Yale vs Harvard - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
The more international environment is at Harvard (15.7% international students) than Yale (10.6%).
On paper the cheaper option is Harvard: $64,796 against $72,500, which is $7,704 less a year.
At 3.6% and 4.7%, both admissions processes remain a lottery for any candidate; the difference between them is not an argument here.
Students admitted to both more often choose Harvard (83.6% enrol, against 68.4%).
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 4.7% acceptance). Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#11 vs #1). Median earnings 10 years after enrollment are effectively tied ($101K vs $102K). Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $72,500 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 Yale for: higher retention, lower graduate debt.
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 4.7% acceptance); Harvard has a higher median SAT (1553 vs 1540).
Harvard graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($102K vs $101K); Harvard has a higher 6-year graduation rate (97.6% vs 95.7%).
Harvard has lower sticker-price tuition ($64,796 vs $72,500); Harvard offers a larger average aid package ($74,387 vs $74,353).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Yale | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #11 | #1 |
| Rank · THE | #10 | #3 |
| Acceptance rate | 4.7% | 3.65% |
| Yield rate | 68.4% | 83.6% |
| Median SAT | 1540 | 1553 |
| Avg. GPA | - | 4.21 |
| Number of applications | 50,264 | 54,008 |
| International students | 10.6% | 15.7% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $101K | $102K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $66K | $65K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $194K | $200K |
| Graduation rate | 95.7% | 97.6% |
| Retention rate | 99.4% | 98% |
| Median debt | $12,975 | $14,000 |
| Tuition · year | $72,500 | $64,796 |
| Avg. aid package | $74,353 | $74,387 |
| % of need met | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $22,185 | $22,262 |
| Application fee | $80 | $85 |
| Enrollment | 15,657 | 21,189 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Yale or Harvard?
It's harder to get into Harvard. Yale accepts 4.7% of applicants, while Harvard accepts 3.65%.
Do Yale or Harvard graduates earn more?
Earnings are practically equal - 10 years after enrollment, the median is $101K at Yale and $102K at Harvard.
How much is tuition at Yale vs Harvard?
Sticker-price tuition is $72,500 per year at Yale and $64,796 per year at Harvard.
What SAT score do you need for Yale or Harvard?
The median admitted SAT score is 1540 at Yale and 1553 at Harvard; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Yale or Harvard?
Harvard ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #11 for Yale vs #1 for Harvard.
Which university offers more financial aid - Yale or Harvard?
The average aid package is $74,353 at Yale and $74,387 at Harvard.
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern
North Carolina
Duke