Harvard vs Brandeis
When it comes to higher education, Harvard University and Brandeis University stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. While both offer world-class academics and a vibrant campus life, there are some key differences between the two that prospective students should consider. Harvard, with its lower acceptance rate, larger endowment, and more diverse student body, attracts a highly competitive pool of applicants. Brandeis, on the other hand, offers a more intimate learning environment, smaller class sizes, and a focus on undergraduate research. To help you make an informed decision about which university is the right fit for you, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into the details of each institution, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates.
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![]() Brandeis University |
![]() Harvard University |
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Overview |
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Location | Waltham, Massachusetts | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 96.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 39.1% | 4.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$80
Graduate:
$75
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
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SAT range | 1370 - 1530 | 1480 - 1580 |
ACT range | 31 - 34 | 33 - 36 |
Students submitting SAT score | 40.0% | 54.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 17.0% | 31.0% |
Total number of applicants | 9,796 | 57,786 |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,834 | 2,318 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 943 | 1,951 |
Yield rate | 24.6% | 84.2% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $75,006 | $78,028 |
Average net price | $35,147 | $13,910 |
Tuition | $59,408 | $51,143 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,380
Meal plan:
$7,070
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Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
83.0%
Average amount $29,119 |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $3,948 |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $22,397 |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
3,591
Men 40.5% Women 59.5% |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
Graduate students |
1,967
Men 43.5% Women 56.5% |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 25.4% | 23.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 2,950 | 12,874 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Mississippi New York New Jersey California Connecticut | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 7:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 87.5% | 96.7% |
Dropout rate | 4.5% | 2.0% |
Transferred out | 7.2% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
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