Harvard University

About Harvard University

Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the eight Ivy League universities.

Established in 1636, it  is the United States’ oldest university and considered by many to be the world’s most prestigious.

Noted alumni include former U.S. presidents:

  • John Adams
  • John Quincy Adams
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • John F. Kennedy
  • Al Gore
  • George W. Bush
  • Barack Obama.

Other notables include:

  • Naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • Essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet Heny David Thoreau
  • Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
  • Microsoft founder Bill Gates
  • Former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto
  • Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing at 19 months and became an author, disability rights advocate and lecturer.

The university averages more than 30,000 students per term, including both full-time and part-time students. 

Fewer than 5 percent of applicants gain acceptance. 

Check out information below to find out standardized test scores and GPAs for Harvard University applicants.

Location

The median SAT score for students accepted to Harvard University is , and the average ACT score is 35. Harvard University is extremely competitive, with an acceptance rate of 4.01%. So the higher your score, the better your chance of acceptance. Getting a score of around For Harvard University, the 25th percentile SAT scores are Math: 750, Reading: 730, Writing: 710, and ACT: 33. puts you below average, within the 25th percentile, whereas a score of The 75th percentile SAT score for students accepted to Harvard University is Math: 800, Reading: 780, Writing: 790, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36. would put you above the average, within the 75th percentile. As of the publication of this page, Harvard University considered the SAT and ACT optional. However, because it is so competitive to gain admission, experts say a good score can make you stand above the crowd of other applicants. Going into Harvard University, students typically have an average GPA of The average GPA for Harvard University is . out of 5. The potential reward for admission: The median salary of Harvard University graduates is USD 95114.

SAT & ACT Scores and Acceptance Rate

Harvard University has an acceptance rate of 4.01%. Harvard University considers admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process, but does not require them. Students who were admitted to Harvard University and enrolled typically had admission test scores in these ranges.