What are Harvard's average ACT scores and GPA? In this guide, we'll discuss what scores are needed for you to get admitted into Harvard. You'll also get to calculate your own chances with our admissions calculator.
Location: Cambridge, MA
This school is also known as: Harvard University, Harvard College, Harvard University
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Harvard Admissions Statistics
There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: ACT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Harvard University.
Average ACT: 34
The average ACT score composite at Harvard is a 34.
The 25th percentile ACT score is 34, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 36.
In other words, a 34 places you below average, while a 36 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute ACT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 34 to have a chance at being considered.
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Average GPA: 4
The average GPA at Harvard is 4. This makes Harvard Extremely Competitive for GPAs.
(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.
With a GPA of 4, Harvardrequires you to be at the top of your class. You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. You should also have taken plenty of AP or IB classes to show your ability to excel in academic challenge.
If you're a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change from this point on. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 4, you'll need a higher ACT score to compensate and show that you're prepared to take on college academics. This will help you compete effectively with other applicants.
Admissions Rate: 3.2%
The acceptance rate at Harvard is 3.2%. In other words, of 100 students who apply, only 3 are admitted.
This means the school isvery selective. Scores are vital to getting past their first round of filters. After that, you will need to impress them beyond just your academic scores.
Final Admissions Verdict
Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.
To be safe, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 36 ACT and a 4 GPA or higher to be above average.
This is only part of the challenge - after this, you'll need to impress them beyond your academic scores, with your accomplishments and extracurriculars. But if you apply with a 34 ACT or below, you unfortunately have a small chance of getting in.
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Admissions Calculator
What are your chances of admission at Harvard University?
Chances of admission with these scores:
Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.
Pick your test:ACT
ACT Score
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Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.
How would your chances improve with a better score?
Try to take your current ACT score and add 4 points to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?
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Other Schools For You
If you're interested in Harvard, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to Harvard.
Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into
These schools are have higher average ACT scores than Harvard. If you improve your ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of Technology | Pasadena, CA | 1545 | 36 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, MA | 1543 | 35 |
| Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | 1518 | 34 |
| Brown University | Providence, RI | 1493 | 34 |
Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into
If you're competitive for Harvard, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | 1500 | 34 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill, MA | 1435 | 33 |
| Tufts University | Medford, MA | 1465 | 33 |
| Villanova University | Villanova, PA | 1395 | 33 |
| Boston University | Boston, MA | 1418 | 32 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, NY | 1396 | 31 |
| Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester, NY | 1352 | 31 |
Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into
If you're currently competitive for Harvard, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If Harvard is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.
| School Name | Location | SAT Avg | ACT Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton University | Binghamton, NY | 1375 | 31 |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Troy, NY | 1393 | 30 |
| United States Military Academy | West Point, NY | 1331 | 30 |
| University of Massachusetts Amherst | Amherst, MA | 1358 | 30 |
Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.
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