Harvard University

www.harvard.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$51,143

3% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$13,910

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.339%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

4.01%

57,786 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

31,345

67.5% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

96.7%

1,604 Graduates

About

Harvard University is a higher education institution located in Middlesex County, MA. In 2021, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Harvard University were General Business Administration & Management (893 degrees awarded), General Education (561 degrees), and General Public Health (300 degrees).

In 2021, 9,623 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Harvard University. 51.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 48.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (3,798 degrees), 2.58 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1,473 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Harvard University is $51,143, which is $22,151 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

About the photo: Emerson Hall in a snowstorm

Photo by Colleen A. Bryant

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Harvard University is $51,143, which is $22,151 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $13,910.

In 2021, 43% of undergraduate students attending Harvard University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 2% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$51,143

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Harvard University was $51,143. The cost of tuition at Harvard University is $22,151 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$13,910

2021 Value

22.9%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Harvard University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,910. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Harvard University grew by 22.9%.

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

$14,195

Room and Board

$900

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Harvard University was of $14,195 in 2021. The cost of room and board decreased by 19.7% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $900. The cost of books and supplies increased by 12.5% 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

43%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

43% of undergraduate students at Harvard University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 2.38% with respect to 2020, when 42% 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.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.339%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Harvard University was 0.339%, which represents 7 out of the 2065 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Harvard University received 57,786 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 43.6% annual growth. Out of those 57,786 applicants, 2,318 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 4.01% acceptance rate.

There were 31,345 students enrolled at Harvard University in 2021. 54% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Harvard University has an overall enrollment yield of 84.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

4.01%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

2,318

Accepted Out of 57,786

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Harvard University was 4.01% (2,318 admissions from 57,786 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 5.01%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 43.6%, while admissions grew by 15%..

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 (2021)

1,049

Scores Submitted (2021)

54% of enrolled first-time students at Harvard University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Harvard University had a total enrollment of 31,345 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Harvard University is 21,160 students and the part-time enrollment is 10,185. This means that 67.5% of students enrolled at Harvard University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Harvard University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 34.6% White, 13.6% Asian, 9.05% Hispanic or Latino, 6.21% Black or African American, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.175% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.102% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Harvard University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (18.9%), followed by White Female (16.6%) and Asian Female (11.6%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (17.8%), followed by White Male (16.6%) and Asian Female (7.46%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

67.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Harvard University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 31,345 students. The full-time enrollment at Harvard University is 21,160 and the part-time enrollment is 10,185. This means that 67.5% of students enrolled at Harvard University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

96%

2021 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 96%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2021)

White
10,832 enrolled students
Asian
4,270 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,837 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Harvard University is 34.6% White, 13.6% Asian, 9.05% Hispanic or Latino, 6.21% Black or African American, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.175% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.102% 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 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 2,561 students (8.17%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 343 more women than men received degrees from Harvard University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Harvard University is white (3,798 degrees awarded). There were 2.58 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1473 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Harvard University is General Business Administration & Management (893 degrees awarded), followed by General Education (561 degrees) and General Public Health (300 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (246 degrees awarded), Legal (666 degrees), and Architecture and Related Services (171 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 (120,022 people), Architects, except landscape and naval (97,611 people), Other managers (96,440 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (79,912 people), and Postsecondary teachers (52,998 people).

The most specialized majors at Harvard University in 2021 are Applied Sciences (246 degrees awarded), Legal (666 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (171 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (258 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (122 degrees) (as of 2021).

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, Media and communication workers, all other, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Diagnostic medical sonographers, and Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

The most specialized majors at Harvard University are Applied Sciences (246 degrees awarded), Legal (666 degrees), Architecture and Related Services (171 degrees), Natural Resources & Conservation (258 degrees), and Cultural & Gender Studies (122 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (182,006 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (156,316 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (119,588 people), Legal services (102,328 people), and Construction (72,515 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 (2021)

General Business Administration & Management
893 degree-majors awarded
General Education
561 degree-majors awarded
General Public Health
300 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common masters degree concentration at Harvard University was General Business Administration & Management with 893 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,640

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

4,983

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 4,640 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University, which is 0.931 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (4,983).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 495 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.23 times more than the 404 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 442 degrees were awarded to men at Harvard University in General Education, which is 2.97 times more than the 149 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

85%

100% Completion Time

97%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 85% of students graduating from Harvard University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 97% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 98% 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.

Two or More Races Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Harvard University is Male and Two or More Races (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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, 1.68% of graduates (27 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
3,798 degrees awarded
Asian
1,473 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
920 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Harvard University is white (3,798 degrees awarded). There were 2.58 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (1473 degrees).

5.19% of degree recipients (499 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
1,913 degrees awarded
White Male
1,885 degrees awarded
Asian Female
794 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Harvard University is white female (1,913 degrees awarded). There were 1.01 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1885 degrees).

Operations

Harvard University has an endowment valued at nearly $53.2B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 14.8B (27.8%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Harvard University had a total salary expenditure of 4.97B. Harvard University employs 995 Professors, 282 Lecturers and 231 Assistant professors. Most academics at Harvard University are Male Professor (704), Female Professor (291), and Male Lecturer (148).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Harvard University are: Business and Financial Operations, with 2,439 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 1,891 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 1,782 employees.

Endowment

$53.2B

2021 Endowment

26.9%

growth from 2020

Harvard University has an endowment valued at about $53.2B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Harvard University grew 26.9% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $52.8B 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

$625M - Federal
$5.25M - State
$326k - Local

As of 2021, Harvard University received $625M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $5.25M from state grants and contracts, and $326k from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$2.08B

2021 Salaries

2.57%

decline from 2020

In 2021, Harvard University paid a median of $2.08B in salaries, which represents 41.8% of their overall expenditure ($4.97B) and a 2.57% decline from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$380M

Instructional Salaries

1,804

Number of Employees

In 2021, Harvard University paid a total of $380M to 1,804 employees working as instructors, which represents 18.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Professor

Most Common Instructor

995 Employees

Business and Financial Operations

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

2,439 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Harvard University were Professor with 995 employees, Lecturer with 282 employees, and Assistant professor with 231 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Harvard University were Business and Financial Operations with 2,439 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science with 1,891 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 1,782 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Female Professor
Male Lecturer

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Harvard University was Male Professor with 704 employees, Female Professor with 291 employees, and Male Lecturer with 148 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Harvard University.