Harvard University
Admissions
Interested in attending Harvard University?
On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Harvard University, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.
Admission Rates
Is it difficult to get into Harvard University?
Using the most up-to-date data on record, Harvard accepted 3% of applicants. We classify this as most selective.
In the most recent year, 56,937 people applied and 1,965 were accepted.
Applied/Accepted
Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at Harvard University:
Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.
Of those accepted, 84% ended up enrolling at Harvard University, making their yield rate Very High. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.
Application Factors
You can increase your chances of getting into Harvard University by looking at what the school considers during the application process.
Here are the things Harvard considers:
Considered
- Academic GPA
- Alumni/AE Relation
- Application Essay
- Character/Personal Qualities
- Extracurricular Activities
- First Generation
- Geographical Residence
- Interview
- Recommendation(s)
- Rigor of Secondary School Record
- Standardized Test Scores
- Talent/Ability
- Volunteer Work
- Work Experience
Not Considered
- Class Rank
- Level of Applicant's Interest
- Religious Affiliation/Commitment
- State Residency
Grades & Testing
Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Harvard University?
Grades
Students who recently attended Harvard University as freshmen had an average unweighted high school GPA of 3.94. 94% of freshmen who attended Harvard were in the top 10% of their graduating high school class, and 99% were in the top 25% of their graduating high school class.
These are the high school grade point averages (unweighted) of students who enroll:
High School GPAs
Harvard is Test Required. This school requires test scores to be submitted in order to be considered for admission.
Applicants submitting SAT Scores
Applicants submitting ACT Scores
SAT Math Scores
SAT Verb Scores
SAT Composite Scores
Application Deadlines
These are the deadlines for applying to Harvard University. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.
Regular Admissions
Mistakes were made
(But not by you!)
These are the top 10 mistakes people make when searching for colleges
Get the free guide
