Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and one of the most selective colleges in the world — it admitted about 4.2% of nearly 48,000 applicants for its most recent class. Enrolled first-years carry roughly a 4.22 GPA with middle-50% SAT scores of 1510–1580, and Harvard again requires standardized test scores. Its financial aid is among the most generous anywhere: the university meets 100% of demonstrated need, and attendance is free for families earning under $100,000. The figures below come directly from Harvard's official Common Data Set.
See how Harvard compares
Pick up to two rivals — or search any school.
Harvard admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early action
Harvard offers Restrictive (single-choice) Early Action — non-binding, but you may not apply early to other private colleges.
Standardized tests
Harvard requires standardized test scores for all applicants.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Harvard supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a student body with a diversity of perspectives and experiences. How will the life experiences that shaped who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?
Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?
Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.
How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?
Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.
Writing your Harvard application essay?
Paste your draft and get specific, line-by-line feedback on what is and isn't landing — scored against the rubrics admissions readers use.
Class rank
Where Harvard's enrolled first-years placed in their high school graduating class.
Based on the 25% of enrolled students who reported a class rank. Harvard does not publish an average GPA.
Admissions factors
How Harvard weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from Harvard's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about Harvard admissions
Yes — Harvard is one of the most selective universities in the world, admitting about 4.2% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It offered admission to roughly 2,003 of nearly 48,000 applicants and enrolled about 1,675 first-year students. Admission is holistic, so strong grades and scores are necessary but never sufficient on their own.
There is no minimum GPA, but enrolled first-year students average about a 4.22 high school GPA. Harvard reviews applications holistically and reports that it only 'considers' GPA and test scores rather than treating any single number as decisive, so the rigor of your coursework and the rest of your application carry real weight alongside grades.
Yes. Harvard requires standardized test scores and is not test-optional. Among enrolled first-years, the middle 50% scored roughly 1510–1580 on the SAT and 33–35 on the ACT, and nearly all admitted students scored in the 1400–1600 range.
A 1500 is right at the lower edge of Harvard's admitted range — it sits just below the 25th percentile of 1510. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1510–1580 on the SAT (33–35 ACT), so a 1500 is in the running but below average, and you'd want the rest of your application to be exceptional. Harvard requires test scores and reviews them holistically rather than against a hard cutoff.
Tuition and required fees run about $64,796 per year, with total cost of attendance higher once housing and food (about $22,130) are added. Harvard meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, the average need-based aid package is roughly $74,285, and attendance is free for families earning under $100,000 — about 56% of students receive aid.
The social sciences are by far the most popular area at about 27% of degrees, followed by mathematics and statistics (14%), the biological sciences (13%), and computer science (11%). History accounts for roughly 7% and the physical sciences about 6%.
Yes. Harvard's review is fully holistic — it lists the application essay, character and personal qualities, extracurriculars, and recommendations all as 'considered' alongside grades and test scores, with no single factor weighed above the rest. With a 4.2% acceptance rate, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the few places a strong applicant can stand apart from a pool of similarly qualified students.
Esslo gives free line-by-line feedback on your draft. Try it now
Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: Harvard University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-08-20. Middle 50% SAT, In-State Cost, and Out-of-State Cost are from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with Harvard. Banner photo by Chris Rycroft, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “Harvard University admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/harvard (retrieved 2026-08-20).