Harvard University
A good fit for high-achieving applicants seeking a top-tier program and students focused on high earning potential. no major red flags in the data. graduates earn a median of $139,100 within 10 years; exceptional 98% graduation rate.
About This School
Harvard University is a private nonprofit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts with approximately 7,601 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are highly selective, with an acceptance rate of 4%. The average net price after financial aid is $19,066 per year. The graduation rate is 98%, and the typical graduate earns $139,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636, and named in 1639 for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
The numbers here are hard to argue with — a 97% graduation rate, median earnings of $139,100 a decade out, and a median debt of just $12,500 make this one of the strongest return-on-investment cases in American higher education. The average net price of $16,816/year surprises most families, since Harvard's endowment allows it to be genuinely generous with aid. The real concern is the 3% acceptance rate — this should be a dream school on your list, not a plan.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 22% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (7,601 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Amherst, MA · Public
Boston University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit
University of Massachusetts-Boston
Boston, MA · Public
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Lowell, MA · Public
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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