Harvard vs. U of R

Should I go to Harvard University or University of Rochester? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard or U of R is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Harvard University vs. University of Rochester comparison
Harvard University University of Rochester College 3 College 4
Harvard University University of Rochester
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Overview

Harvard U of R
Location Cambridge, MA Rochester, NY
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 30,631 12,197
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #53
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu rochester.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard U of R
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $60,550
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $60,550
Room & Board $19,502 $18,232
Avg Net Price $19,491 $39,775
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $39,715
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 71%

Admission

Harvard U of R
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 19,966
Admitted 1,984 7,768
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 38.9%
Enrolled % 83% 20.9%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.75
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme High
ACT Range 34/36 31/34
SAT Range 1490/1580 1390/1540
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 5, 2025

Academics

Harvard U of R
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

Outcomes

Harvard U of R
Graduation Rate 97% 83%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $71,000
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 79%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $24,500
Median Loan Payment $67 $253

Diversity

Harvard U of R
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 48%
% Black 6% 5%
% Hispanic 10% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 11% 18%
% Unknown Race 3% 7%

Students

Harvard U of R
% In-State 15% 25%
% Out-of-State 69% 44%

Campus

Harvard U of R
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than U of R based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 12,197 students)

Harvard vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or U of R?

  • University of Rochester is 15% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($60,550.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15% higher at U of R than Harvard University ($60,550.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than U of R ($19,491 vs. $39,775)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Rochester are 7% lower than costs at Harvard University ($18,232 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Rochester than Harvard University (71% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 55.6% larger than aid received University of Rochester ($61,801 vs. $39,715)

Harvard vs. U of R Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or U of R? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between U of R or Harvard .

  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at U of R (3.75)
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (38.9%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard or U of R? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between U of R and Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than University of Rochester (97% vs. 83%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $65,700 more per year than U of R graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $71,000)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $18,000 lower median federal student loan debt than U of R graduates. ($6,500 vs. $24,500)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $186 less per month on federal student loans than U of R graduates. ($67 vs. $253)
  • More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/