Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Harvard's yield is 18 pts higher than Brown's
Yield rate - 2
Brown's SAT midpoint is 40 points higher than Harvard's
SAT midpoint - 3
Harvard admits 4.2% vs. 5.4% at Brown
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- BrownUltra selective
- HarvardUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1300–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- BrownTest-optional
- HarvardTest scores required
How they read a record
Brown
The high school record and a college-prep program are required; GPA and class rank are considered.
Harvard
, GPA, and tests are all very important. This college reports (average 4.22), which pile most students into the top band; the bands can't show how crowded unweighted GPAs are.
What they look at
| Factor | Brown | Harvard |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Considered | Very important |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Very important |
| Essay | Required | Very important |
| Legacy status | Considered | Very important |
| Work experience | Considered | Very important |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Considered | Considered |
| Other tests | Not considered | Considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;College Scorecard, most recent release;Harvard University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;Harvard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Harvard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Harvard University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why