Harvard University

www.harvard.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$56,550

4.2% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$17,525

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

3.65%

54,008 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

30,259

68.8% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

97.6%

1,613 Graduates

About

Harvard University is a higher education institution located in Middlesex County, MA. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Harvard University were Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (1,010 degrees awarded), General Public Health (351 degrees), and Learning Sciences (293 degrees).

In 2024, 11,143 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Harvard University. 53.7% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 46.3% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,623 degrees), 2.25 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,608 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Harvard University is $56,550, which is $24,630 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

About the photo: Emerson Hall in a snowstorm

Photo by Colleen A. Bryant

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Harvard University is $56,550, which is $24,630 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $17,525.

In 2024, 50% of undergraduate students attending Harvard University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 4% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$56,550

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Harvard University was $56,550. The cost of tuition at Harvard University is $24,630 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Harvard University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$17,525

2024 Value

2.09%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Harvard University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $17,525. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Harvard University grew by 2.09%.

This chart compares the average net price of Harvard University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$20,374

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Harvard University was of $20,374 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 4.47% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of books and supplies increased by 11.1% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Harvard University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

50%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

50% of undergraduate students at Harvard University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 2.04% with respect to 2023, when 49% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Harvard University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Harvard University received 54,008 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 5.14% annual growth. Out of those 54,008 applicants, 1,970 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 3.65% acceptance rate.

There were 30,259 students enrolled at Harvard University in 2024. 54% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Harvard University has an overall enrollment yield of 83.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

3.65%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

1,970

Accepted Out of 54,008

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Harvard University was 3.65% (1,970 admissions from 54,008 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 3.45%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 5.14%, while admissions grew by 0.254%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Harvard University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

54%

Submission Percentage (2024)

892

Scores Submitted (2024)

54% of enrolled first-time students at Harvard University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Harvard University had a total enrollment of 30,259 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Harvard University is 20,814 students and the part-time enrollment is 9,445. This means that 68.8% of students enrolled at Harvard University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Harvard University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 32.5% White, 15.5% Asian, 9.15% Hispanic or Latino, 6.21% Black or African American, 4.39% Two or More Races, 0.188% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.119% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Harvard University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (15.5%), followed by White Female (15.3%) and Asian Female (13%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (15.9%), followed by White Male (14.4%) and Asian Female (8.56%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

68.8%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Harvard University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 30,259 students. The full-time enrollment at Harvard University is 20,814 and the part-time enrollment is 9,445. This means that 68.8% of students enrolled at Harvard University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Harvard University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

98%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Harvard University was 98%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Harvard University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Harvard University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
9,826 enrolled students
Asian
4,682 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,770 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Harvard University is 32.5% White, 15.5% Asian, 9.15% Hispanic or Latino, 6.21% Black or African American, 4.39% Two or More Races, 0.188% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.119% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,667 students (5.51%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 835 more women than men received degrees from Harvard University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Harvard University is white (3,623 degrees awarded). There were 2.25 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,608 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Harvard University is Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods (1,010 degrees awarded), followed by General Public Health (351 degrees) and Learning Sciences (293 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Harvard University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Applied Sciences (108 degrees awarded), Legal (807 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (135 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Harvard University are Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (127,993 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (110,105 people), Other managers (107,717 people), Secondary school teachers (102,387 people), and Elementary & middle school teachers (95,181 people).

The most specialized majors at Harvard University in 2024 are Applied Sciences (108 degrees awarded), Legal (807 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (135 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (165 degrees), and Math & Statistics (363 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Harvard University are Surgeons, Diagnostic medical sonographers, Logisticians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Economists

The most specialized majors at Harvard University are Applied Sciences (108 degrees awarded), Legal (807 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (135 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (165 degrees), and Math & Statistics (363 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Harvard University are Elementary & secondary schools (268,075 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (176,509 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (157,457 people), Computer Systems Design (122,209 people), and Legal services (109,007 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Harvard University.

Most Common (2024)

Econometrics & Quantitative Economics
260 degrees awarded
Computer Science
208 degrees awarded
General Social Sciences
163 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Harvard University was Econometrics & Quantitative Economics with 260 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Harvard University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

5,154

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

5,989

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 5,154 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University, which is 0.861 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (5,989).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Harvard University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 546 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University in Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods, which is 1.14 times more than the 477 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 477 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University in Other Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods, which is 0.874 times less than the 546 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

87%

100% Completion Time

98%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 87% of students graduating from Harvard University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 98% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 99% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Hispanic or Latino Female

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Harvard University is Female and Hispanic or Latino (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 0.996% of graduates (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,623 degrees awarded
Asian
1,608 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
978 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Harvard University is white (3,623 degrees awarded). There were 2.25 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,608 degrees).

4.61% of degree recipients (514 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Male
2,136 degrees awarded
White Female
2,045 degrees awarded
White Female
2,030 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Harvard University is white male (2,136 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white male recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (2,045 degrees).

Operations

Harvard University has an endowment valued at nearly $53.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 5.35B (10%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Harvard University had a total salary expenditure of 6.43B. Harvard University employs 1,000 Professors, 274 Lecturers and 253 Assistant professors. Most academics at Harvard University are Male Professor (687), Female Professor (313), and Male Lecturer (137).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Harvard University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 3,024 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 2,224 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 1,944 employees.

Endowment

$53.2B

2024 Endowment

4.9%

growth from 2023

Harvard University has an endowment valued at about $53.2B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Harvard University grew 4.9% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $53B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Harvard University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$681M - Federal
$11.5M - State
$527k - Local

As of 2024, Harvard University received $681M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $11.5M from state grants and contracts, and $527k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$2.63B

2024 Salaries

8.7%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Harvard University paid a median of $2.63B in salaries, which represents 40.9% of their overall expenditure ($6.43B) and a 8.7% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 9.73% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 6.24% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$443M

Instructional Salaries

1,829

Number of Employees

In 2024, Harvard University paid a total of $443M to 1,829 employees working as instructors, which represents 16.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Harvard University were Business and Financial Operations with 3,024 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science with 2,224 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 1,944 employees.

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