How much does Harvard University cost?

The average net price at Harvard University is $19,066 per year after financial aid. Over 4 years, that's approximately $76,264 total. Average student debt at graduation: $14,000.

What do Harvard University graduates earn?

Graduates of Harvard University earn a median salary of $101,817 ten years after enrollment. That's 89% above the national average.

What is the Harvard University acceptance rate?

Harvard University accepts approximately 3.7% of applicants.

When is the Harvard University application deadline?

The regular decision application deadline for Harvard University is January 1. The early deadline is November 1 (Restrictive Early Action). The application fee is $85.

Does Harvard University require SAT or ACT?

SAT or ACT scores are required for admission to Harvard University. SAT or ACT required beginning with the Class of 2029 (fall 2025 applications)

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

privateWebsite

100

Value

Median Earnings (10yr)

$101,817

+89% vs average

Net Price / Year

$19,066

-6% vs average

Graduation Rate

97%

Payback Period

0.7 years

Median Debt

$14,000

Student Body

7,601

Harvard University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)

Source: U.S. Dept of Education (College Scorecard)CollegeValueRanked

Admission Rate

Editor's takeby David W. · updated 2026-07-17

What we think of Harvard University

Harvard is the school most applicants apply to for the name, but the aid formula does more work than the reputation. A $19,066 average net price against a $60k+ sticker price is the result of a program that eliminates cost entirely for families earning under about $85,000, and heavily discounts up to roughly $200,000. Median debt at graduation of $14,000 is low for any elite private, and a substantial share of graduates leave with none.

The earnings side is where Harvard looks different from MIT or Stanford. Median 10-year earnings of $101,817 are strong but not extreme by elite-tier standards. That reflects the graduate mix: Harvard sends a larger share of alumni into law, medicine, PhD programs, and non-profit or government tracks — careers with slower initial earnings ramps that compound heavily later. The 10-year snapshot in College Scorecard structurally underweights those trajectories, and long-run earnings for Harvard graduates diverge upward well beyond what the median suggests.

The 97.5% graduation rate is the highest of any large research university in the country. Whatever gets you in essentially guarantees a degree, which changes the risk math relative to less-selective schools with weaker completion.

Bottom line: Harvard is the right choice when your target career is unclear, spans multiple elite tracks (finance, medicine, law, academia, government), or benefits specifically from institutional prestige. For a defined technology-earnings goal, MIT or Stanford deliver more per dollar and per admissions slot.

Harvard University at a Glance

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636, and named Harvard College in 1639 in honor of its first benefactor, Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Founded

1636

390 years old

Endowment

$55.7B

$55.7 billion (2025)

Students

21,189

7,038 undergrad · 14,151 grad

Faculty

2,400

Campus

209 acres

Identity

Motto: Veritas ( Latin )Athletics: CrimsonMascot: John HarvardColors: Crimson, white, and blackAffiliation: NonsectarianPresident: Alan Garber

Sources:Wikipedia

How to Apply to Harvard University

Official admissions page

SAT or ACT requiredCommon App memberInterview: Optional / where available

Regular deadline

January 1

Early deadline

November 1 (Restrictive Early Action)

Application fee

$85

Fee waiver available

Rec letters

2 required

Testing policy

SAT or ACT required beginning with the Class of 2029 (fall 2025 applications)

Recommendation letters

Two teacher recs + counselor/school report

Essays

Common App personal statement + 5 supplemental essays

Common App personal statement + 5 Harvard-specific short essays (200 words each)

Interview

Offered by alumni volunteers on a first-come basis; not required

Fee waiver

Available on request via any recognized fee waiver program

Requirements can change between admissions cycles. Always verify current requirements on the official admissions page before applying.

Is Harvard University Worth It?

Harvard University is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $19,066/year net price and $101,817 median earnings, graduates earn 5.3× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.

The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.

With a 97% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.

The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 4%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.

Median student debt of $14,000 is manageable at just 14% of first-year post-graduation earnings.

Bottom line: Harvard University delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.

How Harvard University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally

Ranked #1 of 21 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.

Rank	College	Value	Net price / yr	Median earnings
#1	Harvard University	100	$19,066	$101,817
#2	Yale University	100	$23,777	$100,533
#3	University of Chicago	100	$14,860	$91,885
#4	Johns Hopkins University	100	$18,809	$87,555
#5	Princeton University	100	$6,128	$110,066
#6	Columbia University in the City of New York	100	$21,590	$102,491

Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Harvard University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in MA.

Best Programs at Harvard University

The highest-earning program at Harvard University is Computer Science at $128,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $37,300/year.

Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Science graduate from Harvard University earns $128,900, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $37,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.

Return on Investment

Estimated 4-Year Cost

$76,264

Based on $19,066/yr net price × 4 years

Earnings Premium

+89%

vs. national average of $53,787/yr

Payback Period

0.7 years

Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings

10-Year Net Gain

$941,906

Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance

Programs & Earnings by Major

Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):

Major	Earnings (4yr)	Earnings (1yr)	Median Debt
Computer Science	$128,900	$128,900	N/A
Statistics	$126,100	$126,100	N/A
Applied Mathematics	$80,500	$80,500	N/A
Economics	$78,800	$78,800	N/A
Sociology	$53,800	$53,800	N/A
Social Sciences, General	$52,000	$52,000	$15,000
Political Science and Government	$51,800	$51,800	N/A
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences	$48,200	$48,200	N/A
History	$48,000	$48,000	N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology	$47,000	$47,000	N/A
Neurobiology and Neurosciences	$45,100	$45,100	N/A
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology	$39,100	$39,100	N/A
English Language and Literature, General	$37,300	$37,300	N/A

Similar Colleges in MA

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$143,372 earnings · $20,111/yr net price

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Amherst College

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Quick Facts

Institution Type: private
Location: Cambridge, MA
Student Body: 7,601 students
Admission Rate: 4%
Graduation Rate: 97%
Net Price (Annual): $19,066
Median Earnings (10yr): $101,817
Median Student Debt: $14,000

Explore More

Earnings & cost trends →All colleges in MA →Compare colleges →Our methodology →Best public colleges →

Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings are measured 10 years after enrollment. Net price reflects average cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal financial aid. Value scores are calculated using our methodology.