Yale vs. Harvard

Deciding between Yale University 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.

Yale University
Harvard University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Yale New Haven, CT
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • Yale Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Yale 15,564
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • Yale Private 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Yale #5
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Yale -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • Yale Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Yale
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Yale $67,250
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • Yale $19,900
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • Yale $22,408
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Yale $65,892
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Yale 56%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Yale 57,517
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • Yale 2,227
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Yale 3.9%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Yale 69.8%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Yale 1520
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • Yale 34
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Yale 3.95
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Yale A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Yale Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Yale Extreme
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Yale 33/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Yale 1470/1570
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Yale Required
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Yale Jan 2, 2027
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Yale 5:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Yale
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • History (9%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Ethnic Studies (7%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Yale 97%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Yale $118,400
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Yale 84%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Yale $13,500
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Yale $139
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Yale 47%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • Yale 53%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Yale Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • Yale No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • Yale 47%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • Yale 17%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • Yale 7%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Yale 11%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • Yale 1%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Yale 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Yale 6%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • Yale 11%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Yale 1%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Yale 6%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Yale 81%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Yale University in New Haven, 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 Yale based on total student enrollment (30,259 students vs. 15,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Yale vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Yale 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 Yale ($17,525 vs. $22,408).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yale University are 6.1% lower than at Harvard University ($19,900 vs. $21,190).
  • Yale University is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $5,574 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Yale than at Harvard University (about $5,574 more per year; $67,250.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Yale University as at Harvard University (56% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Yale University students ($68,015 vs. $65,892).

Yale vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Yale 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 Yale.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 30 points higher than at Yale (1520).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Yale).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 1470/1570; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Yale University 33/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Yale - Required; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Yale Jan 2, 2027; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Yale (3.95).
  • Yale has a higher acceptance rate (3.9%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 69.8% at Yale vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

Yale vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Yale 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).

  • The graduation rate at Yale is the same as at Harvard University (97% vs. 97%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $18,300 more per year than Yale graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $118,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Yale graduates ($6,500 vs. $13,500).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Yale graduates ($67 vs. $139).
  • More Yale graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (84% 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.