Harvard University: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Harvard University is a private institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and one of the most selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, Harvard University admits fewer than 1 in 10 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 4%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1553 and an ACT composite around 35. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $19,066 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.

What GPA does my child need for Harvard University?

72% of enrolled students at Harvard University had a high school GPA of 4.0 or above, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.

SAT and ACT scores Harvard University typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 770–800, with an EBRW midpoint near 755. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 34–36. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

How much does Harvard University actually cost?

Published tuition is $61,676 for in-state students and $61,676 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,190 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $19,066 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.

Application deadlines and early decision data for Harvard University

Will my child graduate from Harvard University?

These predict outcomes at Harvard University better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates

Most popular majors at Harvard University

The most popular undergraduate programs at Harvard University, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Social Sciences, General, Economics and Computer Science. Across all programs, Harvard University confers roughly 1,057 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Social Sciences, General program report a median income of about $76,293 five years after entering college. What these figures mean

Is Harvard University safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Harvard University disclosed 264 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 34.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 43 violent offenses and 14 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts

What is campus life like at Harvard University?

About 97% of undergraduates at Harvard University live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.

Other colleges in Massachusetts parents ask about

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  5% acceptance
• Boston University
  11% acceptance
• Boston College
  16% acceptance
• Tufts University
  11% acceptance
• University of Massachusetts-Amherst
  60% acceptance
• University of Massachusetts-Boston
  84% acceptance
• Northeastern University
  5% acceptance
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute
  60% acceptance

Common questions parents ask about Harvard University