,250
  • Average Net Price
  • UVA $18,427
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Columbia $22,520
  • Princeton $15,313
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UVA $28,715
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Columbia $67,010
  • Princeton $68,727
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UVA 39%
  • Harvard 56%
  • Columbia 52%
  • Princeton 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UVA 58,951
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Columbia 60,115
  • Princeton 40,468
  • Admitted
  • UVA 9,909
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Columbia 2,400
  • Princeton 1,868
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Columbia 4%
  • Princeton 4.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UVA 40%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Columbia 64.9%
  • Princeton 75.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UVA 1480
  • Harvard 1550
  • Columbia 1550
  • Princeton 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UVA 33
  • Harvard 35
  • Columbia 34
  • Princeton 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UVA 3.85
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Columbia 3.91
  • Princeton 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UVA A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Columbia A
  • Princeton A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UVA Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Columbia Elite
  • Princeton Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UVA Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Columbia Extreme
  • Princeton Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UVA 32/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Columbia 34/35
  • Princeton 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Columbia 1510/1580
  • Princeton 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UVA Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Columbia Test optional
  • Princeton Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UVA
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Columbia Jan 1, 2027
  • Princeton Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UVA 15:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Columbia 6:1
  • Princeton 5:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Columbia
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • History (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Princeton
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Engineering (17%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • History (7%)
    • Human Services (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UVA 94%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Columbia 93%
  • Princeton 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UVA $77,200
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Columbia $107,600
  • Princeton $113,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UVA 86%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Columbia 76%
  • Princeton 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UVA $19,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Columbia $21,500
  • Princeton $7,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UVA $201
  • Harvard $67
  • Columbia $222
  • Princeton $77

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UVA 45%
  • Harvard 46%
  • Columbia 45%
  • Princeton 52%
  • % Women
  • UVA 55%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Columbia 55%
  • Princeton 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UVA Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • Columbia Very High
  • Princeton Very High
  • HBCU
  • UVA No
  • Harvard No
  • Columbia No
  • Princeton No
  • % White
  • UVA 60%
  • Harvard 44%
  • Columbia 38%
  • Princeton 45%
  • % Asian
  • UVA 13%
  • Harvard 19%
  • Columbia 18%
  • Princeton 22%
  • % Black
  • UVA 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • Columbia 8%
  • Princeton 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • UVA 6%
  • Harvard 10%
  • Columbia 13%
  • Princeton 9%
  • % Native American
  • UVA 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UVA 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • Columbia 0%
  • Princeton 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UVA 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • Columbia 5%
  • Princeton 4%
  • % International
  • UVA 5%
  • Harvard 11%
  • Columbia 15%
  • Princeton 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UVA 6%
  • Harvard 3%
  • Columbia 3%
  • Princeton 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UVA 66%
  • Harvard 14%
  • Columbia 16%
  • Princeton 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UVA 29%
  • Harvard 68%
  • Columbia 63%
  • Princeton 74%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UVA Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Columbia Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UVA No
  • Harvard Yes
  • Columbia Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UVA Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Columbia Yes
  • Princeton Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UVA No
  • Harvard No
  • Columbia No
  • Princeton No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UVA Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Columbia No
  • Princeton No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 26,409 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Virginia Main Campus is located in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1; Harvard University 7:1.

UVA vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UVA or Harvard? 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 UVA ($17,525 vs. $18,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 30.2% lower than at Harvard University ($14,800 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 182.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVA (about $39,873 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $21,803.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at Harvard than at University of Virginia Main Campus (about $2,164 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $59,512.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at University of Virginia Main Campus (56% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 136.9% larger than aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students ($68,015 vs. $28,715).

UVA vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UVA or Harvard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harvard and UVA.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 70 points higher than at UVA (1480).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (35 vs. 33 at UVA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UVA - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Harvard students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UVA (3.85).
  • UVA has a higher acceptance rate (16.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40% at UVA vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

UVA vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UVA and Harvard? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of Virginia Main Campus's (94%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $59,500 more per year than UVA graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $77,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than UVA graduates ($6,500 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $134 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UVA graduates ($67 vs. $201).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.