Harvard vs Yale University

Harvard University and Yale University, two of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world, share a long history of academic excellence and global impact. However, there are some key differences between these two Ivy League powerhouses that prospective students should consider when making their college decision. From acceptance rates and popular majors to student body demographics and graduation rates, this side-by-side comparison will help you understand the unique strengths and characteristics of each university. Dive into the comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences, setting you on the path to success in your chosen field.
Harvard University logo

Harvard University

Yale University logo

Yale University

Overview

Location Cambridge, Massachusetts New Haven, Connecticut
Campus setting City: Midsize 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 96.0% 98.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 4.0% 5.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $105
Undergraduate: $80

Graduate: $105
SAT range 1480 - 1580 1480 - 1580
ACT range 33 - 36 33 - 35
Students submitting SAT score 54.0% 54.0%
Students submitting ACT score 31.0% 35.0%
Total number of applicants 57,786 47,240
Total number of admissions given out 2,318 2,509
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,951 1,786
Yield rate 84.2% 71.2%
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) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $78,028 $82,170
Average net price $13,910 $20,605
Tuition $51,143 $59,950
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,705

Meal plan: $7,236
Room/dormitory: $10,100

Meal plan: $7,700
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

56.0%
Average amount $59,840
58.0%
Average amount $58,715
Students receiving federal student loan 3.0%
Average amount $5,180
5.0%
Average amount $4,879
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $8,080
0.0%
Average amount $5,094

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0%
6,536
Men 48.6% Women 51.4%
Graduate students 21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
8,031
Men 46.3% Women 53.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 93.6%
International students 23.9% 21.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 12,874 5,576
First year students are required to live on campus? Yes Yes
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey California New York Connecticut Texas New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Education
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Social Sciences
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 7:1 6:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 96.7% 96.9%
Dropout rate 2.0% 2.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $78,193
  • Year 2: $128,716
  • Year 3: $240,408
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $184,307
  • Year 2: $165,340
  • Year 3: $199,043
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $171,333
  • Year 2: $171,907
  • Year 3: $187,553
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $140,072
  • Year 2: $128,737
  • Year 3: $163,896
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $151,371
  • Year 2: $174,023
  • Year 3: $163,512
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,508
  • Year 2: $117,916
  • Year 3: $129,281
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $121,832
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,707
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $121,771
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,905
  • Year 2: $98,670
  • Year 3: $107,389
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,745
  • Year 2: $71,486
  • Year 3: $106,375
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $133,998
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $168,803
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $150,882
  • Year 2: $147,858
  • Year 3: $167,455
Law (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $76,705
  • Year 2: $132,032
  • Year 3: $165,012
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $132,023
  • Year 2: $132,866
  • Year 3: $142,164
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $115,929
  • Year 2: $111,017
  • Year 3: $117,291
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,157
  • Year 2: $98,213
  • Year 3: $112,141
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $88,985
  • Year 2: $95,473
  • Year 3: $95,527
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,166
  • Year 2: $86,621
  • Year 3: $91,001
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,834
  • Year 2: $63,625
  • Year 3: $73,597
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,489
  • Year 2: $58,522
  • Year 3: $72,034

Compare Similar Colleges

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.