Chances of getting into Harvard University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
5.2%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Extreme |
How hard is it to get into Harvard and can I get accepted? The school has a 5% acceptance rate ranking it #1 in Massachusetts for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 2,037 out of 39,506 applicants were admitted making Harvard an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance - even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. Harvard University typically accepts and attracts "A" average high school students. Of those applicants who were admitted, 83% chose to enroll. This indicates that admission to the school is highly desirable and it may be a primary choice for many students. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at Harvard, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesHarvard SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1500-1590Applicants Submitting SAT
67%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 740 |
| SAT Math 25th | 760 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1500 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 790 |
| SAT Math 75th | 800 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1590 |
| Average SAT Score | 1550 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Harvard University?
Harvard University typically requires applicants to be in the top 1 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1500 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1450. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1550 out of 1600. The school ranks #2 in Massachusetts for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 67 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1590 and Above | Good | >8% |
| 1545 to 1590 | Avg + | 5%-8% |
| 1500 to 1545 | Avg - | 3%-5% |
| 1455 to 1500 | Reach | 2%-3% |
| Less than 1455 | Low | <2% |
Harvard ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
32-35Applicants Submitting ACT
53%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 31 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 32 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 36 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Harvard?
Admission data indicates that Harvard regularly accepts students with ACT's of 32 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 3 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 30 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #4 in Massachusetts for highest average ACT composite score. 53 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Harvard University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >10% |
| 33 to 35 | Avg + | 5%-10% |
| 32 to 33 | Avg - | 4%-5% |
| 31 to 32 | Reach | 3%-4% |
| Less than 31 | Low | <3% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
4.04Typical High School Grades
AYou will need exceptionally good grades to get into Harvard University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Harvard University was 4.04 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #1 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Given the school's very highly selective admissions, acceptance at Harvard extremely difficult and unlikely even with a 4.04 GPA. The school should be considered a reach even if you have a 4.04 GPA.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 87% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 9% | Reach |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 2% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
High School Class Rank
95% of Harvard University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 95% |
| Top 25% of class | 99% |
| Top 50% of class | 100% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 19,724 | 19,782 | 39,506 |
| Accepted | 1,004 | 1,033 | 2,037 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Enrolled | 837 | 850 | 1,687 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 83% | 82% | 83% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications are Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
22Applicants have 22 days left until the Fall 2020 term applications are due on Jan 1, 2020.
Seniors, these are the SAT and ACT test dates you can still sit for a test and send your results to Harvard before the Jan 1 application deadline.
| ACT Test Date | Scores Available |
|---|---|
| Dec 14 | Dec 24 |
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Harvard University and what considerations affect admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Recommended |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=166027 IPEDS survey data for Harvard University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harvard University prefer SAT or ACT?
67% of students submit their SAT scores to Harvard. 53% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Harvard University?
5% of those who apply are granted admission to Harvard. Admission competition is extreme and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Harvard University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1500 and 1590. 67% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Harvard University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 32 and 35. 53% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
