At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
Harvard University is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard offers unmatched resources across virtually every academic discipline, supported by the largest university endowment in existence.
Mascot: Crimson
Notable Alumni
John F. Kennedy (35th President)•Natalie Portman (Academy Award-winning actress)•Helen Keller (deaf-blind author and activist)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
Harvard doesn't officially recognize Greek organizations — the university withdrew recognition from fraternities in the 1850s, giving rise to its exclusive Final Clubs instead. A few unrecognized fraternities and sororities still operate off-campus. Most social life revolves around the 12 residential Houses you're sorted into sophomore year, plus 500+ student organizations. The social scene is more networking-at-a-reception than rager-at-a-frat, and Cambridge itself is a genuine college town.
Harvard Yard's Georgian brick buildings draped in ivy, the Widener Library steps, and centuries of architectural layering from Colonial to modern create a quintessential Ivy League campus that defines the American university aesthetic.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Harvard University Police Department provides 24/7 patrols, blue-light emergency phones, and free escort services. Harvard Yard is gated at night, and on-campus violent crime is very rare.
Cambridge and the Harvard Square area are generally safe with active pedestrian traffic. Some petty crime occurs in nearby Allston and along the Charles River late at night.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Daily Monday-Friday, info sessions starting at 9:30am
Duration: About 60 minutes (info session + tour)
Registration opens the Friday before each tour week and fills fast. Check-in at Agassiz House, 5 James Street. General historical tours (non-admissions) depart from Smith Campus Center at 1350 Massachusetts Ave. Parties limited to 14.
Book a TourFree Visit Harvard mobile app (iOS/Android) with self-guided walking tours. Self-Guided Tour Map also available for $3 at the Smith Campus Center.
Tour ResourcesSeptember-October (fall foliage in the Yard is spectacular) or April-May (spring). Visit on weekdays when classes are in session. Avoid Commencement week (late May) unless you enjoy enormous crowds, and winter break (late December-January) when campus is quiet. Harvard-Yale football weekend (November) is electric if you can get tickets.
Take the MBTA Red Line to Harvard Square station -- it drops you right into the heart of campus. Driving is not recommended; parking is expensive and scarce. Harvard garages cost $11-22/day (register at Harvard Operations Services). Church Street Lot (41 Church St) and Harvard Square Parking (Eliot & JFK) are nearby commercial options. From Logan Airport: Blue Line to Government Center, transfer to Red Line to Harvard (~45 min, ~$2.40).
Location
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