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Summary
Harvard University is a private institution that was founded in 1636. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Harvard University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 1. Its tuition and fees are $39,849 (2011-12).
Harvard is located in Cambridge, Mass., just outside of Boston. Harvard’s extensive library system houses the oldest collection in the United States and the largest private collection in the world. There is more to the school than endless stacks, though: Harvard’s athletic teams compete in the Ivy League, and every football season ends with "The Game," an annual matchup between storied rivals Harvard and Yale. At Harvard, on—campus residential housing is an integral part of student life. Freshmen live around the Harvard Yard at the center of campus, after which they are placed in one of 12 undergraduate houses for their remaining three years. Although they are no longer recognized by the university as official student groups, the eight all-male "final clubs" serve as social organizations for some undergraduate students; Harvard also has five female clubs.
In addition to the College, Harvard is comprised of 13 other schools and institutes, including the top-ranked Business School and Medical School and the highly ranked Graduate Education School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School, and John F. Kennedy School of Government. Eight U.S. presidents graduated from Harvard College, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Other notable alumni include Henry David Thoreau, Helen Keller, Yo-Yo Ma, and Tommy Lee Jones. In 1977, Harvard signed an agreement with sister institute Radcliffe College, uniting them in an educational partnership serving male and female students, although they did not officially merge until 1999. Harvard also has the largest endowment of any school in the world.
| School mission (as provided by the school): | N/A |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1636 |
| Religious affiliation | N/A |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | urban |
| 2010 Endowment | $27,557,404,000 |
Applying
When applying to Harvard University, it's important to note the application deadline is January 1, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due March 6. The application fee at Harvard University is $75. It is most selective, with an acceptance rate of 7.2 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | most selective |
| Fall 2010 acceptance rate | 7% |
| Application deadline | January 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | March 6 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Harvard University is 7:1, and the school has 79.5 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Harvard University include: Economics, General; Political Science and Government, General; History, General; Political Science and Government, General; and Sociology. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 97.2 percent.
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| Student-faculty ratio | 7:1 | ||||||||||
| 4-year graduation rate | 87% - High | ||||||||||
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Student Life
Harvard University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,641, with a gender distribution of 50.0 percent male students and 50.0 percent female students. Harvard University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
See what students are saying about life at Harvard University.
| Total enrollment | 19,627 |
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| Undergraduate men who are members of a fraternity | N/A |
| Undergraduate women who are members of a sorority | N/A |
| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Harvard University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Harvard University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at Harvard University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Harvard University, 61.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $39,156.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $39,849 (2011-12) |
| Room and board | $12,801 (2011-12) - High |
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* Overview details based on 2010 data
