Harvard vs. Barnard

Deciding between Harvard University and Barnard College? 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.

Harvard University
Barnard College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Barnard Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Barnard #35
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Barnard -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Barnard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Barnard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Barnard $63,131
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Barnard 33%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Barnard 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Barnard 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Barnard A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Barnard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Barnard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Barnard 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Barnard 1470/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Barnard 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Barnard 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Barnard $184

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Barnard 2%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Barnard 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Barnard High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Barnard No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Barnard 53%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Barnard 14%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Barnard 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Barnard 12%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Barnard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Barnard 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Barnard 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Barnard 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Barnard 20%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Barnard 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 3,487 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Barnard College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Barnard College 10:1.

Harvard vs. Barnard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Barnard? 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 Barnard ($17,525 vs. $26,407).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 2.4% lower than at Barnard College ($21,190 vs. $21,714).
  • Barnard College is 13.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $8,212 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 13.3% higher at Barnard than at Harvard University (about $8,212 more per year; $69,888.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Barnard College (56% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Barnard College students ($68,015 vs. $63,131).

Harvard vs. Barnard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Barnard? 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 Barnard and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Barnard (1520).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Barnard).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Barnard College 1470/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Barnard College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Barnard - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Barnard (3.85).
  • Barnard has a higher acceptance rate (8.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 68.6% at Barnard.

Harvard vs. Barnard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Barnard? 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 Barnard College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $69,800 more per year than Barnard graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $66,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $11,347 lower median loan debt than Barnard graduates ($6,500 vs. $17,847).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Barnard graduates ($67 vs. $184).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.