Harvard University Acceptance Rate
Cambridge, Massachusetts · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 56,937
- Admitted
- 1,965
- Yield
- 83.7%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Harvard University's acceptance rate has fallen from 6% in 2014–15 to 3.5% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 34,295 to 56,937 (+66%) over that period.
Its 3.5% rate makes Harvard University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 61 tracked Massachusetts schools, it is more selective than about 98%.
Harvard University has been test-optional since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 83.7% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 34,295 | 2,045 | 6% | 1,654 |
| 2015–16 | 37,307 | 2,080 | 5.6% | 1,660 |
| 2016–17 | 39,041 | 2,110 | 5.4% | 1,663 |
| 2017–18 | 39,506 | 2,037 | 5.2% | 1,687 |
| 2018–19 | 42,749 | 2,024 | 4.7% | 1,653 |
| 2019–20 | 43,330 | 2,009 | 4.6% | 1,649 |
| 2020–21 | 40,248 | 2,015 | 5% | 1,407 |
| 2021–22 | 57,786 | 2,318 | 4% | 1,951 |
| 2022–23 | 61,221 | 1,984 | 3.2% | 1,646 |
| 2023–24 | 56,937 | 1,965 | 3.5% | 1,645 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 30,636 | 1,051 | 3.4% |
| Men | 26,301 | 914 | 3.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 740–780 | 52% |
| SAT Math | 760–800 | |
| ACT Composite | 34–36 | 22% |
How Harvard University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Harvard University's acceptance rate?
Harvard University's acceptance rate is 3.5% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,965 admitted of 56,937 applicants).
Is Harvard University test optional?
Harvard University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Harvard University?
Harvard University received 56,937 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,965.
What SAT score do you need for Harvard University?
Admitted students at Harvard University typically scored 740–780 on SAT Reading/Writing and 760–800 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Harvard University getting harder to get into?
Harvard University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 6% in 2014–15 to 3.5% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.harvard.edu/.