Harvard vs. Muhlenberg College

Deciding between Harvard University and Muhlenberg 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
Muhlenberg College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Muhlenberg College Allentown, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Muhlenberg College Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Muhlenberg College 1,788
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Muhlenberg College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Muhlenberg College #96
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Muhlenberg College Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Muhlenberg College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Muhlenberg College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Muhlenberg College $62,805
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Muhlenberg College $62,805
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Muhlenberg College $14,548
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Muhlenberg College $34,739
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Muhlenberg College $42,545
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Muhlenberg College 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Muhlenberg College 4,963
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Muhlenberg College 3,573
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Muhlenberg College 72%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Muhlenberg College 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Muhlenberg College 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Muhlenberg College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Muhlenberg College 3.44
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Muhlenberg College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Muhlenberg College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Muhlenberg College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Muhlenberg College 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Muhlenberg College 1250/1410
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Muhlenberg College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Muhlenberg College Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Muhlenberg College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Muhlenberg College
    • Business (24%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Muhlenberg College 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Muhlenberg College $63,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Muhlenberg College 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Muhlenberg College $26,490
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Muhlenberg College $273

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Muhlenberg College 42%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Muhlenberg College 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Muhlenberg College Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Muhlenberg College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Muhlenberg College 75%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Muhlenberg College 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Muhlenberg College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Muhlenberg College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Muhlenberg College 2%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Muhlenberg College 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Muhlenberg College 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Muhlenberg College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Muhlenberg College 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Muhlenberg College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,788 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Muhlenberg College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College ($17,525 vs. $34,739).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Muhlenberg College are 31.3% lower than at Harvard University ($14,548 vs. $21,190).
  • Muhlenberg College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $1,129 more per year; $62,805.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Muhlenberg College than at Harvard University (about $1,129 more per year; $62,805.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Muhlenberg College than at Harvard University (99% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 59.9% larger than aid received by Muhlenberg College students ($68,015 vs. $42,545).

Harvard vs. Muhlenberg College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 220 points higher than at Muhlenberg College (1330).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at Muhlenberg College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Muhlenberg College 1250/1410.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Muhlenberg College 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Muhlenberg College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Muhlenberg College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Muhlenberg College (3.44).
  • Muhlenberg College has a higher acceptance rate (72%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 13% at Muhlenberg College.

Harvard vs. Muhlenberg College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Muhlenberg 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 Muhlenberg College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $73,000 more per year than Muhlenberg College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $63,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $19,990 lower median loan debt than Muhlenberg College graduates ($6,500 vs. $26,490).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $206 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Muhlenberg College graduates ($67 vs. $273).
  • More Muhlenberg College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.