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Harvard University Acceptance Rate, GPA and Admission Requirements

Harvard University is one of the leading universities in the USA. It is extremely competitive to get admission to. The acceptance rate of Harvard University is 3.45%. This means that only 3 out of every 100 applicants get admissions.

With one of the lowest acceptance rate in the US, You need to be the best at everything to get selected. Your GPA, IB, AP, SAT and ACT scores should be in the top range so that you can get into. We have enlisted all the requirements and ranges of scores you need to get into Harvard University so that you can have a better idea and prepare yourself well in advance. Meeting their general GPA and Test (SAT/ACT) requirements is very crucial as without these you will not be able to enter into the 2nd round of admission application processing. These requirements act as automatic filters, so meeting these requirements is very important. If you don't meet these requirements, your chance of getting in is nearly zero.

Please note that admission staff look beyond the academic performance. Not only your GPA and other scores should be in the top range, but also your personality, aptitude, interpersonal communication skills also play an important role. Participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, community events, leadership activities and your quest and ability to play leadership roles are very important.

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 GPA of the students. (Most schools report a weighted GPA, which is out of 4.0. However, some schools may use unweighted GPA. 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 to have a minimum of 3.6 GPA, to secure admission at Harvard University. Below this, 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, but 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 for 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 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: 1534
The average SAT score of the admitted students at Harvard University is a 1534 on the 1600 SAT scale. This score makes it Extremely Competitive for SAT test scores. You need to do extremely well to score 1534 on SAT
If your score is lower than 1480, you may appear again to improve your score to have better chances of admissions at Harvard University. It is not strange to appear multiple times for SAT to improve scores. Colleges don’t mind if you have appeared multiple times, but not more than 5 times.

SAT 25th Percentile: 1480
SAT 75th Percentile: 1580

It means that if you have scored less than 1480 then you are below the most of the admitted students at Harvard University and your chances of admission are very few. But if you have scored 1580 or more, then your chances of admissions are higher. 25th percentile means that only 25% of the admitted students have fewer score than this score. 75th percentile marks the score of 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 1600 SAT Score, your chances of admission at Harvard University are good but the admission staff at Harvard University tests your all round personality and your academics. Your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores and IP 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 could not 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 definitely increase your chances of admissions. However, if you equally compete well in all other areas, then your chances of admissions are high.

Harvard University ACT Requirements

The average ACT Score at is 35. This score makes Harvard University Extremely Competitive for ACT scores. You need to do extremely well to score 35 on ACT
ACT 25th Percentile: 33
ACT 75th Percentile: 36

Can I get into Harvard University with a 36 ACT?

With 36 ACT Score, your chances of admission at Harvard University are good but the admission staff does not check your ACT Score only. College Admission process tests your all round personality and your academics. your GPA, Class performance, SAT/ACT/Test scores and IP 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 could not 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 average SAT and ACT Scores of the admitted students at Harvard University. More importantly, comparing your scores with 25th and 75th percentiles of SAT and ACT scores will give you better understanding of where you stand. If your score in SAT is near to the 75th percentile SAT score, then you must send SAT score. If your ACT score is near to the 75th percentile, then you must send your ACT Score.

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

Here it is how: When sending ACT Score, you can yourself 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 SAT, where your score report mentions all of your attempts.

View list of all colleges with Average ACT score of 35.

Institute 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 a degree from Harvard University Cost?

The average annual cost of the degree at Harvard University is USD: 74171. As most of the students receive Pell grants and Federal Grant the average annual net price a student has to pay at Harvard University is much less than this.

How can I get a scholarship?

12.58% of the students are receiving Pell grants and 1.59 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 in receiving any scholarship form 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 makes?

The average annual salary of the Harvard University graduate after 4-6 year of graduation is USD 95114. 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: 36834



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

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