Harvard University Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements

Harvard University is one of the leading universities in the USA. It is extremely competitive to gain admission to. The acceptance rate of Harvard University is 3.24%. This means that only 3 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.

How Competitive are Harvard University Admissions?

Extremely competitive: Applicants require excellent academic record and extracurriculars.
GPA, SAT/ACT, and AP/IB courses significantly impact admission chances.
A holistic review considers essays, recommendations, and leadership roles.

Harvard University Admission Competitiveness

With one of the lowest acceptance rates in the US, you need to excel in every aspect to be selected. Your GPA, AP, IB, SAT, and ACT scores should be in the top range to increase your chances of admission. Below, we have listed all the requirements and score ranges needed for admission to Harvard University to help you prepare in advance. Meeting their general GPA and test (SAT/ACT) requirements is crucial because without these, you won't proceed to the second round of admission processing. These requirements act as automatic filters, so failing to meet them makes your chance of getting in nearly zero.

Note that admission staff look beyond academic performance. In addition to maintaining a high GPA and strong test scores, your personality, aptitude, and interpersonal communication skills also play a significant role in the admissions process. Participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, community events, leadership activities, and your capacity to play leadership roles are also significant.

Harvard University Admission Requirements

Harvard University GPA Requirement

The average GPA of the admitted students at Harvard University is 4. It means that Harvard University is very selective in terms of the GPA. (Most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPAs. For exact information, contact the school admission staff).

With an average GPA of 4, Harvard University requires you to be near the top of your class. You need to score mostly A's in all classes to have good chances of admission. A couple of B's will not hurt you much, but more B's will put you in the lower category of the students. Additionally, you must take AP or IB courses to demonstrate your academic ability. More specifically, your AP and IB courses must be related to the area of your selected course of study. For example, if you are planning a career in engineering or IT, courses related to mathematics, calculus, and physics will help you.

If your GPA is less than 4 and higher than 3.7 then you need higher SAT or ACT scores to compensate. You need a minimum of 3.6 GPA, to secure admission at Harvard University. Below this, the chances of admission will be very slim.

Can I Get Into Harvard University Without SAT Or ACT?: Harvard University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process but does not require them. Although it is not strictly a requirement, the test scores are considered for admission decisions. Hence, it is advisable to prepare well for the test and submit the best scores. Normally, students may appear in the test 4 to 5 times to improve their scores. Hence you are required to plan early and appear in upcoming SAT / ACT tests. Check the schedule of the test and plan accordingly. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students, as given below.

Harvard University SAT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for SAT and ACT testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them. The test score policy is already mentioned.

Harvard University Average SAT Score: 1553
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Harvard University is 1553 on the 1600 SAT scale.

Harvard University SAT Competitiveness

This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1553 on the SAT.
If your score is below 1490, consider retaking the SAT to improve your chances of admission to Harvard University. It is not strange to appear multiple times for the SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

Harvard University SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
SAT Math	780	760	800
SAT Reading	755	730	780
SAT Composite	1553	1490	1580

It means that if you have scored less than 1490 then you are below most of the admitted students at Harvard University and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1580 or more, your chances of admission are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer scores than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of the upper 25% of the students. View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1550

Can I get into Harvard University with a 1600 SAT?

With a 1600 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Harvard University are good but the admission staff at Harvard University tests your all-around personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission. You need to show better performance in all areas. An equally high GPA, taking IB or AP Courses and your role in leadership activities will increase your chances of admission. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, your chances of admission are high.

Harvard University ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at Harvard University is 35.

Harvard University ACT Competitiveness

This score makes Harvard University Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 35 on the ACT.

Harvard University ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
ACT Math	34	32	35
ACT English	36	35	36
ACT Composite	35	34	36

Can I get into Harvard University with a 36 ACT?

With a 36 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Harvard University are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. The College Admission process tests your all-around personality and academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores, and AP or IB Courses can help your application stand out. Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and interpersonal communication skills are very important. Additionally, if you cannot perform well in one area, you have a chance to showcase your strengths and abilities in other areas, improving other areas will help you secure admission.

SAT Vs ACT: Which score to send

You can compare your scores in SAT and ACT to the average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Harvard University. More importantly, comparing your scores with the 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you a better understanding of where you stand. If your score on the SAT is near the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send your SAT score. If your ACT score is near the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

But there is more, if both of your scores are in the same range, then it is better to send an ACT Score, as in the case of ACT, you can control which score to send as opposed to SAT.

Here is how: When sending the ACT Score, you can decide which score you want to send to the colleges. You could take 8 ACT tests, and only send your highest one. This is not the case with the SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View a list of all colleges with an average ACT score of 35.

Harvard University Profile

Name: Harvard University

City: Cambridge

URL: www.harvard.edu/

State: Massachusetts

Type: Non-Profit Private

Zip: 2138

Campus: Main

Accredited by: New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)

Does a degree from Harvard University Worth It?

Getting into Harvard University can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Harvard University offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision. Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Harvard University is USD: 76879.55 and unemployment rate is 3.46%.

How much does a degree from Harvard University Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Harvard University is USD: 81292. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Harvard University is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

13.41% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 2.7 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Harvard University and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.

At Harvard University, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Harvard University as your choice in the form.

How much a Harvard University Graduate make?

The average annual salary of the Harvard University graduate after 4-6 years of graduation is USD 101817. An average Harvard University graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4-6 years after graduation).

The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is USD: 40595

Less Competitive Schools

These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Harvard University. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower than the requirements of Harvard University, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Harvey Mudd College	Harvey Mudd College, CA	1539	35
University of Chicago	University of Chicago, IL	1532	34
Northwestern University	Northwestern University, IL	1526	35
Williams College	Williams College, MA	1540	0
Washington University in St Louis	Washington University in St Louis, MO	1525	34
Dartmouth College	Dartmouth College, NH	1539	34
Columbia University in the City of New York	Columbia University in the City of New York, NY	1540	35
Cornell University	Cornell University, NY	1527	34
New York University	New York University, NY	1527	34
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering	Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, MA	1533	35

Equally Competitive Schools

These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores than Harvard University. If your SAT or ACT score are competitive for this Harvard University, you'll be competitive for these schools also.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Yale University	Yale University, CT	1547	34
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	0
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA	1560	0
Princeton University	Princeton University, NJ	1546	34

More Competitive Schools

These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Harvard University. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School	Location	SAT	ACT
Johns Hopkins University	Johns Hopkins University, MD	1553	0
Harvard University	Harvard University, MA	1553	35
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA	1560	0
Duke University	Duke University, NC	1554	34
Stanford University	Stanford University, CA	1553	35

Degree Programs

Bachelor Degree Programs

Full list of All degree programs offered by Harvard University.

Data on this page is sourced from IPEDS, College Scorecard's latest data as provided in 2024, US Department of Education's latest 2024 statistics, Institute's official websites and printed material as well as additional publicly available sources.