USC vs. Harvard

Deciding between University of Southern California 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 Southern California
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Harvard University 7:1.

USC vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 USC ($17,525 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 5.9% lower than at Harvard University ($19,931 vs. $21,190).
  • University of Southern California is 16.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $10,421 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16.9% higher at USC than at Harvard University (about $10,421 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Harvard University (70% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 45% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($68,015 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 50 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

USC vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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 Southern California's (90%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $51,200 more per year than USC graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $85,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $15,875 lower median loan debt than USC graduates ($6,500 vs. $22,375).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $164 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USC graduates ($67 vs. $231).
  • More USC 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.