Is Harvard a private college?
I've been researching a bunch of schools for my college list, and I keep seeing people talk about private vs public universities. Is Harvard considered private?
I'm trying to get a better sense for how the type of school impacts things like cost, financial aid, and the overall college experience. I know places like UC Berkeley are public, but I can't always tell by the name or reputation. Anyone have details on Harvard specifically or tips for figuring this out in general?
Also, if it is private, what does that actually mean for things like admissions and tuition? I appreciate any explanations!
I'm trying to get a better sense for how the type of school impacts things like cost, financial aid, and the overall college experience. I know places like UC Berkeley are public, but I can't always tell by the name or reputation. Anyone have details on Harvard specifically or tips for figuring this out in general?
Also, if it is private, what does that actually mean for things like admissions and tuition? I appreciate any explanations!
3 weeks ago
•
41 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 3 weeks ago
Advisor
Harvard University is a private college. In the U.S., a private university is one that’s not owned or mainly funded by state governments. Instead, most of its financial support comes from tuition, private donations, and its endowment. This is different from a public school like UC Berkeley, which is funded in part by the state of California.
Since Harvard is private, its tuition tends to be higher than public universities, especially if you compare it to what in-state students pay at their public flagship schools. For example, Harvard’s listed tuition and fees for 2023-2024 are over $59,000, while UC Berkeley’s in-state tuition is much lower. However, Harvard also has an extremely generous financial aid program—often, students from families making less than $85,000 per year pay nothing for tuition (and sometimes nothing at all, including room and board).
One key difference with private universities is that tuition and financial aid are the same regardless of your state of residence. At public universities, being an in-state or out-of-state student makes a big difference in cost.
Admissions at private colleges like Harvard are also open to students from any state or country, and they generally have more flexibility in creating a diverse class. Public universities sometimes have quotas or preferences for in-state students. With Harvard, all applicants are treated the same, no matter where you’re from.
For identifying if a school is private or public, it helps to look up the school’s official website. Usually, the About or Admissions sections will specify this. School names don’t always make it obvious; for example, "University of California" schools are public, but so are places like "Georgia Institute of Technology." Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and other Ivy League schools are all private.
In summary, Harvard is private, which impacts cost, financial aid, and admissions in specific ways. If affordability is a top priority, definitely compare the financial aid offerings of private schools. Sometimes, the sticker price is misleading because their need-based aid can be quite substantial—the actual cost to families often ends up surprisingly similar to public schools, or even lower, depending on your situation.
Since Harvard is private, its tuition tends to be higher than public universities, especially if you compare it to what in-state students pay at their public flagship schools. For example, Harvard’s listed tuition and fees for 2023-2024 are over $59,000, while UC Berkeley’s in-state tuition is much lower. However, Harvard also has an extremely generous financial aid program—often, students from families making less than $85,000 per year pay nothing for tuition (and sometimes nothing at all, including room and board).
One key difference with private universities is that tuition and financial aid are the same regardless of your state of residence. At public universities, being an in-state or out-of-state student makes a big difference in cost.
Admissions at private colleges like Harvard are also open to students from any state or country, and they generally have more flexibility in creating a diverse class. Public universities sometimes have quotas or preferences for in-state students. With Harvard, all applicants are treated the same, no matter where you’re from.
For identifying if a school is private or public, it helps to look up the school’s official website. Usually, the About or Admissions sections will specify this. School names don’t always make it obvious; for example, "University of California" schools are public, but so are places like "Georgia Institute of Technology." Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and other Ivy League schools are all private.
In summary, Harvard is private, which impacts cost, financial aid, and admissions in specific ways. If affordability is a top priority, definitely compare the financial aid offerings of private schools. Sometimes, the sticker price is misleading because their need-based aid can be quite substantial—the actual cost to families often ends up surprisingly similar to public schools, or even lower, depending on your situation.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years