What You Need For Harvard: SAT Scores and GPA (2024)

What are Harvard's average SAT 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 University, Harvard College

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Harvard Admissions Statistics

There are three critical numbers when considering your admissions chances: SAT scores, GPA, and acceptance rate. All these combine to tell you what you scores are required to get into Harvard University.

Average SAT: 1520

The average SAT score composite at Harvard is a 1520.

Harvard SAT Score Analysis

The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1460, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1580.

In other words, a 1460 places you below average, while a 1580 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1460 to have a chance at being considered.

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

Section	Average	25th Percentile	75th Percentile
Math	770	760	800
Reading + Writing	750	730	780
Composite	1520	1460	1580

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Average GPA: 4

The average GPA at Harvard is 4. This makes Harvard Extremely Competitive for GPAs.

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 SAT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

To be safe, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT 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 1520 SAT 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:

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 SAT scores than Harvard. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

School Name	Location	SAT Avg	ACT Avg
University of Chicago	Chicago, IL	1520	34
Princeton University	Princeton, NJ	1518	34
Yale University	New Haven, CT	1515	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
Carnegie Mellon University	Pittsburgh, PA	1510	34
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	1500	34
Dartmouth College	Hanover, NH	1500	34
Tufts University	Medford, MA	1465	33
Northeastern University	Boston, MA	1465	34
New York University	New York, NY	1455	34
University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	1435	33

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
Boston College	Chestnut Hill, MA	1435	33
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, NY	1393	30
Binghamton University	Binghamton, NY	1375	31

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FAQs

What You Need For Harvard: SAT Scores and GPA? ›

If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration. To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1580 SAT or a 36 ACT. You should also have a 4 GPA or higher.

Tell Me More ›

What SAT and GPA do you need to get into Harvard? ›

Harvard applicants with a combined SAT score of 1300-1400 and an average GPA of 3.5-4.0 have a better chance of being accepted to Harvard University.

Can you get into Harvard with a 3.5 GPA? ›

A 3.5 GPA will be highly competitive, and admission can be reasonably expected at many colleges. Still, it's not the most competitive at places like Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth, which, on average, accept students with GPAs exceeding 4.0.

Tell Me More ›

Is a 4.7 GPA good for Harvard? ›

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18. To compete with other applications, you'll need to receive almost all A's.

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Do you need a 4.0 to get into Harvard? ›

The GPA requirements for Harvard University are between 3.9 to 4.1. You will need an incredibly high GPA and will likely be graduating at the top of their class in order to get into Harvard University.

Know More ›

Is A 3.5 A Good GPA? ›

Is a 3.5 GPA good? A 3.5 unweighted GPA means that you've earned an A- average across all of your classes. You're well above the national average for GPA and should have a solid chance of acceptance at a wide variety of colleges. 70.11% of schools have an average GPA below a 3.5.

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Can I get into Harvard with a 2.0 GPA? ›

Generally speaking, if your GPA is not at least equal to 4.18 then Harvard University may be a reach. However, Harvard University considers the ENTIRE application - we can make up for a weak GPA with more factors that we'll discuss below.

Learn More Now ›

Can a 5.0 GPA get me into Harvard? ›

You should also have a 4 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.

Can a 2.5 GPA go to Harvard? ›

While it's certainly possible to get into Harvard with a low GPA, as the numbers bear out, it's improbable. For the Class of 2026, a mere 2.09% of admitted students to Harvard had GPAs below 3.5. Such students often meet other institutional needs (e.g., star quarterback for the football team, development case, etc.).

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Is a 4 O GPA good? ›

A 4.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) is typically considered a perfect or straight-A average. Since it represents the highest possible grade point average, a 4.0 GPA would place you at the top of your class in terms of academic achievement.

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Can a 2.7 GPA get into Harvard? ›

Even though the average weighted GPA for Harvard is 4.2, this is still an average. Successful applicants may have scores that fall well above or below that figure. That means you won't automatically be rejected if your GPA is under 4.0. Some say that the lowest GPA accepted to Harvard is about 3.0 (weighted).

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Is a 2.5 a good GPA? ›

The average GPA for graduating high school students is a 3.0, which 2.5 falls below. A 2.5 means that you received a C-average for academic performance, equally out to a percentile between 73% and 76%.

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Is 1500 SAT good for Harvard? ›

Harvard SAT Score Analysis

In other words, a 1460 places you below average, while a 1580 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1460 to have a chance at being considered.

How much SAT do you need to get into Harvard? ›

Harvard SAT Score Analysis

There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1460 to have a chance at being considered.

Find Out More ›

Does Harvard accept 3.8 GPA? ›

Yes, a 3.8 GPA is good to apply for Harvard or Stanford. But it alone won't be able to get you admission. To improve your chances of getting admitted, you'll have to apply with a well-crafted application.

Can you get into Harvard with a 3.0 GPA? ›

It's worth noting that a 3.0 GPA does not automatically disqualify you from consideration for admission to Harvard, and there have been students with lower GPAs who have been admitted in the past.

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Does Harvard accept 1500 SAT score? ›

Is a 1500 SAT score enough to get into Harvard or Stanford with a scholarship as an international student? Probably not. A 1500 is below the median for admitted students. You will need a 4.0 (out of 4, unweighted) or extremely close to it to remain in the consideration pile.