Rochester vs Harvard - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Harvard admits 3.6%, Rochester admits 40.1%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Rochester: 22.1% of students against 15.7% (Harvard).
For an applicant from outside the US the difference is financial: Harvard awards international students $81,046 on average, Rochester awards $41,269.
You do not have to choose between price and outcome here: Harvard costs $64,796 against $70,284, and its graduates earn $102K against $79K (Rochester).
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Harvard is the more selective of the two (3.65% vs 40.08% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#151-200 vs #1). Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $79K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $70,284 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Harvard for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Harvard is more selective (3.65% vs 40.08% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1470).
Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $79K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 85.4%).
Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $70,284); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $60,879).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Rochester | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #151-200 | #1 |
| Rank · THE | #127 | #3 |
| Acceptance rate | 40.08% | 3.65% |
| Yield rate | 15.4% | 83.6% |
| Median SAT | 1470 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.72 | 4.21 |
| Number of applications | 21,384 | 54,008 |
| International students | 22.1% | 15.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $79K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $50K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $117K | $200K |
| Graduation rate | 85.4% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 90.7% | 98% |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $70,284 | $64,796 |
| Avg. aid package | $60,879 | $74,387 |
| % of need met | 96.1% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,304 | $22,262 |
| Application fee | $50 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 11,946 | 21,189 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Rochester or Harvard?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Rochester accepts 40.08% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.65%.
Do Rochester or Harvard graduates earn more?
Harvard graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $102K vs $79K.
How much is tuition at Rochester vs Harvard?
Sticker-price tuition is $70,284 per year at Rochester and $64,796 per year at Harvard.
What SAT score do you need for Rochester or Harvard?
The median admitted SAT score is 1470 at Rochester and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Rochester or Harvard?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #151-200 for Rochester vs #1 for Harvard.
Which university offers more financial aid - Rochester or Harvard?
The average aid package is $60,879 at Rochester and $74,387 at Harvard.
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