Pre-College Program
Harvard Summer School
- Who can apply
- Rising juniors and seniors (graduating in 2028 or 2029)
- Cost
- Paid · $6,250 (2027)
- Deadline
- Feb 10, 2027
- Where
- Cambridge, MA
Private
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Private
Harvard University
Admit Rate
4%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)Ultra-Selective
GPA Range (Unweighted)
3.95 - 4.00
Cost of Attendance
$85,540
per year, before aid
Test Policy
SAT/ACT required‡ (source: Harvard College admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 22, 2026)
In exceptional cases when the tests are not accessible, AP, IB or national exam results can meet the requirement.
Data sourced from IPEDS, Institutional Website, for the record as a whole — figures marked with a star are sourced separately, as noted at the bottom of the page. Testing policy and deadlines checked against the college's own pages on Oct 18, 2026.
Preparation
Helpful high school preparation
AP Calculus BCAP European/US HistoryAP English LiteratureAP Physics C
This is helpful preparation, not a formal admission requirement.
Admissions
How admission works here
- Where you apply
- The Common App. Common App requirements grid
- Test scores
- SAT or ACT scores are required. In exceptional cases when the tests are not accessible, AP, IB or national exam results can meet the requirement. Harvard College admissions
- Essays
- The Common App personal essay is required. Common App requirements grid
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, a counselor recommendation, a mid-year report. Common App requirements grid
- Portfolio
- Portfolios go through SlideRoom. Common App requirements grid
- Application fee
- $95. The Common App fee waiver is accepted. Common App requirements grid
- Deadlines
- Restrictive Early Action November 1, Regular Decision January 1. Harvard College admissions
Overall
4%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
In-State
4%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
Out-of-State
3%* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
Overall is College Scorecard's verified figure and won't necessarily sit between the separately-reported In-State/Out-of-State rates shown here, which are what My Fit uses to classify your chances.
Mid-50% Unweighted GPA
3.95 - 4.00
Mid-50% SAT
1510 - 1580
SAT/ACT required
Top 10 majors
- 1Quantitative Economics
- 2Computer Science
- 3Social Sciences
- 4Political Science
- 5Applied Mathematics
- 6Mathematics
- 7Neuroscience
- 8Experimental Psychology
- 9Evolutionary Biology
- 10Statistics
Ordered by how many students graduated in each, 2023-24. Source: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS Completions survey). Names are the federal categories, so Harvard University may call a major something slightly different.
Applying
Application Deadlines† (source: Harvard College admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 20, 2026)
Restrictive Early Action
November 1 · Non-binding
Regular Decision
January 1 · Non-binding
Applying through the Common App
- Application fee
- $95
- Common App fee waiver
- Accepted
- Common App personal essay
- Required
- Portfolios collected through
- SlideRoom
- Recommendations
- 2 teacher recommendations, counselor recommendation, mid-year report
Source: Common App requirements grid, updated 2026-09-18. Anything not listed here wasn't stated in the grid, which is not the same as not required.
Essay details are being verified
College-specific prompts can change each application cycle. Check the school's official application page for the latest requirements.
View official application requirementsMusic & Sports Tracks
Music
- Harvard doesn't require an audition, even for students who plan to study music.Harvard–NEC Dual Degree
- A five-year dual degree with NEC: you apply to both schools and must be admitted by each.Harvard–NEC Dual Degree
- Aid is based on need only. There are no music or other merit awards.Harvard: how aid works
Sports
NCAA Division I (FCS)
Varsity sports (20)
BaseballBasketballFencingField hockeyFootballGolfIce hockeyLacrosseRowingSailingSkiingSoccerSoftballSquashSwimming and divingTennisTrack and field and cross countryVolleyballWater poloWrestling
U.S. Department of Education, Equity in Athletics data (2024-25) - Ivy League schools give athletes aid based on financial need only, never on athletic ability.Joint Ivy Statement
- Coaches can get admissions feedback on a recruit from July 1 after junior year, and likely letters can come from October 1 of senior year.Joint Ivy Statement
Internships & Programs
Academics
Flagship Programs
EconomicsGovernment / Political TheoryApplied Mathematics / Quantitative Social Science
Career & Major Pathways
Primary Disciplines
EconomicsGovernmentComputer ScienceApplied Mathematics
Interdisciplinary Pathways
History and LiteratureSocial StudiesEnvironmental Science and Public Policy
Cost
Cost of attendance, per year
$85,540* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
This is the full yearly cost before any financial aid. What your family would actually pay is in the Financial Aid section. Cost figures are approximate, so confirm current numbers on the college's website.
Tuition only (part of the cost above)
Tuition $61,676* (source: College Scorecard · 2024)
Financial Aid
What families actually paid, by household income
Average for students who received federal aid. Your own figure depends on your family's finances and the aid this school offers you.
- Under $30,000
- $8,697
- $30,001 – $48,000
- $2,991
- $48,001 – $75,000
- $2,091
- $75,001 – $110,000
- $9,941
- Over $110,000
- $53,337
College Scorecard (latest.cost.net_price.private.by_income_level.*), 2024
Estimate what your family would pay
Every school is required to publish a net price calculator. It asks about your family's finances and returns an estimate for you specifically, which is worth more than any average on this page. Your school counselor and the college's financial aid office can also help.
Scholarships and merit aid
Harvard awards no merit scholarships at all — every dollar of Harvard aid is need-based, so the net price calculator is the only reliable way to estimate cost.
Campus
Campus Fit
Location
Cambridge, MA· Urban
Undergraduates
8,844
Setting
Urban
In a fraternity or sorority
Not publicly reported
Living on campus
Not publicly reported
*College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education) · 2024
†Harvard College admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 20, 2026
‡Harvard College admissions · 2026-27 · accessed Sep 22, 2026