Harvard University consists of the undergraduate Harvard College, 12 graduate and professional Schools, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

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Harvard College

Harvard College is a diverse, close-knit undergraduate community of students who pursue academic concentrations as a means to learn from the past and reimagine the future.

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Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) is an inclusive community of dedicated problem-solvers, using science to address the most pressing issues of our time.

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Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) is redefining education for the 21st century by being at the forefront of teaching, learning, research, and discovery.

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Harvard Extension School

Harvard Extension School is a global community of lifelong learners committed to building skills and expanding knowledge.

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Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences

Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences comprises the following four schools: Harvard College, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Harvard Extension School.

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Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School (HBS) is educating leaders who invent the future of business and make a difference in the world.

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Harvard School of Dental Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) is developing global leaders dedicated to improving lives by removing the distinction between oral and systemic health.

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Harvard Graduate School of Design

Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) is empowering students to create a resilient, just, and beautiful world through design excellence, research, and scholarship.

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Harvard Divinity School

Harvard Divinity School (HDS) is a nonsectarian school of religious and theological studies that prepares students to build a better world through leadership in religious, governmental, and service organizations.

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Harvard Graduate School of Education

Harvard Graduate School of Education (GSE) is working to improve opportunities and outcomes for all learners by putting powerful educational ideas into practice.

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Harvard Kennedy School

Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is empowering new generations of leaders to improve public policy and create safe, free, and just societies.

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Harvard Law School

Harvard Law School (HLS) students are pursuing the highest ideals of law and justice through a diversity of methodologies with a focus on public service.

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Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School (HMS) is fostering leaders and compassionate caregivers who are dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all.

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) is training new generations of global health leaders to explore powerful ideas that improve the lives and health of people everywhere.

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The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study

Harvard Radcliffe Institute is a laboratory of and a diversity of voices dedicated to engaging with issues that can only be fully understood through cross-disciplinary exploration.

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Harvard University

4 year • Cambridge, MA

harvard university

Harvard University is a private institution that was founded in 1636. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,240 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 5,076 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Harvard University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #3. Its tuition and fees are $59,076.

Located outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard University is made up of 12 graduate and professional schools, an undergraduate college and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Its schools include the top-ranked Business School and Medical School and the highly ranked Graduate Education School , School of Engineering and Applied Sciences , Law School and John F. Kennedy School of Government . Harvard is a private, nonprofit institution that was founded in 1636 colonial America by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The school was initially created to educate members of the clergy, according to the university’s archives. Harvard is named after a Puritan minister – John Harvard – who, in 1638, left his 400-book library and half of his estate to the young school. The first commencement ceremony at Harvard, held in 1642, had nine graduates.

Harvard's extensive library system houses the oldest collection in the U.S. and the largest academic library in the world. Beyond books, Harvard's athletic teams compete in the Ivy League, with an annual football match-up against rival Yale . On-campus residential housing is an integral part of student life, where freshmen live at the center of campus and upperclassmen live in 12 undergraduate houses. Eight U.S. presidents graduated from Harvard, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Other notable alumni include Henry David Thoreau and Helen Keller. Harvard also has the largest endowment of any school in the world.

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At-a-Glance

Tuition & Fees

Undergraduate Enrollment

Acceptance Rate

2024 Rankings

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

  • #3 in National Universities  (tie)
  • #1 in Best Value Schools
  • #30 in Engineering Programs (doctorate)  (tie)

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High School GPA*

* These are the average scores of applications admitted to this school. Ranges represent admitted applicants who fell within the 25th and 75th percentile.

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Data provided by U.S. News College Compass Users.

Room & Board

$20,374 (2023-24)

Average Need-Based Aid Package

*Average cost after aid

Popular Majors

% OF GRADUATES

ALUMNI STARTING SALARY

Social Sciences, General

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

Mathematics, General

Computer and Information Sciences, General

History, General

* In cases where salary data at the specific major level is unavailable, a general salary for the major category is displayed.

Faculty Research Impact

Bibliometric Rank

Publications Cited in Top 25% of Journals

Publications Cited in Top 5% of Journals

Total Papers published between 2018-2022

Citations Per Publication

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Graduate Enrollment

Total Enrollment

Full-Time Degree-Seeking Students

Student Diversity

Gender Distribution

Ethnic Diversity

Minority Enrollment

International

Two or more races

Not Specified is not included in this breakdown due to an enrollment of 0%.

Campus Life

Housing and Dorms

Types of campus housing available:

  • apartments for married students
  • apartment for single students
  • special housing for disabled students
  • cooperative housing

Student Activities

Sports Teams

Fraternities

After College

Graduation Rate

Graduating Students Who Have Borrowed (any loan type, 2021)

Average Debt at Graduation

Reviews & Ratings

See reviews and ratings of this school from students, alumni, staff and others. These reviews are not written by U.S. News and have no impact on any of the Best Colleges rankings. Read an explanation of user ratings .

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Undergraduate data are based on the 2022 school year.

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Important Addresses

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Harvard College

University Hall Cambridge, MA 02138

Harvard College Admissions Office and Griffin Financial Aid Office

86 Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138

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We consider each application with care.

When reading an application, we get to know the person behind the numbers. We take into consideration your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and life experiences. Just as there is no typical Harvard student, there is no ideal Harvard applicant. We look forward to learning more about you.

Frequently asked questions about applying

Have my application materials been received (including common application forms, or supplemental materials).

Upon receipt of your application, we will send you a confirmation email with instructions on how to access the  Applicant Portal . This portal allows you to view your record in our applicant database, to see which pieces of your application we've received and processed, and to make other changes to your application.

The data is updated nightly from the main admissions database and has the most up-to-date information available from our office. If you have sent us required materials that are shown in your status as not received, it is possible that those documents are being processed (along with thousands of others) in our office and simply have not yet made it to your file. Though we can not track each individual's materials upon request, we will conduct a thorough scrutiny of all files prior to committee evaluations. You will be contacted if you are missing required documents, and you will be given the opportunity to re-submit them without penalty.

How can I add new accomplishments/awards/accolades to my submitted application?

We understand that you might receive new recognitions or awards after you’ve submitted your application. We welcome the submission of this additional notable information. You may upload information about notable accomplishments and awards using the Applicant Portal .

When do I need to submit test scores if I want them considered in my application?

We are test optional for this admissions cycle. If you decide to submit scores for consideration, they need to be reported by the following deadlines: Scores from applicants applying for our Restrictive Early Action program must be reported by the end of November. Scores from applicants applying for our Regular Decision program must be reported by the end of February.

Do I need to complete an alumni interview for my first-year application?

Applicants are assigned interviews at the discretion of the Admissions Committee, based, in part, on availability of alumni in your local area. Nearly 10,000 alumni/ae volunteers help us recruit students from all 50 states and around the world, but most areas do not have the capacity to interview all applicants. Your application is considered complete without an interview and will receive a full and thorough evaluation. In most cases, the Admissions Committee has sufficient information in the student’s application materials to reach an admissions decision. If the Committee would like more information about a student or has questions about any application materials, someone may reach out to schedule an interview.

Starting an Application

For all first-year and transfer applicants, your first step will be to fill out and submit an application. You can do so through the Common Application or the Coalition Application - Powered by Scoir. For first-year applicants, the Common Application opens on August 1 and the Coalition Application opens on August 15. For transfer applicants, both applications open on September 1. 

We have no preference and each application is treated equally by the Admissions Committee. 

Application Requirements

All applicants—both international and U.S. candidates, first-year and transfer—must complete the following application components:

  • Common Application or apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir
  • Harvard College Questions for the Common Application, or Coalition Application Harvard supplement
  • $85 fee (or request a fee waiver )
  • SAT or ACT (with or without writing) - optional for 2022-2026 application cycles
  • Optional: AP or other examination results
  • School Report (which includes a counselor letter) and high school transcript
  • Teacher Report (2)
  • Midyear School Report (after your first semester grades)
  • Final School Report (for admitted students only)
  • College/Dean’s/Registrar’s report
  • Official College Transcript
  • College Instructor Recommendations (2)
  • Official High School Transcript

Click below to learn more about each component. 

No student with a bachelor's degree or other first university degree from any other university, whether American or foreign, is eligible for admission to Harvard College. Students interested in continuing their studies beyond the bachelor's degree might wish to consider one of the  10 Harvard University graduate schools . 

Admissions Deadlines

Restrictive Early Action application deadline -  learn more about Restrictive Early Action .

Regular Decision application deadline

Transfer application deadline

Get step-by-step tips on filling out your college application. From the application fee waiver to the writing supplement, we've gathered some tips to help you complete your application.

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U.S. Military Veterans

Individuals who have served in the U.S. military bring valuable perspectives to our community and we welcome applications from veterans for both first-year and transfer admission. If you are a veteran, please review the information on our U.S. Military Veterans page. There, you'll find details on whether to apply as a first-year or transfer student, financial aid, and making the transition to college life. 

International Applicants

We welcome applications from all over the world. Our admissions and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants - regardless of nationality or citizenship.

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Related Topics

First-year applicants.

Here's everything you need to know about applying to Harvard College as a first-year applicant.

Transfer Applicants

Students who have completed at least one but not more than two continuous academic years in a full-time program may apply to transfer to Harvard.

Visiting Undergraduate Students

The Visiting Undergraduate Students (VUS) Program welcomes students enrolled in colleges around the world to spend a semester or year at Harvard.

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COMMENTS

  1. Admissions

    Learn more about Harvard College admissions requirements, timeline, and what we look for in an applicant.

  2. Schools

    Harvard University consists of the undergraduate Harvard College, 12 graduate and professional Schools, and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute.

  3. Harvard University

    Harvard University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #3. Its tuition and fees are $59,076. Located outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard ...

  4. Harvard College

    With world-class faculty, groundbreaking research opportunities, and a commitment to a diverse environment of bright, talented students, Harvard is more than just a place to get an education—it's where students come to be transformed.

  5. Apply

    We welcome applications from all over the world. Our admissions and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants - regardless of nationality or citizenship. Learn more about international admissions. Learn more about how to apply as a first-year, transfer, or visiting undergraduate student.