Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in America, and it is renowned as one of the most prestigious in the world. The university boasts the largest academic library system, which includes 79 libraries and over 20 million items. In addition to eight U.S. presidents, Harvard’s notable alumni include Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Oscar Award-winning actress Natalie Portman, and award-winning astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Ranked 2 in the nation, Harvard is an exceptionally selective school. Its acceptance rate is 5%, and its graduation rate is 96%. Over 23,000 undergraduates and postgraduates are enrolled. Harvard’s tuition rate is $51,143 per year, plus additional fees. However, it provides substantial financial aid without loans. Harvard offers 50 undergraduate majors. Its graduate program, which offers over 160 fields of study, is spread across 12 graduate and professional schools, and the Harvard Radcliffe Institute is a world-class center for advanced interdisciplinary learning. Harvard follows a semester-based academic calendar.

Harvard has three main campuses. These include the main 209-acre Cambridge campus; a neighboring campus, located just across the Charles River in Boston; and a medical center that is just minutes from Fenway Park. Harvard students can count on rigorous study and ample opportunities to engage in important research at world-class facilities. To balance intense study and research, students participate in over 450 clubs and organizations. Harvard’s unique residential program, the House system, gives students a close-knit sense of community by integrating their living, dining, learning, and socializing experiences in one place. Many volunteer through Harvard’s robust service learning program, and about 80% of students engage in varsity, intramural, or club sports.