Is Harvard or Stanford harder to get into?
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1 Answer
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Stanford and Harvard University are the two of the most prestigious universities in the U.S. Their classes are challenging, professors are distinguished, and the admission processes are very selective. Stanford University acceptance rate for Indians is 3.61% for 2024-25, whereas, Harvard University acceptance rate is 3.65%. Just on the margin, this year, Harvard University is easier to get into than Stanford. A comparison between these universities is given below:
Particulars
Stanford
Harvard
Founded
1885
1636
Location
Stanford, California
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Tuition fees
USD 62,000+ per year
USD 57,000+ per year
Popular academic disciplines
CS, Engineering, Business
Law, MBA, Medicine
QS World University Rankings 2026
#3
#5
Alumni strength
Founders of Google, Netflix, Tesla; 30+ Nobel Laureates
8 U.S. Presidents, 150+ Nobel Laureates, world leaders, CEOs of top firms
Similar Questions for you
To get into Harvard University as an international student is a really big deal as an international student as it's acceptance rate is generally very low. Given below is the Harvard BTech admission criteria for international student -
- A high GPA (4.0 on a 4.0 scale or 97% or more)
- Courses like Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology with at least 4 years of study
- Entrance test scores (like SAT with 1520+ or ACT with 35+)
- Personal statement and essays (considered the most important generally)
- Great leadership skills
- Very strong letters of recommendation
- High English language proficiency
- Proof of financial stability
Indian alumni associated with Harvard University are
- Ratan Tata (Studied Advanced Management Program - Harvard Business School)
- Rahul Bajaj (Harvard Business School)
- Anand Mahindra (Harvard Business School)
- Kapil Sibal (Harvard Law School)
- P. Chidambaram (MBA from Harvard)
- Subramanian Swamy (PhD from Harvard)
- Jayant Sinha (Harvard Business School)
There is no comparison of Harvard with any other university. Harvard has gained its global recognition. On the other hand, Yonsei is one of the 'SKY' universities in Korea, which means it ranked top among other top-ranked universities. Also, the university is known for programs like Medicine, Business, and more.
Both Imperial and Harvard are world-class global institutions. They are both better than each other in certain aspects. Imperial stands out for its STEM and Business courses, as does Harvard, however, Harvard does have a better reputation for courses in other streams.
ICL London maintains a much stronger reputation in the European and Asian markets. Harvard has better connections in North America.
Harvard has a better global reputation and is better for students interested in liberal arts or other areas of studies. Imperial is a better choice for STEMB courses.
Yes, Princeton University is more affordable than Harvard University. Their tuition fees and living costs are very similar. However, Princeton offers several scholarships without any debt. At Harvard, students have to repay their scholarship funds at an interest rate. Princeton University scholarships also carry a better average financial package.
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