Harvard vs. Stanford

Deciding between Harvard University and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Stanford University 6:1.

Harvard vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($17,525 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 0.6% lower than at Stanford University ($21,190 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 6.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,234 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.9% higher at Stanford than at Harvard University (about $4,234 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at Harvard University (61% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 8.4% larger than aid received by Stanford University students ($68,015 vs. $62,755).

Harvard vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is the same as at Stanford (1550).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Stanford).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Stanford (3.96).
  • Harvard has a higher acceptance rate (3.6%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

Harvard vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Stanford? 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 Stanford University's (96%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than Stanford graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $122,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $5,975 lower median loan debt than Stanford graduates ($6,500 vs. $12,475).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Stanford graduates ($67 vs. $128).
  • More Stanford 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.