Harvard University
Massachusetts, United States
- Cost of Living$ 17,484
- Tuition Fee From$ 25,464
- Country Rank-
- Batch Strength21,574
- Global Diversity24%
- Gender Ratio49 : 51
Overview
About
Informally regarded as Harvard, this university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts is among the most prestigious educational institutions in the world. Tracing its roots back 386 years ago, Harvard University was founded in 1636 by the Massachusetts General Court. The private Ivy League research university is the oldest institute of higher learning in the United States of America. A founding member and affiliate of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the university is also affiliated with the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), Universities Research Association (URA), and Space-grant colleges.
The university is divided into ten faculties with a number of schools and departments offering a wide range of courses underneath them. The university campus at Cambridge is the central campus housing the faculty buildings of Arts and Sciences, Law, Divinity, Engineering and Applied Science, Design, Education, Public Policy (Kennedy), Extension schools, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. University buildings including the University Hall, Massachusetts Hall, and the Memorial Church as well as the university libraries including Widener, Pusey, Houghton, and Lamont are also present on the Cambridge campus. Harvard has other campuses at Allston housing the Harvard Business School, Innovation Labs, and Harvard Stadium; Longwood housing the buildings of Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Public Health; and the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection in Washington, D.C.
The university prides itself on its exemplary contribution to various facets of research in a large variety of disciplines encompassing arts, sciences, engineering, and medicine according to the Carnegie Classification. The university is consistently ranked #1 across the United States of America and can be found in the top five best universities across the world. The Harvard Medical School is regarded as among the best in the world along with its other schools and departments. Being the foremost institution of higher learning in the United States, it was the only institute to hand out degrees once upon a time. In the early years, only the elite was awarded this opportunity and hence, the esteemed reputation of Harvard. The university welcomes students from different parts of the country in addition to students from varied parts of the globe. Owing to its esteemed stature, the institution is extremely selective with regard to its admissions policy and as a result, the Harvard University acceptance rate is at 5%.
Ranking
US News & World Report 2024:
Harvard University achieved a notable position on the global stage, securing #1 position.
QS World University Ranking 2024:
Harvard University has shown excellence by securing 4 spot on the global scale.
Harvard has managed to uphold its exemplary standard of excellence in areas of academics, research and teaching. Harvard University continues to rank as one of the best universities the world over, many times nabbing the first spot. Its academics, teaching facilities, and faculties are highly ranked by a number of independent ranking bodies, education journals, and research publications including Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and the U.S. News & World Report. The Harvard Medical School is deemed to be the best in the world next to its other schools and departments. Some of the Harvard University rankings are mentioned as follows.
- #2 globally - Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE) 2022
- #1 globally - Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2021
- #3 - Bloomberg Best Business School USA 2021
Some of its course-wise ranking by specific ranking bodies are listed as follows.
- #11 - Engineering and Technology - QS (2021)
- #5 - Architecture and Built Environment - QS (2021)
- #7 - Computers - Times Higher Education (2022)
- #6 - Physics - ARWU (2021)
- #3 - Mathematics - QS (2021)
- #4 - Psychology - Times Higher Education (2022)
- #1 - Sociology - ARWU (2021)
- #6 - Arts and Humanities - Times Higher Educations (2022)
- #1 - Medicine - ARWU (2021)
- #8 - Best Graduate Medical Schools - US News and World Report (2022)
Year
QS Ranks
US News Ranks
2025
#4
-
2023
#5
#1
2022
#5
#1
Facilities
Student life at Harvard is vibrant and thriving owing partly to the world-class facilities and student infrastructures built by the university as well as the institution’s diverse student body hailing from varied ethnicities and nationalities. The Harvard University facilities are cutting-edge and top-grade in part to the reputation it holds and strives to maintain and the promise of delivering globally renowned education to all its students across all its faculties.
There is a Student Government at the university which comprises the Undergraduate Council and the Graduate Council. The former represents all the university’s college students whereas the latter represents students at all twelve graduate and professional schools. The student body takes extracurricular activity very seriously, constantly organising events, shows, and programmes for the students, of the students, and by the students.
Sport is the lifeblood of university life and sport at Harvard is an experience of its own. Harvard Crimson is the umbrella term for the intercollegiate teams of Harvard College and the university hosts intramural sports programmes for both the undergraduate College and graduate schools for students to participate on a high-performance level.
Notable Alumni
Courses
Admission
Acceptance Rate
The Harvard University acceptance rate stands at a mere 4% making it highly competitive to get admission. Harvard accepts students with a variety of backgrounds, talents, and interests from all across the nation and the world.
Learn More About: Harvard University Acceptance Rate
Entry Requirements
Owing to Harvard University’s powerful centuries-long status and repute, the university is highly selective regarding its admissions policy. There are stringent entry requirements an applicant has to meet to get to the interview round of the application process. An applicant needs to portray excellent past academic records along with certain current requirements to qualify for admission at the university. The basic Harvard University entry requirements are as follows.
- For their undergraduate admissions, a recognised higher secondary school certificate is required. Further requirements are dictated by the country one has pursued their high school education.
- A GPA of 4.18 or higher is required which means a minimum Grade A over past qualifying subjects.
- A 1580 SAT score or 35 ACT score is also part of the university’s eligibility criteria. These are the two standardised tests required to pursue several courses at the university.
- For their postgraduate admissions, a recognised Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field(s) is required.
- For non-English speaking international students, TOEFL or IELTS qualification is mandatory.
Fees
A university’s fees are determined by a variety of factors, the central ones being whether a student is a home or international student, what course they wish to take at university and at what level they choose to enrol for the course. Harvard University fees vary from course to course. They also vary in their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Tuition fees are just one component of the fee structure and there are several other costs that students have to incur as part of the university’s fees including accommodation, books, library fees, and others.
Fees at the undergraduate level range from $54,000 to $67,000. The tuition fees for some of its programmes are detailed as follows.
- Business Administration - $48,800
- Science - $48,800
- Technology - $48,200
- Economics - $49,700
- Psychology - $49,700
- Computer Science - $49,700
- Environmental Science and Engineering - $48,200
- Physics - $49,700
- Digital Media - $19,800
- Mathematics - $49,700
Fees at the postgraduate level (for both Master’s and PhD) are $52,456.
English Proficiency Requirements
To succeed in your studies at Harvard, you must have a solid command of the English language, including the ability to comprehend and communicate your ideas clearly and rapidly. Check out the Harvard University IELTS requirements along with other tests in the table below.
|
Tests |
Minimum Score |
|
TOEFL iBT |
80 |
|
IELTS |
6.5 |
Admitted Class of 2026
|
Applicants |
61,221 |
|
Admitted |
1,984 |
Geographical Breakdown
|
New England |
16.6% |
|
Middle Atlantic |
22.3% |
|
South |
17.8% |
|
Midwest |
9.8% |
|
Central |
2.0% |
|
Mountain |
3.2% |
|
Pacific |
13.4% |
|
Territories |
0.2% |
|
International |
14.8% |
Ethnicity of the Students
|
African American |
15.2% |
|
Asian American |
27.9% |
|
Hispanic or Latino |
12.6% |
|
Native American |
2.9% |
|
Native Hawaiian |
0.8% |
Placements
Although there is an absence of a placement cell at Harvard, the University Office of Career Services department is responsible for student guidance and coaching with regard to placements and employment opportunities after graduation. Statistically, 61% of students leave with a secured job after graduation from the university. The top three fields students gain employment in are finance, consulting and technology. A good 7% of graduates also pursue careers in academia and research. Harvard University placements encompass the following:
- Internships
- Summer internships
- Part-time jobs
- Full-Time jobs
Harvard’s graduates are among the highest-earning graduates in the United States, especially in the fields of business, medicine, engineering, and technology. The average salary figures for Harvard graduates lie between $60,000 and $70,000 annually.
Scholarship
Regardless of the programme you are studying, there are several scholarship opportunities provided by Harvard University as well as other organisations. With so many scholarships available now, overseas students can greatly lower the financial burden of studying in a new country. You can apply for scholarships to study at the university through UniScholars. You can find the following types of scholarships based on your academic performance and financial situation:
- Merit-based scholarships
- Need-based scholarships
- Country-specific scholarships
- College-specific scholarships
- Student-specific scholarships
Finances
Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds in order to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at Harvard University. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!
Accommodation
There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend Harvard University. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or in a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.
UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.
Cost of Living
Cambridge, Massachusetts is a student city and among the top choices for students all across the globe. Situated in one of the most thriving states in the USA, there is no doubt that the cost of living in Cambridge, Massachusetts is quite steep. While it promises a unique experience for students, it is a bit of a juggle keeping up with the rising costs of the city. Students are always advised to build a budget to help keep track of their daily, weekly and/or monthly expenses during university. It is always best to stay abreast of all the expenses one would incur upon studying abroad. Below mentioned are the average costs a student might incur while studying at Harvard University.
|
Particulars |
Expenses (per month) |
|
Off-campus accommodation |
$645 |
|
On-campus accommodation |
$600 |
|
Transportation |
$90 |
|
Food |
$600 |
|
Utility |
$137 |
|
Entertainment |
$54 |
|
Groceries |
$137 |
|
Clothes |
$41 |
|
Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation |
$1614 |
|
Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation |
$1569 |