STANFORD, CA

CAMBRIDGE, MA

COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Stanford vs Harvard — US university comparison

STANFORD

Stanford, CA

World rank · ARWU#2

Acceptance3.6%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate91.9%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$124K

HARVARD

Cambridge, MA

World rank · ARWU#1

Acceptance3.6%

Median SAT1553

Graduation rate97.6%

Median earnings · 10 yrs$102K

🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Stanford University Harvard University

#2 World rank · ARWU #1

#6 Rank · THE #3

3.6% Acceptance rate 3.6%

1553 Median SAT 1553

91.9% Graduation rate 97.6%

18,121 Enrollment 21,189

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

3.6% Acceptance rate 3.6%

79.9% Yield rate 83.6%

1553 Median SAT 1553

3.90 Avg. GPA 4.20

60,646 Number of applications 54,008

23% Int'l students 25%

At a glance

Harvard leads in 6 of 12 measured metrics

Grad. debt$28,507 vs $22,262

Earnings$124K vs $102K

Debt$12,000 vs $14,000

EXPERT TAKE

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#2 vs #1). Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $102K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $65,910 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 Stanford for: higher graduate earnings, a larger aid package.

Choose Harvard for: a higher world ranking, a higher graduation rate, higher retention.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Graduate outcomes

Stanford graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($124K vs $102K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 91.9%).

Cost and aid

Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($61,676 vs $65,910); Stanford offers a larger average aid package ($75,816 vs $74,387).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

Each dot is a comparable US university; Stanford and Harvard highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric	Stanford	Harvard
World rank · ARWU	#2	#1
Rank · THE	#6	#3
Acceptance rate	3.6%	3.6%
Yield rate	79.9%	83.6%
Median SAT	1553	1553
Avg. GPA	3.90	4.20
Number of applications	60,646	54,008
International students	23%	25%
Median earnings · 10 yrs	$124K	$102K
Avg. earnings · 10 yrs	$141K	$139K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs	$220K	$200K
Graduation rate	91.9%	97.6%
Retention rate	97%	98%
Median debt	$12,000	$14,000
Tuition · year	$65,910	$61,676
Avg. aid package	$75,816	$74,387
% of need met	100%	100%
Avg. graduate debt	$28,507	$22,262
Application fee	$100	$85
Enrollment	18,121	21,189

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Stanford or Harvard?

It's harder to get into Harvard. Stanford accepts 3.6% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.6%.

Do Stanford or Harvard graduates earn more?

Stanford graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $124K vs $102K.

How much is tuition at Stanford vs Harvard?

Sticker-price tuition is $65,910 per year at Stanford and $61,676 per year at Harvard.

What SAT score do you need for Stanford or Harvard?

The median admitted SAT score is 1553 at Stanford and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher — Stanford or Harvard?

Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #2 for Stanford vs #1 for Harvard.

Which university offers more financial aid — Stanford or Harvard?

The average aid package is $75,816 at Stanford and $74,387 at Harvard.

Compare Stanford with

Massachusetts institute of technology

Washington university

Northwestern

North carolina

Duke

Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).

All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) — admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "—" = not yet in canonical.