Connecticut College vs. Harvard

Deciding between Connecticut College 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.

Connecticut College
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Connecticut College New London, CT
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Connecticut College Small City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Connecticut College 1,990
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Connecticut College Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Connecticut College #93
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Connecticut College -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Connecticut College Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Connecticut College
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Connecticut College $18,558
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Connecticut College $45,700
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College $38,932
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College 100%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Connecticut College 7,950
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Connecticut College 2,945
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Connecticut College 37%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Connecticut College 15.3%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Connecticut College 1430
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Connecticut College 31
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Connecticut College 3.7
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Connecticut College A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Connecticut College Exceptional
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Connecticut College High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Connecticut College 30/33
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Connecticut College 1350/1500
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Connecticut College Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Connecticut College 9:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Connecticut College
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • Biology (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Connecticut College 84%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Connecticut College $60,700
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Connecticut College 90%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Connecticut College $23,550
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Connecticut College $243
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Connecticut College 39%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Connecticut College 61%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Connecticut College Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Connecticut College No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Connecticut College 71%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Connecticut College 9%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Connecticut College 6%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Connecticut College 13%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Connecticut College 82%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Connecticut College in New London, CT with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Connecticut College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,990 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Connecticut College is located in New London, CT (Small City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Connecticut College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Connecticut College 9:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Connecticut College vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut College 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 Connecticut College ($17,525 vs. $45,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Connecticut College are 12.4% lower than at Harvard University ($18,558 vs. $21,190).
  • Connecticut College is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,566 more per year; $67,242.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Connecticut College than at Harvard University (about $5,566 more per year; $67,242.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Connecticut College than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 74.7% larger than aid received by Connecticut College students ($68,015 vs. $38,932).

Connecticut College vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Connecticut College 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 Connecticut College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 120 points higher than at Connecticut College (1430).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Connecticut College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 1350/1500; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 30/33; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Connecticut College - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Connecticut College (3.7).
  • Connecticut College has a higher acceptance rate (37%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Connecticut College vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Connecticut College vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Connecticut College 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 Connecticut College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $76,000 more per year than Connecticut College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $60,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $17,050 lower median loan debt than Connecticut College graduates ($6,500 vs. $23,550).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $176 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Connecticut College graduates ($67 vs. $243).
  • More Connecticut College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (90% 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.