Harvard University

10/10 Overall Rating
4 Year
Cambridge, MA
4.8 4 reviews

#4 Best Colleges in America

Overview Admission Cost Majors Diversity Outcomes Salaries Location Compare Reviews Admission Calculator

Overview

Total enrollment

30,259

Location Cambridge, Massachusetts
Website harvard.edu
Type Private 4 Year
Setting Midsize City

Best Colleges Rank

Size Large
Status Non-profit
Housing Yes
Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston, is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636. The historic campus spans 209 acres and features Georgian and Revival-style architecture centered around Harvard Yard, with additional facilities throughout Cambridge and Boston's Allston neighborhood. As a member of the Ivy League, Harvard maintains highly selective undergraduate admissions and offers comprehensive academic programs through its Faculty of Arts and Sciences and 12 degree-granting professional schools, with particular strengths in economics, government, life sciences, and business. First-year students reside in dormitories in Harvard Yard, while upperclassmen live in 12 undergraduate residential houses, each with its own dining hall, common areas, and faculty deans. The Harvard Crimson compete in NCAA Division I athletics, with a historic rivalry in football against Yale University.

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Ratings

Harvard is rated within the top 2% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 10 out of 10.

Overall Rating

10 out of 10
Academics

10 out of 10
Resources

10 out of 10
Outcomes

10 out of 10
Value

10 out of 10

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Rankings

Rankings for Harvard University within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.

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Admissions

Admission Standards

Exceptional

SAT (enrolled mid-50) 1510/1580
ACT (enrolled mid-50) 34/36
GPA 4.0

Acceptance Rate

3.6%

Applications Due Jan 1, 2027
Enrollment Rate 83.6%
Application Fee $85

Applicant Competition Extreme

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Annual Cost to Attend

Tuition

$61,676

Costs for Harvard University
Fee		Cost
Tuition		$61,676
Books and Supplies		$1,000
Other Fees		$5,126
Room and Board		$21,190
Budget for Other Expenses		$5,449
Total One Year Cost		$94,441

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Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$136,700 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

97% within 6 years

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Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at Harvard University are Social Sciences, Biology, and Liberal Arts and Humanities. 32% of students major in Social Sciences, 12% in Biology, and 9% in Liberal Arts and Humanities.