Harvard vs. WUSTL

Should I go to Harvard University or Washington University in St Louis? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard or WUSTL 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. Washington University in St Louis comparison
Harvard University Washington University in St Louis College 3 College 4
Harvard University Washington University in St Louis
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Overview

Harvard WUSTL
Location Cambridge, MA Saint Louis, MO
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 30,631 17,012
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #20
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu wustl.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard WUSTL
Tuition (In State) $52,659 $59,420
Tuition (Out of State) $52,659 $59,420
Room & Board $19,502 $18,470
Avg Net Price $19,491 $23,432
Avg Grant Aid $61,801 $58,188
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 43%

Admission

Harvard WUSTL
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 61,221 32,014
Admitted 1,984 3,764
Acceptance Rate 3.2% 11.8%
Enrolled % 83% 48.2%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 3.92
Typical High School Grades A/A+ A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Very High
ACT Range 34/36 33/35
SAT Range 1490/1580 1500/1570
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 4, 2025

Academics

Harvard WUSTL
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Harvard WUSTL
Graduation Rate 97% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $82,800
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 88%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $19,900
Median Loan Payment $67 $205

Diversity

Harvard WUSTL
% Men 46% 47%
% Women 54% 53%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 44% 55%
% Black 6% 6%
% Hispanic 10% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 11% 8%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Harvard WUSTL
% In-State 15% 12%
% Out-of-State 69% 77%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than WUSTL based on total student enrollment (30,631 students vs. 17,012 students)

Harvard vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or WUSTL ?

  • Washington University in St Louis is 12.8% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($59,420.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at WUSTL than Harvard University ($59,420.00 vs. $52,659.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than WUSTL ($19,491 vs. $23,432)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington University in St Louis are 5.6% lower than costs at Harvard University ($18,470 vs. $19,502)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Harvard University than Washington University in St Louis (56% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 6.2% larger than aid received Washington University in St Louis ($61,801 vs. $58,188)

Harvard vs. WUSTL Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Harvard University (1497) is 28 points higher than at WUSTL (1469)
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at WUSTL (33)
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at WUSTL (3.92)
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (11.8%) than Harvard (3.2%)

Harvard vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard or WUSTL ? 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 WUSTL and Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Washington University in St Louis (97% vs. 93%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $53,900 more per year than WUSTL graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $82,800)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $13,400 lower median federal student loan debt than WUSTL graduates. ($6,500 vs. $19,900)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $138 less per month on federal student loans than WUSTL graduates. ($67 vs. $205)
  • More WUSTL 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/