Harvard vs. MHC

Deciding between Harvard University and Mount Holyoke 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
Mount Holyoke College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • MHC South Hadley, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • MHC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • MHC 2,275
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • MHC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • MHC #81
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • MHC -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • MHC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • MHC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MHC $67,018
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • MHC $67,018
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • MHC $19,684
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • MHC $32,526
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • MHC $52,418
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • MHC 77%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • MHC 5,226
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • MHC 1,883
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • MHC 36%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • MHC 27.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • MHC 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • MHC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • MHC 3.87
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • MHC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • MHC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • MHC High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • MHC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • MHC 1380/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • MHC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • MHC Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • MHC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • MHC
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • MHC 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • MHC $50,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • MHC 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • MHC $21,206
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • MHC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • MHC 1%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • MHC 99%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • MHC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • MHC No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • MHC 45%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • MHC 10%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • MHC 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • MHC 8%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • MHC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • MHC 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • MHC 26%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • MHC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • MHC 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • MHC 63%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than MHC based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,275 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Mount Holyoke College is in South Hadley, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Holyoke College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Mount Holyoke College 9:1.

Harvard vs. MHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or MHC? 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 MHC ($17,525 vs. $32,526).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Holyoke College are 7.1% lower than at Harvard University ($19,684 vs. $21,190).
  • Mount Holyoke College is 8.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,342 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at MHC than at Harvard University (about $5,342 more per year; $67,018.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Holyoke College than at Harvard University (77% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 29.8% larger than aid received by Mount Holyoke College students ($68,015 vs. $52,418).

Harvard vs. MHC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 90 points higher than at MHC (1460).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at MHC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Mount Holyoke College 1380/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Mount Holyoke College 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; MHC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; MHC Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at MHC (3.87).
  • MHC has a higher acceptance rate (36%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 27.2% at MHC.

Harvard vs. MHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and MHC? 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 Mount Holyoke College's (85%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $86,700 more per year than MHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $50,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $14,706 lower median loan debt than MHC graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,206).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $152 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than MHC graduates ($67 vs. $219).
  • More MHC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.