Harvard combines the nation's most selective admissions with exceptional economic outcomes. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university produces $13,369 in earnings beyond expectations while maintaining debt levels well below peer institutions, positioning graduates for long-term financial success across diverse career paths.
The institution's exceptional long-term earnings outcomes relative to educational investment
Well above average cost management and financial aid effectiveness
With strong performance, reflecting above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students within its highly selective context
With excellent-tier performance, indicating strong economic advancement despite serving fewer low-income students
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisHarvard delivers outstanding earnings outcomes relative to educational investment. Graduates earn a median of $101,817 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 99th percentile nationally among all institutions.
Earnings span from $65,309 at the 25th percentile to $200,054 at the 75th percentile, reflecting diverse career trajectories across disciplines. The institution generates $13,369 in earnings beyond expectations, placing it at the 89.5th percentile nationally on this measure.
Students seeking exceptional long-term earnings potential at one of the nation's most selective institutions. Well-suited for academically exceptional students (SAT 1500-1580) who can navigate highly competitive admission and leverage Harvard's network for career advancement.
The university combines outstanding outcomes with strong financial aid for lower-income students.
Harvard admits approximately 3.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 29 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Harvard among the most selective universities in the United States, significantly more competitive than the peer median admission rate of 70.6%.
Even among elite private research universities, Harvard's acceptance rate represents extreme selectivity. This level of competition means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with perfect test scores, outstanding grades, and significant achievements—face substantial uncertainty in the admission process.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Harvard's published cost of attendance reaches $82,842 annually, including $59,076 in tuition, $20,374 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays just $16,816 after financial aid, representing savings of $66,026 from the sticker price.
This substantial discount reflects Harvard's commitment to making education accessible despite high published costs. The average net price of $16,816 compares favorably to the peer median of $27,143, indicating stronger financial aid relative to similar institutions.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $2,895 for families earning under $30,000 to $53,571 for families earning over $110,000. This progressive pricing structure ensures that lower-income families pay significantly less than higher-income families.
The $50,676 gap between the lowest and highest income tiers demonstrates targeted aid delivery. Harvard's financial aid effectiveness positions it as more affordable than many peer institutions despite its elite status and high sticker price.
Computer Science.
190 graduates
Applied Mathematics, General.
98 graduates
Mathematical Statistics and Probability.
75 graduates
Applied Economics.
215 graduates
American History (United States).
145 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Worcester Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (55 percentage points higher) and located 36 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 59% | $103,470 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
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This is the Harvard University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/harvard-university/analysis.
Top 5% nationally for graduate earnings
Harvard University ranks #49 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with return performance at the 99.9th percentile nationally. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this medium-sized private nonprofit university maintains highly selective admission standards with a 3.5% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation outcomes.
Harvard enrolls 15.8% Pell-eligible students and 25.7% first-generation students, reflecting moderate diversity within its highly competitive applicant pool. Graduates earn $13,369 beyond expectations relative to similar students, ranking at the 89.5th percentile nationally.
Median earnings reach $101,817 ten years after enrollment, placing Harvard at the 99th percentile for long-term earnings outcomes. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, graduates earn $38,751 more annually.
This combination of highly selective admissions and outstanding economic outcomes places Harvard within the Selective Achievers quadrant, where institutions serve fewer low-income students while delivering strong post-graduation results.
The vast majority of highly qualified applicants will not receive admission simply due to the extraordinary volume of competitive candidates. Students considering Harvard should understand that admission depends not only on meeting academic thresholds but on distinguishing themselves within an applicant pool where most candidates already demonstrate exceptional qualifications.
For this reason, students should treat Harvard as a reach school regardless of their academic profile and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with more accessible admission alongside comparable post-graduation outcomes. The alternatives section below provides schools that deliver similar career results with more realistic admission prospects.
Harvard graduates demonstrate steady earnings progression with exceptional outcomes across time horizons. Median earnings grow from $99,572 six years after enrollment to $101,095 at eight years and $101,817 at ten years, representing modest 2.3% growth from the six-year mark but maintaining consistently high earning levels.
These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 612 graduates, providing high confidence in the reported figures given the substantial sample size. Graduates earn $13,369 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing Harvard at the 89.5th percentile for earnings uplift.
This value-added performance demonstrates the institution's effectiveness in translating educational quality into economic outcomes. Low-income graduates earn $135,000, ranking among the top 5% nationally and exceeding the overall median by $33,183.
The substantial earnings range from $65,309 at the 25th percentile to $200,054 at the 75th percentile reflects differences in career paths, with a 3.1:1 ratio indicating significant variation in post-graduation trajectories. Approximately 25.0% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, reflecting strong preparation for advanced education alongside immediate workforce success.
Harvard offers 18 bachelor's degree programs with sufficient federal earnings data for comprehensive analysis. Computer Science ranks #1 nationally, producing 190 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $256,539 and a perfect value score of 100.0.
Applied Mathematics ranks #1 nationally, graduating 98 students with median earnings of $166,324 and a perfect value score. Mathematical Statistics and Probability ranks #2 nationally, with 75 graduates earning $128,716.
Applied Economics ranks #6 nationally and #2 in Massachusetts, graduating 215 students with median earnings of $124,570 and representing the largest high-earning cohort. American History ranks #2 nationally, graduating 145 students with median earnings of $89,238.
Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods ranks #2 nationally, with 157 graduates earning $72,825. These programs demonstrate Harvard's particular strength in quantitative disciplines, mathematics, and economics, with multiple #1 and top-5 national rankings across different fields.
College Of The Holy Cross Higher acceptance rate (17.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 21% | $90,543 | Compare |
Trinity College Higher acceptance rate (30.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 92 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 34% | $90,779 | Compare |
Bucknell University Higher acceptance rate (28.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 32% | $93,807 | Compare |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Higher acceptance rate (55 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | NY | 58% | $102,051 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Princeton University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#42 ranked) | NJ | 5% | $110,066 | #42 | Compare |
Columbia University In The City Of New York Similar quality tier in Northeast (#53 ranked) | NY | 4% | $102,491 | #53 | Compare |
Massachusetts Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#60 ranked) | MA | 5% | $143,372 | #60 | Compare |
Cornell University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#62 ranked) | NY | 8% | $104,043 | #62 | Compare |
Yale University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#67 ranked) | CT | 5% | $100,533 | #67 | Compare |
