Harvard University is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. One of the top "Ivy League" universities, Harvard's reputation was built on its liberal arts curriculum, particularly at the undergraduate level, and has always boasted an acclaimed faculty of scholars in the liberal arts. It continues to offer excellent undergraduate programs, with 44 fields of study offered at the bachelor's degree level. Over the years, Harvard also has gained a reputation for its excellent graduate programs and professional schools.
Most departments offer a tutorial style of teaching and learning, with a good teacher to student ratio. Tutorials, which are taught individually or in small groups, are directed courses of study in a field of concentration.
Harvard University offers excellent facilities, including the largest university library in the world, many museums, and more than 20 scientific and laboratory centers.
The "prominent alumni" list for Harvard reads like a "Who's Who" of iconic figures from American and international societies, culture, politics, and nearly every field or industry over more than 100 years. The alumni list boasts 44 Nobel laureates, among other luminaries. From President John F. Kennedy to President Barack Obama, and composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein to cellist Yo Yo Ma, and author and activist Helen Keller to author-historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., and diplomat Henry Kissinger, among others, the list is an impressive one.
History
The university's name came from its first donor, minister John Harvard of Charlestown. He died in 1638, leaving his library and half his estate to the institution of higher education that was established in 1636.
The history of Harvard University is a storied one. Those who wish to learn more about its history can visit the Harvard University Archives.
Academics
The academic calendar of Harvard University follows the semester format, with fall and spring "terms," and summer "school" (or session).
Colleges and Schools
- Harvard Business School
- Harvard College
- Harvard University Division of Continuing Education
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Graduate School of Design
- Harvard Divinity School
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
- Harvard Kennedy School of Government
- Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Harvard Law School
- Harvard Medical School
- Harvard School of Public Health
- Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study
Student Life
Students at Harvard University have many student services available, and many activities and living options to choose from. Residential housing is offered, providing a small college atmosphere at the university. Each of the 12 residential "houses" is well staffed, and offers dormitories and dining halls, as well as libraries, social events and intramural athletic teams. Off campus housing is also available.
There are nearly 200 student-run organizations, groups, clubs and programs on Harvard's campus. There are close to 100 plays or musical performances offered by students each year. Two student newspapers offer plenty of opportunity for involvement, in addition to the many journals that are also produced at the university. Community service is encouraged through two programs: the Phillips Brooks House Association and the House and Neighborhood Development (HAND) program. Mentorship is strong at Harvard, and students living on or off campus have faculty mentors available to them through various programs.
The facilities available to Harvard students are among the best at any university in the world. There are nearly 14 million volumes in the Harvard library system, and roughly 100 collections. More than 20 buildings are dedicated to scientific research in the areas of astronomy, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology and physics. The university has many museums on campus, housing renowned art collections. Its natural history museum is also well known.
Traditions
In 1875, Crimson was chosen as both the school color for Harvard, and its nickname for athletics teams. The school chose white for its second school color the same year.
In 1884, Harvard athletes began the tradition of waving a little red flag during any game they play against Yale.
Athletics
"The Crimson" athletics teams of Harvard compete in numerous intercollegiate sports, and have won championships in many. The sports that Crimson athletes compete in include:
Men's Sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Heavyweight Crew
- Lightweight Crew
- Cross Country
- Fencing
- Football
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Sailing
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
Women's Sports:
- Basketball
- Heavyweight Crew
- Lightweight Crew
- Cross Country
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Sailing
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
Satellite Campuses
Although there is only one campus for Harvard University, its many buildings, divisions and schools are spread throughout Cambridge. Harvard's campus facilities are located on both sides of the Charles River in Cambridge. The Harvard Yard, (or "The Yard") is at the center of the campus and is the hub of Harvard's campus activities.
Community Life
The charms of Cambridge, Boston and New England as a whole, are many. Cambridge offers the ambiance of a small town in New England with its town greens, grassy riverbanks along the Charles River and charming town squares offering wonderful restaurants, unique shops, sidewalk cafes, and more.
Boston is a cosmopolitan city vibrant with history and culture. Cobbled streets and church spires of colonial times are juxtaposed against modern architecture and high rises, offering a diversity that most visitors find stimulating. Concerts and live performances in theatre and classical music, museums and galleries, out door recreation and a world-renowned waterfront offer many opportunities for activities and entertainment. Students and visitors alike will enjoy the many areas that are within easy distance of Harvard.
Admission Requirements & Details
The admissions information below may give you an idea of the students Harvard University accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any AP or college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
The total student enrollment at Harvard University is about 30,000, where graduate students make up roughly 6% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- The estimated tuition range is around $42,000-$50,000 per year
- Part time students pay in the range of $1,300 to $1,600 per unit
- May offer prepaid tuition rates, allowing tuition to be purchased at current rates for future enrollment.
Financial Aid Details
The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 75% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 52% | $46,508 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 8% | $6,225 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To support students and graduates, Harvard University may provide student services including:- Online classes
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Assistance to find work
Graduation Rates
Harvard University has a very high graduation rate when compared to nearby similar schools.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 87% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 9% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 2% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
Campus: Harvard University
- Clinical Psychology (Ph.D.) Program
- Dental Public Health Program
- Endodontics Program
- Law Program
- Medical (M.D.) Program
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Program
- Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics Program
- Periodontics Program
- Prosthodontics Program
- Master's in Public Health (M.P.H.) Program
- Theology (Ministry) Program
Campus: Harvard Medical School
Intercollegiate Athletics
Harvard University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports belonging to the NCAA Division I-AA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Ivy Group)
- Basketball (Ivy Group)
- Track and Field (Ivy Group)
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Football (Ivy Group)
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Rowing
- Skiing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Squash
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Wrestling
- Sailing
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Harvard University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Architecture
- Architecture (D, M)
- Urban Planning (D, M)
- Landscape Architect (M)
- Architectural and Building Sciences (M)
- Architectural History and Criticism (M)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Evolutionary Biology (B, M)
- Neurobiology and Anatomy (B, D, M)
- Developmental Biology and Embryology (B, D)
- Epidemiology (D, M)
- Biostatistics (D, M)
- Biology (D, M)
- Molecular Biology (B, D, M)
- Biomedical Science (D, M)
- Immunology (D)
- Biochemistry (D)
- Biophysics (D)
- Virology (D)
- Systematic Biology (D)
- Microbiology and Immunology (D)
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences (D)
- Genetics (D)
- Cell Biology and Histology (D)
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (D)
- Genome Sciences, Genomics (D)
- Cell Biology and Anatomy (D)
- Bioinformatics (M)
- Pathology, Experimental Pathology
Business and Marketing Studies
- Business Administration (D, M)
- Commerce (M)
- Finance (M)
- Real Estate (M)
- Business Economics (D, M)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (D, M)
- Project Management (M)
Communications and Journalism
- Journalism (M)
- Communication and Media Studies
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer Science (B, D, M)
- Computer (M)
Education
- Education (C, D, M)
- International and Comparative Education (M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (D, M)
- Educational and Instructional Media Design (M)
- Secondary School Administration (M)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (M)
- Mathematics Teacher Education (M)
- Multicultural Education
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Higher Education Administration
- Urban Education and Leadership
- Guidance Counselor
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist
- Teacher and Professional Development
Engineering
- Engineering Science (B, D, M)
- Engineering Physics (D, M)
- Software Engineering (M)
- Computer Engineering (M)
- Biomedical Engineering (B, M)
- Mechanical Engineering (B)
- Electrical Engineering (B)
English Language and Literature
- English (B, D, M)
- Creative Writing (M)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- East Asian Studies (B, D, M)
- Near and Middle Eastern Studies (B, D, M)
- East Russian Language and Literature (M)
- Women's Studies (B)
- African-American Black Studies (B, D, M)
- South Asian Studies (B, D, M)
- United States Studies (D)
- Folklore Studies (B)
- Ural-Altaic and Central Asian Studies
- German Studies
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Human Nutrition (D)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- Classical Languages, Literatures and Linguistics (B, D)
- Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (B, D, M)
- Comparative Literature (B, D, M)
- Linguistics (B, D, M)
- Slavic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (D, M)
- German Language and Literature (B, D)
- Celtic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (D, M)
- Foreign Languages and Literatures (M)
- Modern Greek Language and Literature (M)
- Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (M)
- Ancient Greek Language and Literature (D)
- Latin Language and Literature (D, M)
- French Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
- Public Health (D, M)
- Medicine (D)
- Dentistry (D)
- Public Health Education and Promotion (M)
- International Public Health, International Health (D, M)
- Behavioral Aspects of Health (D, M)
- Environmental Health (D, M)
- Oral Biology and Oral Pathology (M)
- Medical Scientist (M)
- Prosthodontics, Prosthodontology (C)
- Dental Clinical Sciences (C, D)
- Health Informatics (M)
- Orthodontics, Orthodontology (C)
- Periodontics, Periodontology (C)
- Endodontics, Endodontology (C)
- Dental Public Health and Education (C)
- Advanced Dentistry and Oral Sciences (C)
- Advanced General Dentistry (C)
- Oral, Maxillofacial Surgery
- Pediatric Dentistry, Pedodontics
- Healthcare Administration
- PreMed Studies
History
- History (B, D, M)
- History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (B, D, M)
- American History (D)
- Asian History
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Museum Studies (M)
- Natural Sciences (B)
- Ancient Civilization Studies (M)
- Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- Ancient Mediterranean, Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology
Legal Professions and Studies
- Law (D)
- Advanced Legal Research (D, M)
- Legal Studies (M)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Humanistic Studies (B)
- Liberal Arts (A, B, C)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Applied Mathematics (B, D, M)
- Statistics (B, D, M)
- Math (B, D, M)
- Computational Mathematics (M)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies (B, C, M)
- Natural Resources Management and Policy
Philosophy and Religious Studies
- Philosophy (B, D, M)
- Religious Studies (B, D, M)
Physical Sciences
- Chemistry (B, D, M)
- Physics (B, D, M)
- Planetary Astronomy and Science (B, D, M)
- Astrophysics (D)
- Astronomy and Astrophysics (B, M)
- Chemical Physics (B)
- Atomic, Molecular Physics (D)
- Astronomy
- Geology
- Geological and Earth Sciences, Geosciences
Psychology
- Experimental Psychology (B, D, M)
- Psychology (M)
- Clinical Psychology (M)
- Social Psychology
- Educational Psychology
Public Administration and Social Services
- Public Administration (M)
- Public Policy (D, M)
- Health Policy Analysis (D, M)
- Public Policy Analysis (D)
- Education Policy Analysis
Social Sciences
- Economics (B, D, M)
- Social Science (B)
- Political Science (B, D, M)
- Sociology (B, D, M)
- Anthropology (B, D, M)
- International Relations (M)
- Physical Anthropology (D)
Theology and Religious Vocations
Visual and Performing Arts
- Digital Arts (M)
- Art History (B, D, M)
- Drama and Theatre Arts (C, M)
- Visual and Performing Arts (B)
- Music (B, D)
- Design and Applied Arts (M)
- Music Performance (M)
- Film Studies
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Harvard University.
- University of Massachusetts - Boston in Boston, MA (6 miles away)
- Salem State College in Salem, MA (15 miles away)
- Framingham State College in Framingham, MA (17 miles away)
- University of Massachusetts - Lowell in Lowell, MA (22 miles away)
- Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA (28 miles away)
Also, check out our college lists below, which can help students compare schools to one another:
- Get a list of all the colleges in Massachusetts
- Compare other Massachusetts private colleges
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Harvard University for official up-to-date information.
