Harvard University Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

Harvard University is one of the most popular Ivy League institutions plus its the older university in the USA and has managed to consistently rank among top 5 global universities. Moreover even though it's a tough university to get into, Harvard does not mandate English proficiency proof for students applying for UG courses.

When it comes to Harvard University Ranking it ranked #3 in National Universities, #2 in Best Value Schools and #5 in World University Rankings 2026.

Harvard University Acceptance Rate 2025

Harvard Uni received around 53,700 applications from prospective students for class of 2029 of which a mere 1,950 students were offered a seat at campus grounds suggesting Harvard Uni acceptance rate stands at 3.63% for 2025 and that makes admission criteria extremely selective. The no. of student enrollments along with yield rate of the uni itself is yet to be announced however the yield rate for Harvard College as per official sources has been announced to stand around 83.6%.

For class of 2028 the uni received around 54,000 applications and around 1,970 students were admitted. Since Harvard University yield rate usually stands above 80% the class of 2028 the yield rate stood at around 83% since 1,647 of the students admitted ultimately offered the opportuntiy to enroll on the uni's campus grounds.

Harvard University Acceptance Rate for Foreign Students

Harvard College saw a rise of 90% with international student enrollments. When it comes to Harvard Uni acceptance rate for indian students the stats again stand at less than 4% making it one of the toughest study abroad universities to get into.

The no. of Foreign students enrolled at the Harvard University campus for 2024-25 amounts to 10,158 with the international crowd representing 150 different nations. An intimidating Harvard University acceptance rate of under 5% reveals that securing a seat at Harvard is extremely tough for local and foreign students alike. 

As per Harvard Global Support Services each year around 500-800 Indian students enroll at Harvard University. The ethnic breakdown of the class of 2028 of Harvard University is also given below:

Harvard University Acceptance Rate Trends

Harvard Uni has been receiving a slightly decreased number of applications since 2022. The number of applications received has gone down from 61,200 to 52,700 in 2025 while the no. of students admitted has consistently stayed around 1,900. As a result, Harvard acceptance rate has managed to range under 5%, pointing to extremely strict Harvard admission criteria. Check the enrollment trends for the university for the last few years, along with the trends for the acceptance rate of Harvard University mentioned below

Harvard University Early Decision vs Regular Decision

For the class of 2029, Harvard accepted approximately 640 applicants out of 6,950 under the Restrictive Early Action plan. Whereas, around 49,750 candidates applied under the Regular Decision plan, of which 1,310 were selected. This suggests that the Harvard early acceptance rate is 9.2% for the class of 2029, with the Harvard regular decision acceptance rate standing around a mere 2.8%. Hence, it can be observed that securing enrollment in Harvard through regular decision is much more competitive as compared to the early decision program.

When we talk about the class of 2028, Harvard admitted 692 out of 7,921 candidates through REA and 1,245 out of 46,087 applicants through the regular decision program. Thus, the early decision acceptance rate stood around 7.6%. Whereas the regular decision acceptance rate was recorded to be merely 2.6%.

Harvard University Requirements for International Students

Harvard University accepts international students based on their overall character and personality. Students must be all-rounders to secure enrollment to this prestigious Ivy League institution.

Harvard University Eligibility for Indian Students

• Undergraduate: Harvard University takes a holistic approach when it comes to admissions. Hence, academic accomplishment in high school is crucial for prospective undergraduate students of Harvard University. Apart from this, Harvard's admissions committee also considers other criteria such as community involvement, leadership and distinction in extra-curricular activities, character, personal qualities, and more.
• Graduate: Harvard University's admission requirements for graduates comprise of 4-year undergraduate degree or equivalent, English language requirements, standardized test scores (SAT/ACT), GMAT/GRE scores, LORs, SOPs, and more. Apart from the academic requirements, students should be all-rounders outside of class.

The minimum requirements to study at Harvard vary from school to school. Some of the basic requirements stated by Harvard University for international students include:

• SAT or ACT scores (optional)
• English language proficiency proof like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. (optional for international students)
• High School Transcripts
• Typically, at least two letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose (course-specific)
• Bachelor's degree or international equivalent (for graduates)
• Resume/CV

For more information, students can refer to official website of the choice of Harvard school/college.

Harvard University English Proficiency Requirements

For bachelor's courses no English language exam scores are required from international students to secure enrollment to Harvard University.

However, students planning to pursue master's courses from Harvard do need to fulfil the language requirements, and the minimum score requirements are listed below:

Also, check the Harvard University Cost page to find out about Harvard University fees

Harvard University Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

Harvard University is an extremely competitive university to get into and thus students must be academically outstanding, along with being all-rounders even outside class, in order to secure enrollment for their higher studies. To compete with other applicants, a candidate must obtain straight A’s in all their subjects.

When it comes to standardized test score requirements, the average SAT score submitted by Harvard applicants lies between 1490 - 1580. Whereas, the average ACT scores of the university’s applicants are around 34 - 36.

Tips to Get Selected at Harvard University

To secure a seat at Harvard students must be an all rounder as Harvard accepts students on basis of their overall profile

Apart from fulfilling the academic qualifications some of best practices that students can follow include acquiring strong LORs from their teachers/professors, participating in co curricular activities, and leaving a positive impact on the world outside classrooms.

In addition, the admissions committee of this Ivy League institution takes into account additional factors such as leadership and distinction in extracurricular activities, character, personal qualities, and involvement in the community.

Harvard University Acceptance Rate vs Oxford University Acceptance Rate

Oxford acceptance rate stands at around 14-17% which makes it an extremely competitive university to get into. However, with an acceptance rate of merely 3.6%, Harvard is considered to be much more selective in their admission criteria.

University of Oxford admissions are very selective in nature, and students must be at the top of their class as well as exceptional in co-curricular activities in order to get admitted to the university.