Harvard vs. Hunter

Deciding between Harvard University and CUNY Hunter 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
CUNY Hunter College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Hunter New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Hunter Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Hunter 22,538
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Hunter Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Hunter #297
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Hunter -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Hunter Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Hunter

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Hunter $7,382
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Hunter $15,332
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Hunter $11,832
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Hunter $4,431
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Hunter $9,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Hunter 87%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Hunter 32,271
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Hunter 17,362
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Hunter 53.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Hunter 16.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Hunter 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Hunter
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Hunter 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Hunter A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Hunter Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Hunter Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Hunter
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Hunter 1100/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Hunter Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Hunter

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Hunter 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Hunter
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Hunter 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Hunter $48,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Hunter 56%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Hunter $11,548
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Hunter $119

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Hunter 33%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Hunter 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Hunter Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Hunter No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Hunter 27%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Hunter 26%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Hunter 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Hunter 29%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Hunter 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Hunter 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Hunter 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Hunter 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Hunter 82%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Hunter 0%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

Harvard vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College than Harvard ($4,431 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 44.2% lower than at Harvard University ($11,832 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 735.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $54,294 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $7,382.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 302.3% higher at Harvard than at CUNY Hunter College (about $46,344 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $15,332.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at Harvard University (87% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 597.2% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($68,015 vs. $9,755).

Harvard vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 290 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Hunter - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Hunter (3.7).
  • Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

Harvard vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Hunter? 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 CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $87,900 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $5,048 lower median loan debt than Hunter graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,548).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hunter graduates ($67 vs. $119).
  • More Harvard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 56%)

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.