Stanford University vs Harvard University

Stanford University and Harvard University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Harvard University is more selective with a 3.5% acceptance rate compared to Stanford University's 3.9%. Average SAT scores are 1553 and 1553 respectively.

Cost: Stanford University offers a lower average net price at $12,136, which is $4,680 less than Harvard University ($16,816). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Stanford University earn a median salary of $124,080 ten years after enrollment, which is $22,263 more than Harvard University graduates ($101,817).

Graduation: Harvard University leads with a 97.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 97.8% vs 98.6%.

Campus Size: Stanford University is the larger campus with 7,841 total students, while Harvard University has 7,755.

Bottom Line: Stanford University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.