Trinity College vs. Harvard

Deciding between Trinity College and Harvard 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.

Trinity College
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Trinity College Hartford, CT
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Trinity College Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Trinity College 2,238
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Trinity College Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Trinity College #47
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Trinity College -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Trinity College Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Trinity College
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Trinity College $70,770
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Trinity College $18,890
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Trinity College $36,071
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Trinity College $51,754
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Trinity College 73%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Trinity College 7,460
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Trinity College 2,182
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Trinity College 29.2%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Trinity College 24.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Trinity College 1380
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Trinity College 32
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Trinity College 3.8
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Trinity College A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Trinity College Exceptional
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Trinity College High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Trinity College 30/34
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Trinity College 1298/1470
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Trinity College Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Trinity College Jan 17, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Trinity College 9:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Trinity College
    • Social Sciences (31%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • History (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Trinity College 86%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Trinity College $71,500
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Trinity College 81%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Trinity College $21,000
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Trinity College $217
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Trinity College 47%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Trinity College 53%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Trinity College Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Trinity College No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Trinity College 65%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Trinity College 4%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Trinity College 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Trinity College 7%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Trinity College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Trinity College 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Trinity College 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Trinity College 10%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Trinity College 5%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Trinity College 15%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Trinity College 73%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than Trinity College based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 2,238 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Trinity College is located in Hartford, CT (Midsize City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • Trinity College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Trinity College 9:1; Harvard University 7:1.

Trinity College vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Trinity College or Harvard? 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 Trinity College ($17,525 vs. $36,071).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Trinity College are 10.9% lower than at Harvard University ($18,890 vs. $21,190).
  • Trinity College is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $9,094 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Trinity College than at Harvard University (about $9,094 more per year; $70,770.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Trinity College than at Harvard University (73% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 31.4% larger than aid received by Trinity College students ($68,015 vs. $51,754).

Trinity College vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 170 points higher than at Trinity College (1380).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Trinity College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 1298/1470; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Trinity College 30/34; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Trinity College - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Trinity College Jan 17, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Trinity College (3.8).
  • Trinity College has a higher acceptance rate (29.2%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.8% at Trinity College vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Trinity College vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Trinity College and Harvard? 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 Trinity College's (86%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $65,200 more per year than Trinity College graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $71,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $14,500 lower median loan debt than Trinity College graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,000).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $150 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Trinity College graduates ($67 vs. $217).
  • More Trinity College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.