What makes Harvard different
- The House system. After the first year, students live in one of twelve Houses, each with its own dining hall and community, for the rest of college.
- Time to explore. Students choose a concentration (Harvard's word for a major) in their second year, after sampling courses, alongside General Education requirements.
- Cambridge and Boston. A lively college town around campus, with Boston a short subway ride away.
What the admissions office says (as of October 2026)
- Testing: Harvard requires the SAT or ACT (AP, IB or national exams only when those tests aren't accessible).
- What they look for: Harvard's admissions office seeks "promising students who will contribute to the Harvard community during their college years, and to society throughout their lives," and says that "while academic accomplishment is important, the Admissions Committee considers many other factors."
- Takeaway: Harvard emphasizes contribution and the whole person, not just numbers.
See all eight side by side: Ivy League testing policies · What Ivy admissions officers look for.
What Harvard students study
The most common bachelor's degrees (class of 2024): economics (242), computer science (184), social studies (163), government (139), applied math (128) and neuroscience (88). Source: IPEDS Completions, first majors only.
You may thrive at Harvard if…
- You want a large research university's resources with a smaller residential community inside it.
- You'd like a year or more to explore before choosing a field.
- You enjoy a busy, walkable city setting.
Worth asking about
- How are students placed into Houses, and what's daily life in them like?
- How accessible are professors in large introductory courses?
How Harvard compares with the other Ivies
Harvard has the lowest published tuition among the Ivies and a residential system similar to Yale's. See how the 8 Ivy League schools differ.
FAQ
What is Harvard known for? Being the oldest U.S. college, its House system and its location in Cambridge.
How hard is it to get into Harvard? Harvard admitted 3.7% of applicants for fall 2024.
How much does Harvard cost? Published tuition and fees are $61,676 a year and the total cost of attendance is $85,540, before any aid.
How much is Harvard tuition per semester? About $30,838 a semester, half the published $61,676 a year, before aid.
Is Harvard an R1 university? Yes. In the 2025 Carnegie Classifications, Harvard University is an R1 university, the group with the highest research spending and doctoral degrees. What R1 means →
How many students go to Harvard? About 7,600 undergraduates (fall 2024).
Thinking about fit, not just the name?
Lens's assessments show which kinds of colleges fit who you are. Start with Lens →