Harvard vs. Hamilton College

Deciding between Harvard University and Hamilton 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
Hamilton College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Hamilton College Clinton, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Hamilton College Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Hamilton College 2,031
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Hamilton College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Hamilton College #26
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Hamilton College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Hamilton College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Hamilton College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Hamilton College $68,960
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Hamilton College $17,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Hamilton College $28,719
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Hamilton College $55,511
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Hamilton College 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Hamilton College 8,531
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Hamilton College 1,162
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Hamilton College 13.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Hamilton College 39%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Hamilton College 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Hamilton College 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Hamilton College 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Hamilton College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Hamilton College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Hamilton College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Hamilton College 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Hamilton College 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Hamilton College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Hamilton College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Hamilton College
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Foreign Languages (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Hamilton College 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Hamilton College $79,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Hamilton College 90%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Hamilton College $15,760
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Hamilton College $162

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Hamilton College 44%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Hamilton College 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Hamilton College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Hamilton College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Hamilton College 63%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Hamilton College 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Hamilton College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Hamilton College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Hamilton College 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Hamilton College 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Hamilton College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Hamilton College 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Hamilton College 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Hamilton College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,031 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Hamilton College is in Clinton, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hamilton College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Hamilton College 9:1.

Harvard vs. Hamilton College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Hamilton 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 Hamilton College ($17,525 vs. $28,719).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hamilton College are 17.4% lower than at Harvard University ($17,510 vs. $21,190).
  • Hamilton College is 11.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $7,284 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.8% higher at Hamilton College than at Harvard University (about $7,284 more per year; $68,960.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University as at Hamilton College (56% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 22.5% larger than aid received by Hamilton College students ($68,015 vs. $55,511).

Harvard vs. Hamilton College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 50 points higher than at Hamilton College (1500).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Hamilton College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Hamilton College 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Hamilton College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Hamilton College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Hamilton College Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Hamilton College (3.87).
  • Hamilton College has a higher acceptance rate (13.6%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 39% at Hamilton College.

Harvard vs. Hamilton College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Hamilton 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 Hamilton College's (89%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $57,700 more per year than Hamilton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $79,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $9,260 lower median loan debt than Hamilton College graduates ($6,500 vs. $15,760).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $95 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Hamilton College graduates ($67 vs. $162).
  • More Hamilton 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.