History
Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.
Education
Harvard faculty are engaged with teaching and research to push the boundaries of human knowledge. For students who are excited to investigate the biggest issues of the 21st century, Harvard offers an unparalleled student experience and a generous financial aid program, with over $160 million awarded to more than 60% of our undergraduate students. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education.With an enduring dedication to the pursuit of excellence, Harvard University offers unparalleled student experiences across a broad spectrum of academic environments.
Research
Harvard scholars conduct research in almost every field, and seek to expand human knowledge through analysis, innovation, and insight. Research is supported by more than $750 million of sponsored research funds each year, and it is carried out both in the departments of the thirteen Schools and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and at more than 100 research centers, on campus and around the world. Researchers include faculty members, visiting scholars, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate and undergraduate students, and they collaborate with colleagues across the University, at affiliated institutions, and at other research institutions.
Career
The Office of Career Services works to educate, connect, and advise students about opportunities for summer and post-graduation. OCS serves students in Harvard College, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), and Harvard Extension School (HES) degree programs.
University Ranking
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2024
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ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2025
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World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2025
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2024
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QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2025
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2024
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Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Housing services
Harvard University Housing (HUH) offers a broad range of housing and real estate services to the University’s graduate students, faculty, and employees.
- Non-Harvard Housing:
- Harvard University Housing Sublets:
- Family Accommodations:
Library services
The Harvard Librarythe largest library in the worldincludes 20.4 million volumes, 180,000 serial titles, an estimated 400 million manuscript items, 10 million photographs, 124 million archived web pages, and 5.4 terabytes of born-digital archives and manuscripts. Access to this rich collection is provided by nearly 800 library staff members who operate more than 70 separate library units.
ICT services
ICF provides free academic computing and data processing resources in a distributed computing environment. Resources include 150 Dell PC’s running on a Novell Network and a wide array of software including Microsoft Office, PC-SAS, STATA, Smltree, Loglin, S-Plus, ARCView, Endnote and anit-virus software.
Medical services
Urgent Care is available 24 hours a day, every day. We provide advice and treatment for urgent health problems, both physical and emotional, that require prompt attention but are not life threatening emergencies.
Campus life
Harvard Colleges diverse student population makes it hard to describe the typical student and even harder to describe the quintessential Harvard student experience. Students come from all 50 states and from over 80 countries; from cities, suburbs, small towns and farms; from public, private and parochial schools; from every ethnic and religious background; and from across the economic spectrum. Based on longstanding tradition and an extensive financial aid program, Harvard is committed to making educational opportunity accessible to all, with over 60% of the undergraduate population receiving financial aid.
Sports facilities
Recreation memberships are available to the following groups only: students, faculty, staff and alumni (and their eligible family members). Membership includes access to the Malkin Athletic Center, Blodgett Pool, Hemenway Gymnasium, QRAC, and Murr Center Fitness Room.
Student clubs
With over 400 official student organizations including extra-curriculars, co-curricular and athletic opportunities in addition to academics, Harvard students are active around and beyond campus. Whether in Harvard Stadium playing on the field or cheering on The Harvard Crimson, volunteering through organizations like PBHA, fostering entrepreneurial activities in the Harvard innovation lab, writing or editing at The Harvard Crimson or The Harvard Lampoon, or researching in one of the many labs, Harvard students are continuously learning and constantly busy!
Harvard University is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE) of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Harvard, like all accredited universities and colleges, is reviewed for reaccreditation generally every 10 years and last received accreditation in 2009.