Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 & 2026

How to Get Into Harvard: Admissions Data and Strategies

Check here Harvard University Acceptance Rate for all year. Here I have listed Harvard University Acceptance Rate

• Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2022
• Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2023
• Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2024
• Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2025
• Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2026

Harvard University Acceptance Rate: Harvard is an Ivy League institution in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard University is a prestigious institution in Massachusetts. Harvard University’s acceptance rate is approximately 4.6 percent.

It is home to some of the most historic buildings in the country, as well as a variety of research centers. The Cambridge area is home to students near a large number of college students, as well as the city of Boston.

Of 57,435 applicants in 2021, just 1968 students were accepted into Harvard University. The Harvard acceptance rate for 2021 Harvard receives 3.43 percent, the lowest acceptance percentage for a single year in College history.

Overview of Harvard University

Before we know what is required to become a student at Harvard to be admitted, let us learn a bit more about Harvard.

The university is located at Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvard University is one of the oldest institutions in the United States. It is one of the highly regarded Ivy League institutions and among the most revered institutions worldwide.

The school comprises students from the undergrad level of Harvard College, 12 graduate and professional schools, and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Harvard Radcliffe Institute. Over 31,000 people are studying at Harvard in various courses, and more than 11% include international students.

• Established: 1636
• QS World University Ranking 2022: 5
• Student: Faculty Ratio: 5:1
• Popular Courses: Law, Psychology, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics, Biological Sciences, Business Management

Name	Harvard University
Location	Cambridge, MA
Founded	1636
Acceptance Rate	4.6% (2020-2021)
Enrollment	6,710 undergraduates, 20,324 students in total (Approximately)
Average Tuition Fee	$48,949
Average Financial Aid Award	$50,562
Approximate SAT Score Accepted	2235 (class of 2020), roughly equivalent to 1530 on the new SAT

What is the Acceptance Rate of Harvard University?

The applicants for Restrictive Early Action to the Crimson Class of 2026 were accepted at a 7.9 percent rate. In the early stages, 9406 applications and 740 were taken.

the class in 2025 REA numbers, 1008 REA applications to be part of the class of 2021-22 first-year students, just 747 applicants (7.4 percent) were accepted. Although 8,023 applicants were referred into the regular cycle. 924 received rejections outright.

Harvard Acceptance Rate – Class of 2026

Of the record-breaking applicants of 61,220, only 1,954 of the Class of 2026 hopefuls got into the program. This is a shockingly low (even in Harvard’s terms) 3.19 percent acceptance rate.

This is comparable to the 3.43 percentage rate for the Class of 2025. In contrast, 40,248 applicants applied to be a part of this Class of 2020-21 freshmen. However, just 1,980 of them were accepted. This is equivalent to a 4.9 percent acceptance rate.

Harvard Overall Acceptance Statistics

Class of	Number of Applications	Accepted Students	Acceptance Rate
2026	61,220	1,954	3.2%
2025	57,435	1,968	3.4%
2024	40,248	1,980	4.9%

Harvard University Acceptance Rate by Major

Harvard has 60 undergraduate courses of study, and acceptance rates differ according to the major. For instance, Harvard College, the university’s undergraduate college, is accepted by 5 percent of applicants, whereas Harvard Law School takes 7 percent.

The most well-liked majors for students who are transferring comprise the biological sciences, social sciences, math, computer and information sciences, and history.

HARVARD UNIVERSITY: MOST POPULAR MAJORS

Economics
Political science/government
Sociology

Harvard Admissions – SAT, ACT, GPA, and Class Rank

Based on the most up-to-date official data available (Class in 2024), The mid-50 percent SAT range for first-year students admitted was 710-770 in the EBRW section and 750 to 800 in the math section.

On the ACT, the content was 33-35. Ninety-three percent had been able to rank within the top 10 percent of their high school graduation class. The average GPA is 4.18. Less than 93% of the successful applicants had an unweighted grade point average of 3.75 or more.

The university had a test option for selecting students for 2026’s Class. Harvard remains test-optional for applicants to Class 2027, Class 2028, and Class 2029.

Harvard University Requirements

How did you get admitted to Harvard? The main elements to be focusing on are:

• Minimum GPA requirements
• The requirements to take SAT and ACTs as well as
• The application requirements

The acceptance rate reflects the level of competition at which the school operates and how committed they are to its requirements.

The Harvard acceptance rate for the university was 4.7 percent. Five out of 100 applications are considered.  the Harvard acceptance rate of 3.43 percent, which indicates an increase in acceptance rates.

Are you interested in earning an MBA at Harvard Business School? Understanding the Harvard Business School acceptance rate is crucial since it is regularly recognized as the top program in the United States. Harvard accepted 9,304 applicants for the full-time MBA program in 2020.

Harvard admitted just 859 people. That means there was a Harvard Business School acceptance rate was 9 percent. Looking at these Harvard Business School acceptance rates figures is a daunting task. However, it is essential to understand the numbers and concentrate on getting your application ready to the best of your abilities.

Harvard Requirements: GPA

What do you have to do to be accepted into Harvard? Most schools have an upper GPA requirement. It is typically a fundamental requirement to ensure you do not get your application rejected immediately.

It is possible to estimate the Harvard requirements through the students’ GPAs. Most students accepted into Harvard will have an unweighted grade of 4.18 or higher, which means you’ll have to be at least 4.2 to be evaluated thoughtfully.

To satisfy the Harvard standards, you’ll need to achieve a minimum of A’s on your high school coursework. Enrolling in complex subjects like AP and IB courses is an excellent idea to show that college-level academics are accessible.

When you’re in the junior-senior, changing your GPA before college applications can be challenging. You’ll need a higher SAT and an ACT score to offset your GPA isn’t up to Harvard, the university’s standards.

Harvard is aiming to employ an approach to selection that is balanced and examines you. It is indeed essential to be able to meet Harvard’s criteria. But, your extracurricular portfolio, future goals, and your previous education all play in your favor to assist you in preparing a winning application to Harvard.

Harvard Requirements: SAT & ACT

How do I get into Harvard by relying on on SAT and scores from the ACT? To be eligible for Harvard, you must pass or take an SAT and the ACT.

Some schools claim they don’t possess an SAT score cutoff. However, they indeed have one. The Harvard University requirement for SAT is based on an average score.

The Harvard University mean SAT score is 1520 on the 1600-point scale. This score means that Harvard is highly competitive in SAT scores.

Harvard super scores on the SAT. Your highest section scores for every one of your SAT days will be considered. Instead of limiting your scores to a single day, Harvard will combine your top sections to create the most impressive total score.

Like Harvard University standards for SAT, The standard ACT scores at Harvard are also rising. It is estimated that the average ACT score of Harvard accepted applicants is 33.

However, even though Harvard says there’s not a minimum ACT score, If you apply with scores of less than 29, it will be difficult to get admitted.

To enter Harvard, knowing the different Harvard University requirements for test scores is crucial. This will increase the likelihood of being accepted into Harvard despite the lower Harvard acceptance rate for students.

Harvard SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile of the New SAT score was 1460, while the 75th percentile of the New SAT score of 1580. Also, a 1460 score on the New SAT places you below average, whereas a 1580 score will elevate you to above average.

People who live close to Harvard may wish to consider tutoring in Acton and other areas of the Boston region to boost their performance on tests.

Here’s the breakdown of the latest SAT scores according to a section:

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
Math	770	740	800
Reading + Writing	750	720	780
Composite	1520	1460	1580

SAT Score Choice Policy

It is essential to understand that the Score Choice policy at your school is an integral component of your test strategy.

Harvard is a school with a Score Choice policy of “Highest Section. “

This is referred to also as “superscoring.” This means you can select the SAT tests you would like to send to your school. From all scores that they get, your admissions committee will take into consideration your top section scores across all SATs you take.

Click here to find out more about how superscoring impacts your test strategy.

So, if your SAT score is less than the 1580 mark, it is highly recommended that you consider studying on the SAT and then retaking it. You stand a high chance of improving your scores, which can dramatically increase your chances of being accepted.

In addition, due to the Superscore, you can concentrate all your attention on one section at once. When the Reading score is less than the other sections, you should only prepare in the Reading section, and then you can test on the SAT. Concentrate upon Math in the following test and so on. This will result in the best possible Superscore.

ACT Score Sending Policy

When you’re taking the ACT instead of the SAT, You have an advantage in how you report scores. This drastically impacts your test strategy.

This is how it works: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you are in total control over which tests you submit. You could take 10 tests and only send the one with the highest score. This differs from the SAT in that many schools require you to send all the tests you have ever taken.

That means you stand greater chances than you think to increase your ACT score. To try to achieve the school’s ACT requirements of 35 or over, you need to make an effort to take the ACT every time you can. Once you’ve got a result you’re satisfied with, then forward that score only to all of your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

Most colleges don’t superscore the ACT. (Superscore is when the school uses your top section scores from each test you take and then combines these scores to produce the most effective combined score). So, most schools simply take your total ACT score from one test.

We could not locate the specific ACT policies, which likely means it does not offer Superscore. Whatever the case, you’ll be able to select your highest ACT score to submit to Harvard; therefore, you need to prepare until you have reached the recommended ACT score of 35.

Harvard University Application Process

You may apply to Harvard by using any of the following channels:

• Coalition Application
• Common Application
• Universal College Application

The portals can apply to undergraduate as well as graduate-level programs. For Harvard, the Harvard fee for the application is $75 USD.

Begin the process of applying to Harvard as soon as you can. This will allow ample time to work on the process.

After you have chosen the website, be sure to submit these Harvard University admission requirements for international students:

• Standardized Test Scores
• English Language proficiency proof
• The official school transcripts
• Essays
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation for at minimum 3
• Resumes – whenever needed

The Harvard application should be submitted before the submission of the supporting materials. Be sure to include all Harvard supplements or questions with your application. This will assist the admission committee in assessing your application more thoroughly.

Application Fee

Then, you’ll need to pay a fee of $75 to complete your application via these online portals. This fee can be waived if you prove that you are financially disadvantaged.

Application Deadlines

When you are putting together all the materials, Be aware of the final deadlines! All materials for Harvard are due by the deadline:

* November 1 for Single-Choice Early Action

* January 1 for Regular Decision

Early Action results are made public around mid-December. Regular applicants will be notified on the internet by April. Admissions students must decide on May 1 whether they’ll attend.

Popular Schools at Harvard University

Knowing about Harvard’s Acceptance rate doesn’t suffice to make your dream of attending Harvard a reality. Harvard is home to an array of colleges that offer diverse disciplines.

To be a potential student, it is crucial to understand the details regarding the structures and the schools of the university. Below are the most important colleges of Harvard University.

• Department of Economics
• School of Astronomy
• Graduate School of Design
• Faculty of Arts and Science
• School of Dental Medicine
• Harvard Law School
• Harvard Business School
• Harvard Medical School
• Harvard Divinity School

Admissions Trends & Notes 

• Applications rose by 7 percent for the class of 2026.
• The average SAT for an athlete recruited was 1397. The average for non-athletes was 1501.
• Legacy students had a higher standard SAT (1523) than those without legacy (1491).
• 20.5 percent of 2026’s admit that they were eligible for Pell Grants.
• 20.3 percent of those accepted to the 2022-23 first-year class are first-generation students.
• Students admitted to the program come from the entire fifty States within the U.S. and 98 countries.
• The average decision-round acceptance rate was around 2.3 percent.

How Harvard Rates Applicants

As a jeweler is sifting through a plethora of diamonds, trying to determine one that is the “most perfect” of the collection, Harvard admissions officers need an approach to classify different degrees of quality.

In this way, they give the 1-4 rating (or 1-6, as per specific sources), and 1 is the top score in four categories: 1)) academic, 2)) extracurricular activities, 3) athletics, and four) personal. The minus and pluses are added to the numeric rating to differentiate further.

This provides a good insight into how Harvard decides to filter the hordes of applicants who are overqualified.
To estimate your acceptance odds, evaluate your performance in these 4 areas, and note our previous posts regarding Renaissance men and women.

You will unlikely get a 1 or 2 in athletics just for participating in one season in JV Volleyball at high school. A player who ranks high in this category is actively sought out by the head coach of one of Harvard’s 42 Division I sports teams.

Likewise, for extracurriculars–Harvard will not be impressed that you filled the ten spaces on the Common App Activity List; they are looking for genuine excellence in one or more activities.

You may have been awarded a top international math contest or are among the best cells within the United States. Maybe you’ve published your original research paper or founded an organization for charitable purposes that had an immense impact.

Who Actually Gets Into Harvard?

Let’s examine the demographics of the Class of 2025.

Geographically the class of 2025 consisted of students from:

• International: 15.6%
• Mid-Atlantic States: 20.7%
• Southern States: 18.3%
• Pacific States: 13.2%
• Central States: 1.8%
• Midwestern States: 9.9%
• New England States: 16.6%
• Mountain States: 3.4%

The competition is the most intense among applicants coming from states that offer an endless supply of applicants (the whole Northeast and The West Coast).

If you are from a state with fewer people, like Wyoming and North Dakota, your location will increase your chances of admission. This is because of something known as geographical diversity.

When it comes to ethnicity and ethnicity, the division of the class that took place in 2025 could be described in the following order:

• Asian: 25.9%
• Hispanic: 12.5%
• African American: 15.9%
• Native American: 1.1%

A study that was quite remarkable revealed there was a 43% chance that the white students accepted into Harvard within the last 6 years had either legacy (their parents had been alumni) or athletes who were recruited and students from faculty.

Or teenagers whose parents have donated substantial amounts of money to the school. The alleged discrimination against students from Harvard was brought to the United States Supreme Court, but Harvard won.

The primary subjects of those who were admitted into the Class of 2025 included:

• Humanities: 15.3%
• Social Sciences: 28.1%
• Biology: 18.3%
• Physical Sciences: 7.6%
• Engineering: 10.3%
• Computer Science: 8.1%
• Math: 6.0%
• Undecided: 6.3%

Most People Who Get Accepted Choose to Attend

The percentage of students accepted who decide to enroll divided by the number of students admitted is 85%. This staggering number helps clarify why acceptance rates are meager.

For example, top universities like Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Vanderbilt, Rice, Emory, and Georgetown all have yields closer to (or less than) 50%.

What do you need to get into Harvard: Tips and Tricks

•  Maintain a 4.22 GPA despite taking the most challenging classes offered    

The median Harvard GPA for 2025’s class was 4.22 The majority of applicants earned at least a 4.0. Simply put, good grades are necessary for admission to Harvard, and the university is deemed “extremely essential” when making admissions decisions. The top ten institutions, such as Harvard, usually have taken at least 12 AP courses.

The Academic Index is a metric used by highly selective colleges that accept a wide range of applications. Academic Index combines an applicant’s entire academic record into one single number.

This makes it easy for admissions officers to choose candidates who don’t meet a school’s academic requirements.

But, just having “What do you need to get into Harvard?” isn’t enough. Harvard is known for its low acceptance rate for students.

A good grade isn’t enough to be a success for a top university such as Harvard, and you’ll need to achieve these in the most challenging courses you could ever take.

•  Aim for an SAT score of 1580 and an ACT score of 35    

The middle part of the 2025 class at Harvard had SAT scores of 1460-1580 and ACT scores of 33 to 35. Any score within the 50% range is considered acceptable; However, the more your score within the band, the higher your chances of being accepted.

Harvard is not able to superscore standardized tests. Harvard was testing-free for the admissions cycle 2020-2021 because of the challenges caused by COVID-19. The school has extended the policy for the admissions cycle 2021-2022.

• Create interesting essays

Harvard offers a range of applicants with outstanding capabilities. This is why the Harvard acceptance rate for students is 4.6 percent, and Harvard Business School’s acceptance rate of 9 percent.

Your essay can be used to prove that you possess a distinctive personality and voice. The Harvard application comprises one mandatory essay and two optional essays; however, if you want to stand out from the crowd, consider all three essays mandatory.

• Achieve Success in Your Interview

While interviews play a minor part in the selection process of admission, Harvard considers them when making admissions choices. Be sure not to be shocked by the Harvard interview. Please educate yourself about the process and prepare for it.

In conclusion, it could be considered that the query “What do you need to get into Harvard?” There is no definitive answer.

A lot is required to be a part of one of the most prestigious schools around the globe. Therefore, ensure that you remain positive and focused on the chances of being accepted to Harvard.

What Does Harvard Look for in an Application?

Harvard says, “We offer careful, personal consideration to each candidate. We are looking for students who are the most effective educators of one another as well as their teachers… The admissions procedure permits us to carefully and thoroughly consider every applicant as an individual .”

Suppose you’re thinking about how to gain admission to Harvard University. In that case, you must concentrate on creating an all-encompassing profile, emphasizing extracurricular activities and volunteer work. The shape should focus on four factors:

• Potential and GrowthThe admissions officers would like to determine if you’ve been working hard to reach your potential.
• Interests and activities they want to know about your love for learning, your interests, ability, leadership skills, and dedication.
• Personal character college wants in your choices and your willingness to try new ideas, and individual traits like maturity, self-confidence, and an interest in other people.
• Community Participation Harvard seeks students who can handle the various elements of life at college, give back to Harvard’s community, contribute positively to the Harvard campus community and be successful under stress.

How many Indian/international students are studying at the university?

Harvard is known to welcome applicants worldwide and accept diversity in all its forms. The admissions cycle for 2023 undergraduates has seen 43,330 applications.

Of this, 1650 applicants confirmed their enrollment. International students account for 13 percent of the total amount of students enrolled. The MBA Class of 2021 has received 938 applications from around the globe.

Of these, 43% are female, 37 percent are international students, and 27% belong to ethnic minorities from the US.

Should I Apply to Harvard?

If you’re a scholar, filling out the Harvard application is not a problem. However, just like other top-ranked colleges in 2022 and 23– even the brightest and most talented teens should have a reliable backup plan. For more information on how to create an unbiased list, check out our blog titled How many schools should I apply to?

Academic Life at Harvard University

The ratio of faculty students at Harvard University is 7:1, and the school offers 70.6 percent of its classes with less than 20 pupils.

The most sought-after majors at Harvard University include Social Sciences General Biology/Biological Sciences General Mathematics, General Computer and Information Sciences, General; History, General; Physical Sciences General Psychology, General; Engineering General and Foreign Languages and Literatures General. The typical retention rate of first-year students as a measure of satisfaction with the school is 92%.

Student Life at Harvard University

Harvard University has a total undergraduate student population in the range of 7,153 (fall 2021) and an average gender of 50, 50% female students and 50 percent female students. In terms of sports, Harvard University is part of the NCAA I.

Harvard University Tuition & Financial Aid

At Harvard University, 55% of full-time students receive financial aid based on need, and the mean need-based grant or scholarship is $62,613.

College tuition doesn’t need to be a nightmare or a disaster. Visit the Paying for College knowledge center for tips on how to raise cash and reduce costs. You can also use the U.S. News 529 Finder to find your most tax-efficient college savings account.

Tuition and fees	$57,261 (2022-23)
Room and Board	$19,502 (2022-23)

Harvard University Campus

Harvard University offers several student services, such as women’s centers, nonremedial tutoring placement services, health insurance, and health service.

Harvard University also offers campus security and safety features like 24-hour foot and vehicle security, late-night transportation/escort services 24, hours emergency phone lines, sidewalks/lit pathways, student patrols, and restricted access to dormitories (key security card, key, etc.). Alcohol is allowed for students who are legal at Harvard University.

Harvard University Contact Information

Whom should I contact in case of any doubts?

Address: Massachusetts Hall, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Website: www.harvard.edu/

Contact No: (617) 495-1000

Accommodation-related queries: (617) 496-7827

Harvard University Acceptance Rate FAQ