Clark University vs. Harvard

Deciding between Clark University and Harvard University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Clark University
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Clark University Worcester, MA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Clark University Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Clark University 3,925
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Clark University Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Clark University #148
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Clark University -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Clark University Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Clark University
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Clark University $58,867
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Clark University $12,500
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Clark University $33,865
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Clark University $34,667
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Clark University 99%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Clark University 11,452
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Clark University 4,528
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Clark University 39.5%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Clark University 10.7%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Clark University 1370
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Clark University 31
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Clark University 3.69
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Clark University A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Clark University Very High
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Clark University Low
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Clark University 30/33
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Clark University 1288/1460
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Clark University Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Clark University Jan 15, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Clark University 8:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Clark University
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Psychology (17%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Clark University 80%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Clark University $50,100
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Clark University 82%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Clark University $27,000
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Clark University $279
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Clark University 48%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Clark University 52%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Clark University High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Clark University No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Clark University 57%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Clark University 7%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Clark University 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Clark University 7%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Clark University 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Clark University 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Clark University 2%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Clark University 15%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Clark University 8%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Clark University 33%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Clark University 59%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Clark University Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Clark University No
  • Harvard Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Clark University Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Clark University No
  • Harvard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Clark University No
  • Harvard Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark University in Worcester, MA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Clark University based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,925 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Clark University is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Clark University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Clark University 8:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Clark University vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark University or Harvard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Clark University ($17,525 vs. $33,865).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clark University are 41% lower than at Harvard University ($12,500 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clark University (about $2,809 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $58,867.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at Harvard than at Clark University (about $2,809 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $58,867.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark University than at Harvard University (99% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 96.2% larger than aid received by Clark University students ($68,015 vs. $34,667).

Clark University vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark University or Harvard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harvard and Clark University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 180 points higher than at Clark University (1370).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Clark University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark University 1288/1460; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Clark University 30/33; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark University - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Clark University Jan 15, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Clark University (3.69).
  • Clark University has a higher acceptance rate (39.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Clark University vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Clark University vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Clark University and Harvard? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Clark University's (80%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $86,600 more per year than Clark University graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $50,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Clark University graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark University graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Clark University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.