Harvard vs. Wellesley

Deciding between Harvard University and Wellesley 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
Wellesley College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Wellesley #18
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Wellesley -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Wellesley

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Wellesley 54%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Wellesley 14%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Wellesley 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Wellesley 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Wellesley A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Wellesley Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Wellesley Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Wellesley 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Wellesley 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Wellesley $92

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Wellesley 2%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Wellesley 98%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Wellesley Very High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Wellesley No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Wellesley 40%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Wellesley 23%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Wellesley 11%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Wellesley 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Wellesley 6%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Wellesley 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Wellesley 12%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Wellesley 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Wellesley based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Harvard vs. Wellesley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Wellesley? 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 Wellesley ($17,525 vs. $22,174).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wellesley College are 0.8% lower than at Harvard University ($21,024 vs. $21,190).
  • Wellesley College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,500 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at Wellesley than at Harvard University (about $5,500 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at Wellesley College (56% vs. 54%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Wellesley College students ($68,015 vs. $64,116).

Harvard vs. Wellesley Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 40 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Wellesley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Wellesley College 1460/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Wellesley College 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Wellesley - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Wellesley (3.86).
  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 47.6% at Wellesley.

Harvard vs. Wellesley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Wellesley? 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 Wellesley College's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $68,600 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $2,400 lower median loan debt than Wellesley graduates ($6,500 vs. $8,900).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Wellesley graduates ($67 vs. $92).
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.