Harvard College

Cambridge, MA

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Harvard, founded in 1636, is a private, Ivy League institution. Its undergraduate college has no established "freshman program." Students sample courses at the beginning of each semester and create their own study plan with an academic advisor. At the undergraduate level, Harvard promotes close collaboration between students and faculty on coursework and research. Its popular Freshman Seminar Program enables small groups of first-year students to work intimately with faculty on any of 130 different topics. Nearly all Harvard undergraduates live on campus for the first year in dormitories and later in "Houses" led by senior faculty members. Harvard's historic 380-acre campus is located in Cambridge, across the Charles River from Boston.

Website: www.harvard.edu/

Private
Co-ed
6,766
Undergraduate
Students
(47.7%) 3,226 Women
(52.3%) 3,540 Men
4,402
Graduate
Students

Admission

Entrance Difficulty
Most difficult
Overall Admission Rate
5% of 39,506 applicants were admitted
Early Action Offered
Yes
Early Decision Offered
No
Regular Admission Deadline
January 1

Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

Average GPA
4.18
SAT Math
760 average
730-800 range of middle 50%
SAT EBRW
760 average
730-790 range of middle 50%
ACT Composite
34 average
32-35 range of middle 50%
See more

Money Matters

Cost of Attendance
$69,600
Tuition and Fees
$48,949
Room and Board
$16,660
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Freshman Award
$55,354
Average Indebtedness of 2016 Graduates
$15,114
See more

Academics

Academic Calendar System
Semester
General Education/Core Curriculum
Required
Full-Time Faculty Teaching Undergraduates
975
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 46% of classes
10-19 students: 28% of classes
20-29 students: 9% of classes
30-39 students: 5% of classes
40-49 students: 3% of classes
50-99 students: 5% of classes
Over 100 students: 4% of classes
See more

Campus Life

Cambridge Population
107,289
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Boston
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students in College Housing
98% of all students
Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division I
Mascot
John Harvard
Sororities
 
Fraternities
 
See more

Students

Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native
23.2% Asian
8.7% Black/African-American
13.0% Hispanic/Latino
7.7% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
45.2% White
1.9% Unknown
International Students
11.5% from 109 countries
First-Year Students Returning
97.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
84.2%
Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
See more

Freshman Admission Requirements

Entrance Difficulty

Most Difficult: More than 75% of freshmen were in the top 10% of their high school class and scored over 1310 on the SAT I or over 29 on the ACT; about 30% or fewer of all applicants accepted.

High School Preparation

High School Graduation
High school diploma or equivalent is not required
High School Program
 

High School Units Required or Recommended

High School Units Required or Recommended
Subject Required Units Recommended Units
English   4
Mathematics   4
Science   4
Foreign Language   4
Social Studies   3
History   2
Academic Electives    

Examinations

Examinations
Exam Required Units Scores Due in Admissions Office
SAT or ACT Required March 6
SAT Only    
ACT Only    
SAT and SAT Subject Tests, or ACT    
SAT Subject Tests Only Required
SAT Essay Component Policy Not Reported
ACT Writing Test Policy Writing component required
ACT Writing Test Policy SAT: Used for admission
ACT: Used for admission

Applying for Admission

Admissions Office

Address
 
City, State, Zip
Cambridge, MA 02138
Phone
(617) 495-1551
Fax
 
E-mail
college@fas.harvard.edu

Application Dates and Fees

Regular Admisson Deadline
January 1
Application Fee
$75
Application Fee Waiver
Available
Regular Admission Notification
April 1
Accept Offer of Admission
May 1
Waiting List Used
Yes
Defer Admission
Student can defer admission
Transfer Admission
Transfer applications accepted

Early Admission

Early Decision Offered
No
Early Decision Deadline
 
Early Decision Notification
 
Early Action Offered
Yes
Early Action Deadline
November 1
Early Action Notification
Not reported

Application Form

Common Application
Accepted, supplemental forms required
Universal College Application
Accepted, supplemental forms required
Electronic Application
Available

Other Application Requirements

Interview
Required
Essay or Personal Statement
Required for all freshmen
Letters of Recommendation
2 recommended for all freshmen
Other
 
Financial Need
Financial need is not a consideration in the admissions process

Selection of Students

Selection of Students
Factor Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Rigor of Secondary School Record X
Academic GPA X
Standardized Tests X
Class Rank X
Recommendations X
Essay X
Interview X
Level of Applicant's Interest X
Extracurricular Activities X
Volunteer Work X
Particular Talent/Ability X
Character/Personal Qualities X
First Generation to Attend College X
State Residency X
Geographic Residence X
Relation with Alumnus X
Religious Affiliation/Commitment X
Ethnicity X
Work Experience X

Profile of Fall Admission

Overall Admission Rate
5% of 39,506 applicants were admitted
Women
5% of 19,724 applicants were admitted
Men
5% of 19,782 applicants were admitted
Students Enrolled
1,700 (83%) of 2,037 admitted students enrolled
Women
844 (84%) of 1,004 admitted students enrolled
Men
856 (83%) of 1,033 admitted students enrolled
Early Decision Admission Rate
 
Early Action Admission Rate
14% of 6472 applicants were admitted
Students Offered Wait List
 
Students Accepting Wait List Position
 
Students Admitted From Wait List
 

Grade Point Average of Enrolled Freshmen (4.0 scale)

Average GPA
4.18
3.75 and Above
93%
3.50 - 3.74
5%
3.25 - 3.49
2%
3.00 - 3.24
 
2.50 - 2.99
 
2.00 - 2.49
 

SAT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

SAT Math
760 average
730-800 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
88%
Score of 600 - 700
12%
Score of 500 - 600
1%
Score of 400 - 500
0%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%
SAT EBRW
760 average
730-790 range of middle 50%
Score of 700 - 800
87%
Score of 600 - 700
11%
Score of 500 - 600
1%
Score of 400 - 500
0%
Score of 300 - 400
0%
Score of 200 - 300
0%

ACT Scores of Enrolled Freshmen

ACT Composite
34 average
32-35 range of middle 50%
Score of 30 - 36
93%
Score of 24 - 29
7%
Score of 18 - 23
0%
Score of 12 - 17
0%
Score of 6 - 11
0%
Score of 5 or Below
0%

Other Qualifications of Enrolled Freshmen

High School Class Rank
Top tenth: 95%
Top quarter: 99%
Top half: 100%
National Merit Scholar
Not reported
Valedictorian
Not reported
Class President
Not reported
Student Government Officer
Not reported

Tuition and Expenses

Cost of Attendance
$69,600
Tuition and Fees
$48,949
Room and Board
$16,660
Books and Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses
$2,991
Payment Plans
Prepayment plan, installment plan

Applying for Financial Aid

Financial Aid Office

Email
Web Site
Financial Aid Web Site
Net Price Calculator URL
Net Price Calculator URL

Application Process

Application Deadline
Priority deadline March 1
Award Notification
On or about April 1
Methodology for Awarding Institutional Aid
Institutional Methodology
Forms Required Cost to File
FAFSA
Code is 002155		 Free
CSS/Financial Aid Profile $25 for first college, $16 each additional
Business/Farm Supplement  

Profile of 2017 - 18 Financial Aid

Freshman

Financial Aid Applicants
1,077 (64.8%) of freshmen
Found to Have Financial Need
918 (85.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
918 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
918 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Award
$55,354
Need-Based Gift
Received by 918 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $53,120
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 681 (74.2%) of aid recipients, average amount $2,646
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported
Merit-Based Gift
3 (.2%) of freshmen had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $5,000

All Undergraduates

Financial Aid Applicants
3,987 (59.7%) of undergraduates
Found to Have Financial Need
3,675 (92.2%) of applicants
Received Financial Aid
3,675 (100.0%) of applicants with financial need
Need Fully Met
3,675 (100.0%) of aid recipients
Average Percent of Need Met
100%
Average Award
$53,730
Need-Based Gift
Received by 3,675 (100.0%) of aid recipients, average amount $50,699
Need-Based Self-Help
Received by 3,096 (84.2%) of aid recipients, average amount $3,264
Merit-Based Gift
Not reported
Merit-Based Gift
12 (.2%) of undergraduates had no financial need and received merit aid, average amount $20,064

Borrowing

2016 Graduates Who Took Out Loans
20%
Average Indebtedness of 2016 Graduates
$15,114
Parents of Students Receiving Aid
1.0%
Parents of Students Not Receiving Aid
1.0%

Financial Aid Programs

Loans

Federal Loans
Direct subsidized Stafford loans, direct unsubsidized Stafford loans, direct PLUS loans
State Loans
Available
Other Loans
College/university loans

Scholarships and Grants

Need-Based Available
Federal Pell grants, SEOG, State scholarships, Institutional scholarships, Private scholarships
Non-Need–Based Available
None

Non-Need Awards

Academic Interest/Achievement Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Creative Arts/Performance Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Achievements/Activities Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 
Special Characteristics Award Areas
Not reported
Number of Awards
Not reported
Top Areas (By Money Awarded)
 

Employment

Work-Study Programs
Federal work study available, other work study available
Average Earnings from On-Campus Employment
$2,803
Academic Calendar System
Semester
Summer Session
Offered
General Catalog/Bulletin
Online Catalog

Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Majors

  • African-American/Black Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Applied Mathematics, General
  • Art History, Criticism and Conservation
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • Chemical Physics
  • Chemistry, General
  • Chemistry, Other
  • Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computer Science
  • East Asian Studies
  • Economics, General
  • Engineering, General
  • English Language and Literature, General
  • English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
  • Environmental Studies
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Geology/Earth Science, General
  • German Language and Literature
  • History and Philosophy of Science and Technology
  • History, General
  • History, Other
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Mathematics, General
  • Music, General
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies
  • Neurobiology and Anatomy
  • Philosophy
  • Physics, General
  • Political Science and Government, General
  • Psychology, General
  • Religion/Religious Studies
  • Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Sanskrit and Classical Indian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
  • Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Social Sciences, General
  • Sociology
  • Southeast Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General
  • Statistics, General
  • Visual and Performing Arts, General
  • Women's Studies
Most Popular Disciplines
Social sciences, Biological/life sciences, Mathematics and statistics
Combined Liberal Arts/Professional Degree Programs
None
Special Programs
Accelerated program, Student-designed major, Double major, Honors program, Independent study, Internships, Study abroad, Summer session
Study Abroad
Offered
Online Degrees
Not reported

Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

General Education/Core Curriculum
Required
Computer
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Foreign Language
Required
Math/Science
Required for all students

Faculty and Instruction

Full-Time Faculty
975
Part-Time Faculty
195
Full-Time Faculty with Ph.D./Terminal Degree
72%
Regular Class Size
2-9 students: 46% of classes
10-19 students: 28% of classes
20-29 students: 9% of classes
30-39 students: 5% of classes
40-49 students: 3% of classes
50-99 students: 5% of classes
Over 100 students: 4% of classes
Discussion Section/Lab Class Size
2-9 students: 8% of discussion sections/labs
10-19 students: 11% of discussion sections/labs
20-29 students: 19% of discussion sections/labs
30-39 students: 5% of discussion sections/labs
40-49 students: 11% of discussion sections/labs
50-59 students: 24% of discussion sections/labs
Over 100 students: 22% of discussion sections/labs

Advanced Placement

International Baccalaureate
Accepted
Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Accepted for placement and credit
Sophomore Standing
Available through AP examinations

Academic Resources

Library Available on Campus
Yes
Holdings
 
Computer Ownership
Students not required to own/lease a computer
Computers Available on Campus
605
Internet/E-mail Access
Not reported

Academic Support Services

Remedial Instruction
Not Offered
Tutoring
Available
Services for Learning Disabled Students
Available
Services for Physically Disabled Students
Hearing impaired services, speech disorders services, visually impaired services, wheelchair access

Graduate/Professional School Education

Master's Degrees Offered

Master of Design Studies, Master of Liberal Arts, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Public Administration and International Development, Master of Architecture, Master of Medical Science, Master of Arts in Urban Design, Master of Science, Master of Urban Planning, Master of Public Policy, Master of Forest Science, Master of Divinity, Master of Business Administration, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master in Design Engineering, Master of Education, Master of Laws, Master of Public Administration, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Development, Master of Engineering, Master of Public Health

Master's Programs of Study

  • Anthropology
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Physics
  • Applied Science and Technology
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art Education
  • Asian Languages
  • Asian Studies
  • Bioengineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences--General
  • Biostatistics
  • Biotechnology
  • Business Administration and Management--General
  • Cognitive Sciences
  • Communication--General
  • Computational Biology
  • Computational Sciences
  • Computer Science
  • Curriculum and Instruction
  • Demography and Population Studies
  • Dentistry
  • East European and Russian Studies
  • Education--General
  • Educational Leadership and Administration
  • Educational Media/Instructional Technology
  • Educational Policy
  • Educational Psychology
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering Design
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences--General
  • English
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Management and Policy
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Forestry
  • Foundations and Philosophy of Education
  • French
  • Geosciences
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Services Management and Hospital Administration
  • History of Science and Technology
  • Human Development
  • Information Science
  • International Development
  • International Health
  • International and Comparative Education
  • Italian
  • Jewish Studies
  • Journalism
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Law
  • Liberal Studies
  • Materials Sciences
  • Mathematics Education
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Museum Studies
  • Music
  • Near and Middle Eastern Languages
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies
  • Oral and Dental Sciences
  • Philosophy
  • Physiology
  • Planetary and Space Sciences
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Public Administration
  • Public Health--General
  • Public Policy
  • Reading Education
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Technical Communication
  • Theology
  • Urban Design
  • Urban and Regional Planning

Doctoral Degrees Offered

Doctor of Medical Science, Doctor of Education Leadership, Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Design, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctor, Doctor of Juridical Sciences, Doctor of Dental Medicine

Doctoral Programs of Study

  • Accounting
  • African Studies
  • African-American Studies
  • Allopathic Medicine
  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Applied Physics
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural History
  • Architecture
  • Art History
  • Asian Languages
  • Asian Studies
  • Astronomy
  • Astrophysics
  • Biochemistry
  • Bioengineering
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences--General
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biophysics
  • Biopsychology
  • Biostatistics
  • Business Administration and Management--General
  • Cell Biology
  • Celtic Languages
  • Chemical Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Chinese
  • Classics
  • Cognitive Sciences
  • Comparative Literature
  • Computational Sciences
  • Computer Science
  • Demography and Population Studies
  • Dentistry
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Economics
  • Education--General
  • Educational Leadership and Administration
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Engineering Design
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences--General
  • English
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Experimental Psychology
  • French
  • Genetics
  • Genomic Sciences
  • Geosciences
  • German
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Services Management and Hospital Administration
  • History
  • History of Science and Technology
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Management
  • Information Science
  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • International Affairs
  • International Health
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Jewish Studies
  • Landscape Architecture
  • Law
  • Legal and Justice Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Management Strategy and Policy
  • Management of Technology
  • Marketing
  • Materials Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Medical Physics
  • Medieval and Renaissance Studies
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular Pharmacology
  • Music
  • Near and Middle Eastern Languages
  • Near and Middle Eastern Studies
  • Neurobiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Nutrition
  • Oral and Dental Sciences
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Organizational Behavior
  • Pathology
  • Philosophy
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Planetary and Space Sciences
  • Political Science
  • Portuguese
  • Psychology--General
  • Public Health--General
  • Public Policy
  • Religion
  • Russian
  • Scandinavian Languages
  • Slavic Languages
  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Statistics
  • Structural Biology
  • Systems Biology
  • Theoretical Physics
  • Urban and Regional Planning

Location and Setting

Cambridge Population
107,289
Nearest Metropolitan Area
Boston
Campus Size
380 acres

Weather

Temperature
21.6 average low in January, 76.3 average high in September
Rain
127 rainy days per year

Getting Around

Campus Map
Map
Nearest Bus Station
1 mile(s) from campus in Boston
Nearest Train Station
1 mile(s) from campus in Boston

Housing

College Housing
College offers housing to students
Types of Housing
Coed housing, cooperative housing, disabled student housing
Students in College Housing
98% of all students
Housing Requirements
Freshmen are required to live on campus
Freshman Housing Guarantee
Freshmen are guaranteed housing
Students Living Off Campus/Commuting
2%
Off-Campus Housing Assistance
Assistance in locating off-campus housing is available

Security

24-Hour Emergency Phone/Alarm Devices
Available
24-Hour Security Patrols
Available
Late-Night Transport/Escort Services
Available
Electronically Operated Housing Entrances
Available
Other
required and optional safety courses

Personal Support Services

Health Service
Offered
Personal Counseling
Offered
Child Care
Offered

Sports and Recreation

Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic Conferences
NCAA Division I
Mascot
John Harvard
School Colors
Crimson

Intercollegiate Sports Offered

Sports Women Men
Offered Scholarships Offered Scholarships
Baseball     x  
Basketball x   x  
Crew x   x  
Cross-Country Running x   x  
Fencing x   x  
Field Hockey x      
Football     x  
Golf x   x  
Ice Hockey x   x  
Lacrosse x   x  
Rugby x      
Sailing x   x  
Skiing (Cross-Country) x   x  
Skiing (Downhill) x   x  
Soccer x   x  
Softball x      
Squash x   x  
Swimming And Diving x   x  
Tennis x   x  
Track And Field x   x  
Volleyball x   x  
Water Polo x   x  
Wrestling     x  
Women's Sports
Offered Scholarships
Baseball    
Basketball x  
Crew x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Fencing x  
Field Hockey x  
Football    
Golf x  
Ice Hockey x  
Lacrosse x  
Rugby x  
Sailing x  
Skiing (Cross-Country) x  
Skiing (Downhill) x  
Soccer x  
Softball x  
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball x  
Water Polo x  
Wrestling    
Mens's Sports
Offered Scholarships
Baseball x  
Basketball x  
Crew x  
Cross-Country Running x  
Fencing x  
Field Hockey    
Football x  
Golf x  
Ice Hockey x  
Lacrosse x  
Rugby    
Sailing x  
Skiing (Cross-Country) x  
Skiing (Downhill) x  
Soccer x  
Softball    
Squash x  
Swimming And Diving x  
Tennis x  
Track And Field x  
Volleyball x  
Water Polo x  
Wrestling x  
Women's Club Sports
 
Men's Club Sports
 

Recreational Sports

Intramural Sports
basketball, cross-country running, fencing, ice hockey, soccer, squash, swimming and diving, table tennis, tennis, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball

Student Activities

Activities and Organizations
choral groups, marching band, drama theatre, radio station, student newspaper, television station, phillips brooks house association, asian-american association, international relations council, harvard crimson (newspaper), harvard/radcliffe chorus
Sororities
 
Fraternities
 
ROTC
Army ROTC offered on campus, Navy ROTC is offered on campus, Air Force ROTC offered on campus

Student Body

Coeducational
Yes
All Undergraduates
6,766
Women
3,226 (47.7%)
Men
3,540 (52.3%)
Full-Time Undergraduates
6,764
Ethnicity of Students from U.S.
0.3% American Indian/Alaskan Native
23.2% Asian
8.7% Black/African-American
13.0% Hispanic/Latino
7.7% Multi-race (not Hispanic/Latino)
0.1% Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander
45.2% White
1.9% Unknown
International Students.
11.5% from 109 countries
Average Age
20
All Graduate Students
4,402

Undergraduate Retention and Graduation

First-Year Students Returning
97.0%
Students Graduating Within 4 Years
84.2%
Students Graduating Within 5 Years
94.6%
Students Graduating Within 6 Years
96.0%

After Graduation

Graduates Offered Full-Time Employment Within 6 Months
Not reported
Average Starting Salary
Not reported
Graduates Pursuing Advanced Study Directly
Not reported
Disciplines Pursued
Not reported

A portion of the College Profile data is provided under license by:
Peterson's Undergraduate and Undergraduate Financial Aid Databases, copyright © 2019 Peterson's, a Nelnet company. All rights reserved."