Harvard vs Stanford
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Harvard UniversityCambridge, MACompass Score: Exceptional · Top 1%A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Stanford UniversityStanford, CACompass Score: Exceptional · Top 1%
At a glance
- Harvard has the higher graduation rate: 98% against 92% at Stanford.
- For families earning up to $30,000, Stanford has the lower price after aid: $0 or less a year, against $8,697 at Harvard.
- Stanford has the lower average price after aid: $13,807 a year, against $19,066 at Harvard.
Scores
Compass Score
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
A+Compass Score: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
Academic Excellence
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
A+Academic Excellence: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
Value
AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 4%
A+Value: Exceptional (grade A+): the top 3% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 1%
The college
Category
National universities
National universities
Location
Cambridge, MA
Stanford, CA
Setting
City
Suburb
Students
30,386
18,446
Sports
NCAA Division I · Ivy Group
NCAA Division I · Atlantic Coast Conference
Admission
Admission rate
4%
4%
Average SAT
1553
1553
ACT middle 50%
34–36
34–35
Outcomes
Graduation rate
98%
92%
First-year retention
98%
98%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$101,817
$124,080
Median debt
$14,000
$12,000
Cost
Average price after aid
$19,066
$13,807
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$8,697
$0 or less
$30,001–$48,000
$2,991
$0 or less
$48,001–$75,000
$2,091
$3,212
$75,001–$110,000
$9,941
$11,092
Over $110,000
$53,337
$53,882
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Statistics $230,876
- Computer science $203,169
- Applied mathematics $170,689
- Economics $155,592
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences $117,816
- Computer science $214,907
- Cognitive Science $131,650
- Mechanical engineering $117,072
- Other engineering $115,206
- Economics $112,700
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.