Harvard Admissions: The Exclusive Few Percentile

Getting into Harvard is notoriously difficult, with the university's acceptance rate being one of the lowest in the nation. In 2026, the acceptance rate for Harvard was just 3.1%, and it has been as low as 2.7% for the regular decision cycle. The average acceptance rate across all Ivy League universities is only slightly higher at 5.1% as of 2024, a sharp decline from 8.9% in 2015. Harvard's early action acceptance rate tends to be higher, with a rate of 8.7% for the class of 2029.

Harvard's acceptance rate for the Class of 2028

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious and competitive institutions in the world, with a rigorous admissions process. For the Class of 2028, Harvard College received a total of 54,008 applications, a slight decrease from the previous year, which marked the fourth consecutive year of receiving over 50,000 applications.

The Class of 2028 at Harvard is diverse, with students coming from all 50 states in the United States and a notable number of international students. The early admissions round for the Class of 2029 also saw a high number of applicants, with almost 8,000 students applying.

Harvard's admissions process considers various factors beyond academic metrics, such as essays, extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and recommendations. The university also offers financial aid to ensure accessibility for students from different economic backgrounds.

Early Action acceptance rates

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the nation, with only 3.59% of applicants being admitted during the 2023-24 application cycle. Harvard's early acceptance rates for the Class of 2028, 2027, and 2026 were 9%, 7.56%, and 7.87% respectively. This means that Harvard accepted 692 out of 7,921 early applicants for the Class of 2028, 722 out of 9,553 for the Class of 2027, and 740 out of 9,406 for the Class of 2026. The early acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 has not been released yet, but it is projected to be between 7% and 8% based on previous years' data.

Harvard's early acceptance rates have shown an increasing trend over the past few years, with the rate increasing from 7.56% for the Class of 2027 to 8.74% for the Class of 2028. The size of the Early Action pool decreased by 17% during this time. The early acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 is expected to be released in October or November 2025.

Harvard's overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 3.59%, with a total of 54,008 applications received and 1,937 students admitted. This includes both the early and regular decision admissions cycles. The regular decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 2.7%.

Harvard's early acceptance rates are typically higher than the regular decision acceptance rates. For the Class of 2028, the early acceptance rate was 9% compared to the regular decision acceptance rate of 2.7%. Applying for early action can increase an applicant's chances of admission and also demonstrates their strong interest in joining Harvard's academic community.

Harvard's admissions process is highly competitive and selective, with only a small percentage of applicants being offered admission. The university considers various factors in its admissions decisions, including academic accomplishments, community involvement, leadership, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities.

Regular Decision acceptance rates

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the nation, with only a small percentage of applicants gaining admission each year. The Regular Decision acceptance rate for Harvard's Class of 2028 was 3.59%, with 1,245 students accepted out of 46,087 applicants. This was the highest acceptance rate in four years and was an increase from the previous year's Regular Decision acceptance rate of 3.41%.

Harvard's Regular Decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was lower than its overall acceptance rate of 4.19%, which includes both early and regular admissions. The overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was an increase from the previous year's overall acceptance rate of 3.41%.

Harvard's early admissions acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 8.74%, with 692 students accepted out of 7,921 early applicants. This was an increase from the previous year's early admissions acceptance rate of 7.56%.

The Regular Decision acceptance rate for Harvard's Class of 2029 is expected to be highly competitive, with last year's rate at an ultra-competitive 2.7%. The Regular Decision results for the Class of 2029 will be released on Ivy Day, March 26, 2025.

Harvard's admissions process is highly competitive, and the university receives tens of thousands of applications each year from students around the world. The university evaluates applicants based on a range of criteria, including academic excellence, strong essays, leadership, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.

Acceptance rates for US students

Harvard's early admissions cycle has typically yielded higher acceptance rates compared to regular decisions. For instance, the early acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 was 7.56%, while the regular decision acceptance rate was 3.41%. The early acceptance rate for the Class of 2026 was 7.87%, and for the Class of 2029, it was projected to be between 7-8%.

Harvard's regular decision acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was an ultra-competitive 2.7%, with 1,245 students accepted out of 46,087 applications. This trend of low acceptance rates reflects the university's highly selective and prestigious nature, making it one of the most competitive institutions in the world.

Acceptance rates for international students

Harvard University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world and is consistently ranked among the top five. It is also one of the most competitive universities to gain admission to, with an acceptance rate of between 3.0% and 3.5% in recent years. For the class of 2028, the acceptance rate was 3.59%, with 1,937 out of 54,008 applicants being admitted.

Harvard University boasts an inclusive community of students from diverse backgrounds all around the globe. The international student population makes up about 15.4% of the total student population, with nearly 4,000 international students. The acceptance rate for international students is not publicly available, but it can be assumed that it is similar to the standard Harvard acceptance rate, which is less than 4%.

Harvard's admissions process is holistic, taking into account a range of factors beyond academic accomplishment, such as community involvement, leadership, distinction in extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and character. For undergraduate admissions, Harvard does not require proof of English language proficiency, but for graduate admissions, English language requirements must be met.

Harvard's early decision acceptance rate is usually higher compared to the regular decision acceptance rate. For the class of 2028, the early decision acceptance rate was 8.74%, while the regular decision acceptance rate was 2.7%.

The application process for Harvard is highly competitive, and gaining admission requires a well-rounded profile, strong academic performance, and a thoughtful application strategy.

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