Three decades ago, Harvard accepted 10% to 15% of all applicants. Now its acceptance rate is less than 4%. As the population grew — both in general and of applicants — competition for the few spots at an elite university intensified.
However, a Harvard education, like all of its elite peers, is a scarce commodity — a luxury good, one might say — that's closed off to all but the roughly 2,000 high school students that secure a spot at Harvard College each year.
Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Its influence, wealth, and rankings have made it one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Harvard University's student body and faculty are world-renowned for their exceptional academic abilities. Home to cutting-edge facilities and libraries, they offer a wealth of research opportunities and conduct groundbreaking research in a number of fields.
Why are there so many rich students at elite universities?
What is the most prestigious school in the world?
View the World University Rankings 2023 methodology
The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the seventh consecutive year. Harvard University remains in second place, but the University of Cambridge jumps from joint fifth last year to joint third.
The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the eighth year in a row, but others in the top five have seen shifts in their ranks. Stanford University moves up to second place, pushing Harvard University down to fourth. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) climbs up two places to third this year.
John Kerry, D-Mass, Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner, NBC "Today" show host Meredith Vieira, former "NBC Nightly News" anchor Tom Brokaw, New Yorker magazine editor David Remnick, CNN founder Ted Turner, folk rock legend Art Garfunkel, Matt Groening, creator of the animated television series "The Simpsons," ...
The College's graduation rate is normally 98 percent, among the highest at American colleges and universities. Everyone admitted to Harvard has the ability to complete all academic requirements successfully.
Part of the elite US group of Ivy League schools, Harvard and Yale are among the world's most acclaimed and competitive universities. Of the eight Ivy League members, these two are among the highest-ranked in the QS World University Rankings®. In the 2020 edition, Harvard is ranked third in the world and Yale 17th.
Both MIT and Harvard are widely recognized as among the most prestigious institutions in the world, but they excel in different academic domains. MIT is celebrated for its unparalleled contributions to science, technology, and innovation, making it highly prestigious in those fields.
For every 100 applicants, only 3 are admitted. This means the school is extremely selective. Meeting their GPA requirements and SAT/ACT requirements is very important to getting past their first round of filters and proving your academic preparation.
Can you get a full scholarship to Harvard? Harvard does not offer any merit-based aid, and no full-ride scholarships. However, they do meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. So, if you have a high need, such as an auto-zero EFC on the FAFSA, you might qualify for almost a full ride.
With world-class faculty, groundbreaking research opportunities, and a commitment to a diverse environment of bright, talented students, Harvard is more than just a place to get an education—it's where students come to be transformed.
Harvard is ranked second in National Universities, first in Global Universities by U.S. News, and first by the Round University Ranking, while Oxford is ranked first in Best Global Universities in Europe, fifth in Best Global Universities by U.S. News, and second by the QS World University Rankings.
Definitely. One of the smartest people I know got a B in AP Chem (after working her ass to bring it up from a C). She is now an economics major at Harvard.
For example, 83-86 is the range for a B, but 87-89 is the smaller range for a B+. Both systems have the added problem that an A+ has no separate grade; thus a 15-point or four-point A stands for the huge range 93-100. Clearly, some CUE members have not considered the intracacies of the grading process.
1. Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg (MBA '66) is the founder, CEO, and president of Bloomberg and the former three-term mayor of New York City. His net worth is estimated at $45.4 billion.
Earlier this month, a group of Jewish students sued Harvard, arguing that the school has failed to punish campus antisemitism that soared after the Hamas attack on Israel.
Princeton University is one of the top private universities in Princeton, United States. It is ranked #=16 in QS World University Rankings 2023. Harvard University is one of the top private universities in Cambridge, United States. It is ranked #5 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and ranked #1 in US UNI.
Senior Contributor. The 20th edition of the World's Best Universities by the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings has been released, with Britain's Oxford University in first place for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year and Stanford University in second, making it the top-ranked U.S. university.
