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Harvard University

Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021 admitted students

4%

In Fall 2021, a total of 1951 first-time undergrad students enrolled at Harvard. Among these students, 1,049 (1%) submitted SAT scores, while 604 (0%), submitted ACT scores.

The data shows that the SAT was more popular among the first-time enrolled students, with a majority of students opting for this test.

Average SAT Score

1530

Students submitting SAT Score

Out of the total 2318 admitted students 1049 students submitted their SAT score when applying.

54%

For the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, 50% of their scores fell within the following range 1480-1580. Specifically, in the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (ERW) section, 50% of admitted students scored between 730 and 780, while 25% scored below 730 and another 25% scored above 780.

In the Math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 750 and 800, while 25% scored below 750 and 25% achieved a score of 800. The data suggests that, applicants with a composite SAT score of 1530 or higher have competitive chances of gaining admission to Harvard.

Overall, for the admitted students who submitted SAT scores, their scores placed most of them within the top 3% nationally.

  • Reading and Writing

    730-780
  • Math

    750-800

Average ACT Score

The average ACT score of admitted students for Fall 2021 enrollment season.

35

Students who Submitted ACT Score

Out of the 2318 admitted students 604 students submitted their ACT score when applying.

31%

Similar to the SAT, Harvard does not require applicants to submit either SAT or ACT scores. However, during the Fall 2021 admissions season, around 31% of admitted students submitted ACT scores.

The middle 50% of admitted students received a composite ACT score between 33 and 36, with 25% scoring above 36 and another 25% scoring below 33.

For the admitted students who submitted ACT scores, their scores placed most of them around the middle, above 52% of test takers nationally.

  • English

    35-36
  • Math

    32-35
  • Composite

    33-36

Application Fees

Fall 2021

$75

Undergraduate

$105

Graduate

Applicants Stats

The following table details the number of students who applied, admitted, and enrolled in Harvard during the Fall 2021 enrollment season.

Total Men Women
Applicants 57,786 26,981 30,805
Admitted students 2,318 1,100 1,218
Enrolled students 1,951 925 1,026
Acceptance rate 4% 4% 4%
Yield rate 84% 84% 84%
    • Total Applicants

      During the Fall 2021 enrollment season, Harvard received a total of 57,786 applications. These applications included 26,981 male applicants and 30,805 female applicants.
    • Admitted Students

      Out of the 57,786 applicants, Harvard admitted 2,318 students. Among the admitted students, there were 1,100 males and 1,218 females who received offers of admission.
    • Enrolled Students

      Among the admitted students, 1,951 students chose to enroll at Harvard. This means that 1,951 students accepted the admission offers and officially registered to attend the university for the Fall 2021 term. Among the enrolled students, 925 were male and 1,026 were female.
    • Acceptance Rate

      The acceptance rate is the percentage of applicants who were offered admission. In this case, Harvard had an overall acceptance rate of 4% for the Fall 2021 enrollment season. When we break it down by gender, the acceptance rate for male applicants was 4% while the acceptance rate for female applicants was 4%.
    • Yield Rate

      The yield rate is the percentage of admitted students who actually chose to enroll at the university. Harvard had an overall yield rate of 84% for the Fall 2021 term. The yield rate for male admitted students was 84%, and for female admitted students, it was 84%.

Admission and Enrollment Trends

The following table presents the application, admission, and enrollment statistics for Harvard over the past 7 years.

Applicants Admitted Students Acceptance Rate Enrolled Students Yield Rate
Year Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women Total Men Women
2015 37,307 19,506 17,801 2,080 1,081 999 6% 6% 6% 1,660 852 808 80% 79% 81%
2016 39,041 19,809 19,232 2,110 1,088 1,022 5% 6% 5% 1,663 868 795 79% 80% 78%
2017 39,506 19,782 19,724 2,037 1,033 1,004 5% 5% 5% 1,687 850 837 83% 82% 83%
2018 42,749 21,261 21,488 2,024 1,012 1,012 5% 5% 5% 1,653 835 818 82% 82% 81%
2019 43,330 21,730 21,600 2,009 1,009 1,000 5% 5% 5% 1,649 833 816 82% 83% 82%
2020 40,248 20,036 20,212 2,015 974 1,041 5% 5% 5% 1,407 674 733 70% 69% 70%
2021 57,786 26,981 30,805 2,318 1,100 1,218 4% 4% 4% 1,951 925 1,026 84% 84% 84%

Admission Requirements

Fall 2021

Harvard University uses the following list of admission requirements and recommended documents when evaluating students' applications. All documents listed under the Required sections must be submitted with your application, but those listed under the Recommended section are optional.

Harvard is a test-optional college where applicants are not required to submit standardized test (SAT or ACT) scores with their applications. Test scores are considered if submitted, but they are not mandatory. In the 1 enrollment season, 1 of admitted students submitted SAT scores, and 1 submitted ACT scores for admission. Please double-check with the school to verify the current and complete admission requirements.

Required

  • Secondary school record
  • Recommendation letters

Recommended

  • Secondary school GPA
  • Secondary school rank

Considered

  • Test scores (SAT/ACT)

Neither required nor recommended

  • Completion of college-preparatory program
  • Formal demonstration of competencies
  • TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
  • Other tests (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Accepted Credits

Fall 2021

The following is a list of college preparatory work and life experience that are accepted at Harvard University.

  • Credit for life experiences

    Not Accepted
  • Advanced placement (AP) credits

    Accepted
  • Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)

    Not Accepted