Home of the undergraduate admissions and financial aid staff
Next Steps
Thank you for taking the tour. If you’re interested in Harvard and think it could be a great fit for you, please read further to learn about our admissions and financial aid processes. We are deeply committed to enrolling students of all backgrounds, and providing the financial aid to make it possible for any admitted student to afford Harvard. Our staff and students are here to help.
There is no such thing as a "typical Harvard student." In our admissions process, we give careful, individual attention to each applicant. We seek to identify students who will be the best educators of one another and their professors—individuals who will inspire those around them during their College years and beyond. Our admissions process enables us to give deliberate and meticulous consideration of each applicant as a whole person.
Our application requirements include: Submitting a completed application (which includes a personal statement, some family information, and a list of extracurricular activities); letters of recommendation - one from a guidance counselor, and two from teachers; an application fee (though you can easily request a fee waiver); and standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT are optional for the 2022-2026 application cycles.
For 90% of American families, Harvard is cheaper than the local state university, thanks to our generous financial aid. In our need-based program, all financial need your family has (which is submitted through various financial aid forms) is covered in full by our program. For families with annual incomes under $75,000, there is no expected family contribution. We are committed to ensuring all admitted students have the opportunity to attend Harvard, regardless of the economic obstacles they have encountered. We launched the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) in 2004 to enhance this effort and to raise awareness of college affordability for students interested in all kinds of colleges and universities.
We hire a number of current undergraduate students to share their own experiences and answer your questions. Please feel free to reach out to any of the groups to be put in touch with a current Harvard student.
Visit this site: college.harvard.edu/admissions/explore-harvard/connect-students
Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program - This group focuses on providing information about our diverse campus community and the Harvard College application process to minority middle and high school students. Ask us about extracurricular activities, cultural groups, research and academic opportunities, or anything else.
Harvard Financial Aid Initiative - Our student coordinators are eager to discuss student life, the basics of financial aid policy, and the specifics of the Harvard application. Contact HFAI to hear about their experiences at Harvard.
Harvard First Generation Program - While you may be the first in your family to attend college, you won’t be alone in blazing that trail at Harvard. If you are a first generation-college student, your college experience will be especially exciting for you and your family—from application to graduation. But you may find you have questions about the process of applying and about what to expect in college. We can help.