UConn vs. Harvard

Deciding between University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UConn -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UConn
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UConn A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UConn Low
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UConn 28/33
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UConn $222
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UConn 45%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • UConn 55%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UConn Medium
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • UConn No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • UConn 61%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • UConn 10%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • UConn 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UConn 9%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • UConn 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UConn 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UConn 3%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • UConn 5%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UConn 7%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UConn 53%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UConn 42%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Connecticut 17:1; Harvard University 7:1.

UConn vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UConn 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 UConn ($17,525 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 32.1% lower than at Harvard University ($14,380 vs. $21,190).
  • Harvard University is 193.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UConn (about $40,632 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $21,044.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41.1% higher at Harvard than at University of Connecticut (about $17,964 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Harvard University (81% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 312.1% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($68,015 vs. $16,503).

UConn vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UConn 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 UConn.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 220 points higher than at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at UConn).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 1210/1440; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Connecticut 28/33; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UConn - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

UConn vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UConn 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 Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $74,700 more per year than UConn graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,000 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($6,500 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($67 vs. $222).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.