Harvard vs. Bryn Mawr

Deciding between Harvard University and Bryn Mawr 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
Bryn Mawr College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Bryn Mawr Bryn Mawr, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Bryn Mawr Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Bryn Mawr 1,679
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Bryn Mawr Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Bryn Mawr #83
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Bryn Mawr -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Bryn Mawr Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Bryn Mawr

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Bryn Mawr $65,920
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Bryn Mawr $19,400
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Bryn Mawr $33,221
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Bryn Mawr $50,029
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Bryn Mawr 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Bryn Mawr 4,094
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Bryn Mawr 1,205
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Bryn Mawr 29.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Bryn Mawr 31.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Bryn Mawr 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Bryn Mawr 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Bryn Mawr 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Bryn Mawr A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Bryn Mawr Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Bryn Mawr High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Bryn Mawr 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Bryn Mawr 1280/1510
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Bryn Mawr Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Bryn Mawr 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Bryn Mawr
    • Social Sciences (26%)
    • Foreign Languages (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Mathematics (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Bryn Mawr 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Bryn Mawr $61,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Bryn Mawr 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Bryn Mawr $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Bryn Mawr $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Bryn Mawr 4%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Bryn Mawr 96%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Bryn Mawr Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Bryn Mawr No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Bryn Mawr 36%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Bryn Mawr 12%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bryn Mawr 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Bryn Mawr 9%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Bryn Mawr 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Bryn Mawr 5%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Bryn Mawr 23%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Bryn Mawr 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Bryn Mawr 10%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Bryn Mawr 76%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Bryn Mawr College in Bryn Mawr, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Bryn Mawr based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,679 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Bryn Mawr Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr ($17,525 vs. $33,221).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bryn Mawr College are 8.4% lower than at Harvard University ($19,400 vs. $21,190).
  • Bryn Mawr College is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,244 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at Bryn Mawr than at Harvard University (about $4,244 more per year; $65,920.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bryn Mawr College than at Harvard University (72% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 36% larger than aid received by Bryn Mawr College students ($68,015 vs. $50,029).

Harvard vs. Bryn Mawr Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 150 points higher than at Bryn Mawr (1400).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Bryn Mawr).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Bryn Mawr College 1280/1510.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Bryn Mawr College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Bryn Mawr - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Bryn Mawr Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Bryn Mawr (3.85).
  • Bryn Mawr has a higher acceptance rate (29.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 31.5% at Bryn Mawr.

Harvard vs. Bryn Mawr Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Bryn Mawr? 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 Bryn Mawr College's (87%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $75,200 more per year than Bryn Mawr graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $61,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,500 lower median loan debt than Bryn Mawr graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $201 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bryn Mawr graduates ($67 vs. $268).
  • More Bryn Mawr graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.