Harvard vs. Olin College

Deciding between Harvard University and Franklin W Olin College of Engineering? 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
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Olin College Needham, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Olin College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Olin College 405
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Olin College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Olin College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Olin College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Olin College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Olin College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Olin College $66,398
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Olin College $20,810
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Olin College $43,184
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Olin College $43,290
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Olin College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Olin College 1,000
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Olin College 252
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Olin College 25.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Olin College 43.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Olin College 1530
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Olin College
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Olin College 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Olin College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Olin College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Olin College High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Olin College
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Olin College 1493/1558
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Olin College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Olin College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Olin College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Olin College
    • Engineering (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Olin College 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Olin College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Olin College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Olin College $14,710
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Olin College $152

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Olin College 52%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Olin College 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Olin College High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Olin College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Olin College 53%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Olin College 16%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Olin College 4%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Olin College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Olin College 7%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Olin College 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Olin College 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Olin College 22%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Olin College 71%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in Needham, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than Olin College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 405 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is in Needham, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 9:1.

Harvard vs. Olin College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Olin College? 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 Olin College ($17,525 vs. $43,184).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering are 1.8% lower than at Harvard University ($20,810 vs. $21,190).
  • Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,722 more per year; $66,398.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.7% higher at Olin College than at Harvard University (about $4,722 more per year; $66,398.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 57.1% larger than aid received by Franklin W Olin College of Engineering students ($68,015 vs. $43,290).

Harvard vs. Olin College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 20 points higher than at Olin College (1530).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 1493/1558.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Olin College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Olin College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Olin College (3.9).
  • Olin College has a higher acceptance rate (25.2%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 43.7% at Olin College.

Harvard vs. Olin College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Olin College? 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 Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's (96%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $8,210 lower median loan debt than Olin College graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,710).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $85 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Olin College graduates ($67 vs. $152).

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.