About Harvard University
Harvard University is one of the most highly ranked and globally respected academic institutions in the world. The private, medium-sized, liberal arts university, offers 4 year undergraduate programs at it’s college level. Harvard is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts - an urban setting across the Charles River from Boston. The college is coed, and most students live on campus.
A brief history
Founded in 1636, Harvard was named for the college’s first benefactor, the young minister, John Harvard, who upon his death in 1638, left his library and half his estate to the institution.
General information
Harvard is made up of the undergraduate college, and 11 other postgrad institutions including the highly ranked Business School, Law School, Medical School and John F. Kennedy School of Government.
3.4% 1460 - 1580 32 - 35 3.7 - 4.0
Acceptance Rate Average SAT Score Average ACT Score GPA Aim (top of class)
Quick facts about Harvard
- Undergrad degree: 4 year liberal arts
- Public or Private: Private
- Setting: Urban
- Residential Status: Primarily on campus
- Number of Undergraduates: 6,755 (approx)
- Number of Freshman: 1,644 (approx)
- Acceptance Rate: 3.4%
Harvard By The Numbers
What is Harvard's QS World University Ranking? #3
What is Harvard's US News Ranking? #2
How many undergraduate fields of study does Harvard have? 50
What is Harvard's Student-Faculty Ratio? 7:1
What percentage of Harvard students are international students? 22%
What percentage of Harvard students live on campus? 99%
What is the median starting salary of Harvard graduates? $69,000 USD
How many varsity sports teams are there at Harvard? 42
How hard is it to get into Harvard? Very! Harvard’s acceptance rate is below 5%.
The 6 most popular majors
28% Social Sciences
These concentrations consider big questions about peoples and societies past and present, investigating phenomena large and small.
These concentrations consider big questions about peoples and societies past and present, investigating phenomena large and small.
14% Biology
Harvard's Molecular and Cellular Biology majors are interested in understanding the intersection of modern research in cellular biology with medicine and society.
11% Mathematics
Mathematics is the science of order, and mathematicians seek to identify instances of order and to formulate and understand concepts that enable us to perceive order in complicated situations.
9% Computer and Information Sciences
Harvard's computer science curriculum is designed to offer students flexibility. Students can combine their studies with other fields such as mathematics, physics, economics and psychology.
9% History
With its emphasis on critical reading skills, the evaluation of evidence, and persuasive writing, Harvard's history concentration offers preparation for professional, business, and scholarly careers.
5% Psychology
Harvard's psychology concentration sees students study psychological processes such as attention, perception, memory, reasoning, decision-making, cognitive and social development and morality.
Notable alumni
Harvard boasts more than 371,000 living alumni with over 279,000 of these graduates located in the USA and over 59,000 living in 202 countries around the world. The university has produced 49 Nobel Laureates, 32 heads of state and 48 Pulitzer Prize winners.
President Barack Obama
44th President of the United States
Having completed his undergraduate degree at Columbia University (majoring in political science), Barack Obama spent the next year working for a global business consulting group and the following four years working as a community organizer in Chicago’s largely poor and black south side. It was not until 1988 that Obama enrolled in Harvard Law School where he became the first black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.