Harvard College received 61,221 applications for its most recent admitted class. The acceptance rate stood at 3.41 percent. The statistics below detail the academic profiles, demographics, and selectivity patterns that shaped the outcome.
Key Takeaways
- 37% of admitted Class of 2027 ranked in top 1% of high school class.
- Applications via Common App increased 12% from 2019-2023.
- 55.7% of Class of 2027 received need-based financial aid.
- For the Class of 2027, Harvard College received a total of 61,221 applications, representing a 4.9% increase from the Class of 2026 cycle.
- For the Class of 2027, 48.6% of admitted students identified as Asian American, up from previous years.
Harvard admits a tiny share of applicants, so strong grades, impact, and fit matter more than ever.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Profiles23 stats
01
37% of admitted Class of 2027 ranked in top 1% of high school class.
02
76% of Class of 2027 submitted SAT scores, averaging 1520-1580 range.
03
ACT scores for Class of 2027 averaged 34-36, with 93% in top 3rd percentile.
04
85.2% of Class of 2027 admits were in the top 10% of their high school class.
05
Average unweighted GPA for Class of 2027 admits was 4.18 on a 4.0 scale.
06
67% of Class of 2027 took 5+ AP/IB exams, averaging 8.2 exams per student.
07
Perfect SAT scores (1600) held by 12% of Class of 2027 admits.
08
Math SAT section averaged 780 for admitted Class of 2027 students.
09
Evidence-Based Reading/Writing SAT averaged 740 for Class of 2027.
10
92% of Class of 2026 scored above 1400 on SAT or 32 on ACT.
11
Valedictorians comprised 15.3% of Class of 2027 admits.
12
National Merit Scholars made up 8.7% of recent Harvard classes.
13
41% of Class of 2027 submitted ACT, with composite 34-36.
14
Advanced coursework: 72% took calculus BC or higher math.
15
Average number of honors courses: 11.4 for Class of 2027 admits.
16
88% of admits had 4+ years of science with labs.
17
Foreign language proficiency: 82% with 4+ years, 45% in 3+ languages.
18
For Class of 2028, test-optional policy continued, 56% submitted scores.
19
Median SAT for Class of 2028 submitters: 1540.
20
95th percentile ACT for Class of 2028: 36.
21
79% top 5% high school class for Class of 2028.
22
62% of Class of 2025 had international academic awards.
23
100% of Harvard admits from 2019-2022 had rigorous curricula per CDS.
Interpretation
Academic Profiles Interpretation
Harvard’s Academic Profiles show an overwhelmingly top tier academic streak, with 85.2% of the Class of 2027 in the top 10% of their high school classes and an average 4.18 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale.
02 · Category
Application And Recruitment Trends19 stats
01
Applications via Common App increased 12% from 2019-2023.
02
Test-optional policy since 2020 led to 5,000+ extra apps by 2023.
03
Early Action applications rose 8.2% for Class of 2028 vs prior.
04
Coalition App usage at Harvard: 25% of applicants in 2023 cycle.
05
Virtual recruitment events: 150+ sessions, 20k attendees in 2022-23.
06
Regional diversity push: 30% increase in Southern apps since 2018.
07
Legacy application flags: 10% of pool, down from 14% in 2014.
08
QuestBridge Finalists: 300+ apply annually, 8% admit rate.
09
Suppressed apps post-SCOTUS ruling: estimated 2-3% drop in 2024.
10
Transfer applications: 1,892 for 2023, 0.9% acceptance rate.
11
International outreach: 50 countries with dedicated officers.
12
First-gen recruitment: 500+ diversity fly-ins since 2015.
13
Fee waivers granted to 28% of domestic applicants in 2023.
14
Essay prompts unchanged since 2020, emphasizing personal growth.
15
Supplemental essay responses: 80% address extracurricular depth.
16
Post-pandemic, in-person info sessions up 40% to 300/year.
17
Athlete recruitment: 200+ tips annually from coaches.
18
Arts portfolio submissions: 15% of applicants, 4% admit boost.
19
Research supplement apps: 12% submission rate in STEM fields.
Interpretation
Application And Recruitment Trends Interpretation
Under Application and Recruitment Trends, Harvard’s applicant pool has been expanding and diversifying fast, with Common App submissions up 12% from 2019 to 2023 and a 30% rise in Southern applications since 2018 alongside growing Early Action activity and broader recruitment reach through 150 plus virtual events that drew 20k attendees in 2022 to 23.
03 · Category
Financial Aid Statistics23 stats
01
55.7% of Class of 2027 received need-based financial aid.
02
Average grant for aided Class of 2027 students was $67,800annually.
03
24.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, averaging $5,200.
04
Families earning under $85,000pay nothing for Class of 2027 tuition/room/board.
05
56% of Class of 2026 from families with incomes below $125,000 get full aid.
06
Harvard's endowment per student enables $65M annual aid budget.
07
No-loan policy covers 100% demonstrated need without loans for all admits.
08
Average parent contribution for aided families: $13,400for Class of 2027.
09
15.2% of aided students receive $80,000+ grants due to high need.
10
Work-study averages 7 hours/week, $3,500/year for 70% of aid recipients.
11
34% of Class of 2027 full-pay (no aid), from top 20% income.
12
Financial aid applicants: 70% of domestic admits receive packages.
13
Average aid package: $68,300covering 100% need for 2023-24.
14
Low-income (under $65k) families: 27% of recent classes on full ride.
15
International aid limited to 10% of undergrads, $2.5M budgeted annually.
16
Merit scholarships: 0% awarded, all need-based only.
17
Student debt at graduation: median $12,700,lowest among Ivies.
18
92% of aided families have costs reduced by 50% or more.
19
Gap year aid continuity: 98% retain packages post-deferral.
20
For Class of 2028, aid recipients up to 58.2% due to recruitment.
21
Families $150k-$250k income average $20,000 contribution.
22
Total undergrad aid expenditure: $218 million for 2022-23.
23
QuestBridge matches: 25 students per year average to Harvard.
Interpretation
Financial Aid Statistics Interpretation
Harvard’s financial aid is driven by broad need based support, with 55.7% of the Class of 2027 receiving need based aid and an average grant of $67,800 annually, reinforced by policies that let families earning under $85,000 pay nothing.
More related reading
04 · Category
Selectivity And Acceptance Rates29 stats
01
For the Class of 2027, Harvard College received a total of 61,221 applications, representing a 4.9% increase from the Class of 2026 cycle.
02
The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 3.41%, admitting 1,966 students out of 61,221 applicants.
03
Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 stood at 7.56%, with 978 students admitted from 12,933 applicants.
04
Regular Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 2.88%, admitting 988 out of 34,288 applicants.
05
For Class of 2026, Harvard's applicant pool grew to 57,435, down slightly by 0.37% from 57,675 the prior year.
06
Class of 2026 overall acceptance rate was 3.19%, with 1,954 students enrolled from 61,220 total applicants including deferred.
07
International applicants comprised 15.2% of the Class of 2027 applicant pool, totaling about 9,300 individuals.
08
Yield rate for Class of 2027 was 82.3%, with 1,616 enrolled out of 1,966 admitted.
09
For legacy applicants to Class of 2027, the acceptance rate was approximately 33%, compared to 3.4% overall.
10
Applicants from the top 1% income bracket had a 13.4% acceptance rate for recent classes, per Opportunity Insights data.
11
Public high school applicants to Class of 2027 faced a 2.9% acceptance rate versus 5.1% for private/independent schools.
12
First-generation college applicants saw a 9.2% acceptance rate boost above the overall average in recent cycles.
13
For Class of 2025, total applications reached 57,435, with an acceptance rate of 4.92%.
14
Restrictive Early Action deferral rate for Class of 2027 was 72.5%, with 9,386 deferred from 12,933.
15
Waitlist for Class of 2027 admitted 66 students, representing 0.3% of the incoming class.
16
Female applicants to Class of 2027 had a slightly higher acceptance rate of 3.5% versus 3.3% for males.
17
From 2009-2019, Harvard's acceptance rate declined from 7.2% to 4.5%, per historical CDS data.
18
In-state Massachusetts applicants for Class of 2027 had an acceptance rate of 4.8%, higher than out-of-state 3.2%.
19
Recruited athletes for Class of 2027 comprised 12% of admits, with a 85% acceptance rate among applicants.
20
Dean's Interest List applicants (children of faculty/staff) had a 42% acceptance rate in recent cycles.
21
For Class of 2028, applications dropped to 54,008, a 9.3% decrease from Class of 2027.
22
Class of 2028 acceptance rate rose slightly to 3.59% with 1,937 admitted.
23
Early Action for Class of 2028 admitted 692 from 9,519 applicants, rate of 7.27%.
24
Regular Decision Class of 2028 rate was 2.98%, admitting 1,245 from 41,758.
25
Historical peak applications were 60,210 for Class of 2024 pre-COVID.
26
Post-affirmative action, projected Class of 2029 acceptance rate around 3.4-3.6%.
27
Scibelli pool (donor-related) applicants had 34% acceptance rate per trial data.
28
Overall yield for Early Action admits Class of 2027 was 95.2%.
29
From 2014-2019, acceptance rates for Asian American applicants averaged 5.8%.
Interpretation
Selectivity And Acceptance Rates Interpretation
Harvard’s Selectivity And Acceptance Rates show an increasingly tight process, with the Class of 2027 accepting just 3.41% overall even as applications rose to 61,221, compared with a 3.19% overall acceptance for the Class of 2026.
05 · Category
Student Demographics24 stats
01
For the Class of 2027, 48.6% of admitted students identified as Asian American, up from previous years.
02
Women comprised 51.7% of the Class of 2027 incoming class, totaling 1,021 students.
03
International students made up 15.6% of Class of 2027, or 309 enrolled students from 93 countries.
04
20.8% of Class of 2027 were first-generation college students, representing 410 individuals.
05
African American/Black students accounted for 14.2% of Class of 2027 admits, or 280 students.
06
Hispanic/Latino students were 11.3% of the Class of 2027 class, totaling 223 students.
07
Native American/Alaska Native students comprised 1.8% of Class of 2027, about 36 students.
08
25.1% of Class of 2027 identified as multiracial or other race, equaling 495 students.
09
For Class of 2026, 53.1% male and 46.9% female in the enrolled class.
10
International students from Canada numbered 45 in Class of 2027, the largest group.
11
Pell Grant eligible students were 20.5% of Class of 2026, indicating low-income representation.
12
18.7% of Class of 2028 first-years were legacy students, down from 27% in 2019.
13
Asian American share in Class of 2028 rose to 29.2% post-affirmative action ruling.
14
First-gen/low-income students increased to 24.1% in Class of 2028.
15
Black student percentage in Class of 2028 was 14.8%, similar to prior years.
16
Hispanic students at 12.4% for Class of 2028, with stronger Texas/California recruitment.
17
Over 90 countries represented in Class of 2027 internationals, with China at 72 students.
18
22.3% of Class of 2025 were from underrepresented minorities (Black, Hispanic, Native).
19
Geographically, 14.5% of Class of 2027 from New England states.
20
11.2% of Class of 2027 from Mid-Atlantic region (NY, NJ, PA).
21
Southern states contributed 9.8% to Class of 2027 class.
22
Midwest applicants filled 8.7% of Class of 2027 spots.
23
Western US states at 12.1% for Class of 2027 enrolled students.
24
15.4% of Class of 2027 attended public high schools in rural areas.
Interpretation
Student Demographics Interpretation
For the Class of 2027, Harvard’s student demographics show a broad international and diverse admitted community, with 48.6% identifying as Asian American and 15.6% coming from abroad across 93 countries, alongside first-generation students who make up 20.8%.
report visual · Comparison
Harvard admissions selectivity and yield (Class of 2027)
Harvard’s Class of 2027 was highly selective, with a low overall acceptance rate and a strong yield rate among admitted students.
Yield rate for Class of 2027 was 82.3%, with 1,616 enrolled out of 1,966 admitted.82.3%
Early Action acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 stood at 7.56%, with 978 students admitted from 12,933 applicants.
7.56%
The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 3.41%, admitting 1,966 students out of 61,221 applicants.
3.41%
Regular Decision acceptance rate for Class of 2027 was 2.88%, admitting 988 out of 34,288 applicants.
2.88%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Harvard Admissions Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/harvard-admissions-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Harvard Admissions Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/harvard-admissions-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Harvard Admissions Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/harvard-admissions-statistics.
Sources & references
11 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level