Campus & Student Life at Harvard University

Home to about 8,527 undergraduates in 2020, Harvard is a very large, private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This urban setting might be best suited for students who like the fast-paced city life. Should you tire of the campus however, Harvard offers a “study abroad” program. Please note, some classes/degrees offered by Harvard can be taken “online” so keep that in mind when reviewing this report. For more context, you might also check out our Harvard Guide to Distance and Online Learning.

Harvard Has a Disability Services Site

Individuals with disabilities make up 10.0% of the student population at Harvard. For more information on policies and accommodations that the university provides to ensure all students get the opportunity to participate, you can visit Harvard Disability Services.

Harvard for the Military

While not a "service academy", Harvard does offer support for veterans and those seeking a career in the armed forces. Undergraduates have access to one or more ROTC programs and there is an active student veterans group on campus. For more information on policies related to veterans, you can visit Harvard Veteran Services . For more information, check out our Harvard for Veterans Guide.

Freshmen Living Arrangements at Harvard University

Harvard not only offers on-campus housing, they require freshmen to live on campus. If you are a returning adult or veteran, you can inquire about being exempted from such a requirement.

* Data compiled from students who received financial aid, including loans.

Full-time vs. Part-time Studies at Harvard University

Harvard has a comparatively very large, student body. There were 8,527 undergraduates in 2020. Full-time attendance was 5,699 (66.8%). Part-time attendance was 2,828 (33.2%).

Harvard University is Ranked #5 for Overall Diversity

Compared to other colleges and universities across the nation, Harvard receives top marks for overall diversity. We rank Harvard #5 out of 3,451.

The chart below shows each element that we looked at to determine this ranking, and how that metric compares to the national average. 100 would indicate excellent diversity in each category, and 1 would mean poor diversity.

You can learn more about the diversity of the student body at Harvard by looking closer at the ethnic,  gender,  age, and geographic diversity metrics from the Harvard Diversity Guide.

Harvard University Competes in the NCAA

Harvard has a total of 1239 student athletes, 726 men and 513 women who compete in inter-collegiate athletics.

Athletics Financing

For more information about athletics including per-team sizes, coaching and scholarships check out our Guide to Harvard University Athletics