Harvard vs. Ursinus College

Deciding between Harvard University and Ursinus 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
Ursinus College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Ursinus College Collegeville, PA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Ursinus College Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Ursinus College 1,502
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Ursinus College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Ursinus College #249
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Ursinus College -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Ursinus College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Ursinus College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Ursinus College $61,210
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Ursinus College $61,210
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Ursinus College $17,028
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Ursinus College $32,158
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Ursinus College $44,754
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Ursinus College 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Ursinus College 3,304
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Ursinus College 3,032
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Ursinus College 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Ursinus College 12.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Ursinus College 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Ursinus College 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Ursinus College 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Ursinus College A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Ursinus College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Ursinus College
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Ursinus College 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Ursinus College 1200/1385
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Ursinus College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Ursinus College May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Ursinus College 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Ursinus College
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Biology (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Ursinus College 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Ursinus College $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Ursinus College 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Ursinus College $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Ursinus College $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Ursinus College 52%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Ursinus College 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Ursinus College Low
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Ursinus College No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Ursinus College 74%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Ursinus College 5%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Ursinus College 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Ursinus College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Ursinus College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Ursinus College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Ursinus College 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Ursinus College 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Ursinus College 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Ursinus College 56%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Ursinus College 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Ursinus College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 1,502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Ursinus College is in Collegeville, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ursinus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Ursinus College 10:1.

Harvard vs. Ursinus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Ursinus 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 Ursinus College ($17,525 vs. $32,158).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ursinus College are 19.6% lower than at Harvard University ($17,028 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ursinus College (about $466 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $61,210.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Harvard than at Ursinus College (about $466 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $61,210.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ursinus College than at Harvard University (100% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 52% larger than aid received by Ursinus College students ($68,015 vs. $44,754).

Harvard vs. Ursinus College Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 260 points higher than at Ursinus College (1290).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Ursinus College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Ursinus College 1200/1385.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Ursinus College 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Ursinus College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Ursinus College May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Ursinus College (3.53).
  • Ursinus College has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 12.5% at Ursinus College.

Harvard vs. Ursinus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Ursinus 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 Ursinus College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $78,700 more per year than Ursinus College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than Ursinus College graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ursinus College graduates ($67 vs. $279).
  • More Ursinus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.