UChicago vs. Harvard

Deciding between University of Chicago 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.

University of Chicago
Harvard University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UChicago Chicago, IL
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • UChicago Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UChicago 18,566
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • UChicago Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UChicago #6
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UChicago -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • UChicago Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UChicago
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UChicago $70,662
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • UChicago $20,109
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • UChicago $28,060
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UChicago $62,300
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UChicago 47%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UChicago 43,612
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • UChicago 1,955
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UChicago 4.5%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UChicago 88.3%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UChicago 1550
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UChicago 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UChicago 3.95
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UChicago A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UChicago Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UChicago Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UChicago 34/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UChicago 1510/1580
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UChicago Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UChicago
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UChicago 5:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UChicago
    • Social Sciences (38%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Mathematics (7%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UChicago 92%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UChicago $98,500
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UChicago 86%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UChicago $14,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UChicago $149
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UChicago 54%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • UChicago 46%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UChicago High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • UChicago No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • UChicago 45%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • UChicago 17%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • UChicago 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UChicago 8%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • UChicago 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UChicago 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UChicago 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • UChicago 11%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UChicago 10%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UChicago 8%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UChicago 68%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Harvard University is larger than UChicago based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 18,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Chicago 5:1; Harvard University 7:1.

UChicago vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UChicago 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 UChicago ($17,525 vs. $28,060).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Chicago are 5.1% lower than at Harvard University ($20,109 vs. $21,190).
  • University of Chicago is 14.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $8,986 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at UChicago than at Harvard University (about $8,986 more per year; $70,662.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at University of Chicago (56% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 9.2% larger than aid received by University of Chicago students ($68,015 vs. $62,300).

UChicago vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UChicago 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 UChicago.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Chicago (1550) is the same as at Harvard (1550).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at UChicago).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 1510/1580; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Chicago 34/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UChicago - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UChicago (3.95).
  • UChicago has a higher acceptance rate (4.5%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 88.3% at UChicago vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

UChicago vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UChicago 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 University of Chicago's (92%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $38,200 more per year than UChicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $98,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than UChicago graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UChicago graduates ($67 vs. $149).
  • More UChicago 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.