Harvard vs. RIT

Deciding between Harvard University and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Harvard University is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Harvard vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or RIT ? 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 RIT ($17,525 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Institute of Technology are 23.8% lower than at Harvard University ($16,142 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIT (about $2,402 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at Harvard than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $2,402 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at Harvard University (98% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 93.9% larger than aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students ($68,015 vs. $35,077).

Harvard vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 170 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Harvard vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $71,800 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $21,500 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($6,500 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $222 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($67 vs. $289).
  • More RIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.