Harvard vs. NYU

Deciding between Harvard University and New York University? 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
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or NYU? 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 NYU ($17,525 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 9.9% lower than at New York University ($21,190 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $1,120 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at NYU than at Harvard University (about $1,120 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at New York University (56% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 26.2% larger than aid received by New York University students ($68,015 vs. $53,901).

Harvard vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 30 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at NYU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Harvard vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and NYU? 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $60,700 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $16,750 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($6,500 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $173 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($67 vs. $240).
  • More NYU 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.