Harvard vs. Haverford College

Deciding between Harvard University and Haverford 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
Haverford College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Haverford College Haverford, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Haverford College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Haverford College 1,431
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Haverford College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Haverford College #42
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Haverford College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Haverford College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Haverford College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Haverford College $70,688
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Haverford College $70,688
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Haverford College $19,548
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Haverford College $26,535
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Haverford College $63,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Haverford College 48%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Haverford College 7,341
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Haverford College 908
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Haverford College 12.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Haverford College 42.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Haverford College 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Haverford College 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Haverford College 3.9
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Haverford College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Haverford College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Haverford College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Haverford College 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Haverford College 1460/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Haverford College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Haverford College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Haverford College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Haverford College
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Physical Sciences (9%)
    • Psychology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Haverford College 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Haverford College $68,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Haverford College 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Haverford College $13,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Haverford College $134

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Haverford College 43%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Haverford College 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Haverford College High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Haverford College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Haverford College 61%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Haverford College 10%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Haverford College 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Haverford College 10%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Haverford College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Haverford College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Haverford College 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Haverford College 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Haverford College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Haverford College 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Haverford College 76%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Haverford College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,431 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Haverford College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Haverford 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 Haverford College ($17,525 vs. $26,535).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Haverford College are 7.7% lower than at Harvard University ($19,548 vs. $21,190).
  • Haverford College is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $9,012 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at Haverford College than at Harvard University (about $9,012 more per year; $70,688.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Haverford College (56% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 6.7% larger than aid received by Haverford College students ($68,015 vs. $63,742).

Harvard vs. Haverford College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Haverford College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Haverford College and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 40 points higher than at Haverford College (1510).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Haverford College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Harvard University 1510/1580; Haverford College 1460/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Harvard University 34/36; Haverford College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Haverford College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Haverford College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Harvard students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Haverford College (3.9).
  • Haverford College has a higher acceptance rate (12.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 42.6% at Haverford College.

Harvard vs. Haverford College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Haverford College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Haverford College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $67,900 more per year than Haverford College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $68,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Haverford College graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Haverford College graduates ($67 vs. $134).
  • More Haverford College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.