How many students attend Harvard University?
I'm working on my college list and Harvard is one of my top choices, but I can't seem to find clear info on how many students actually go there. Is it a huge school, or does it have a more intimate campus feel with fewer students?
If anyone knows the total enrollment or maybe even the breakdown between undergraduates and grad students, that would be really helpful. Also, does the size of the student body impact the campus culture at all? I'd appreciate any insights since I really want to get a realistic sense of what life at Harvard is like.
If anyone knows the total enrollment or maybe even the breakdown between undergraduates and grad students, that would be really helpful. Also, does the size of the student body impact the campus culture at all? I'd appreciate any insights since I really want to get a realistic sense of what life at Harvard is like.
1 week ago
•
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Luis Nario-Malberg
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Harvard University’s total enrollment is approximately 25,000 students. Of these, around 7,100 are undergraduates in Harvard College, while the remainder—close to 18,000—are graduate and professional students spread across Harvard’s many schools (like the Law School, Business School, and Medical School).
Despite what the overall numbers suggest, the undergraduate campus has a more intimate feel than you might expect from a university of this size. The undergraduate college is at the heart of campus life, with first-year students living together in Harvard Yard and, after that, being assigned to smaller House communities (think of them as residential colleges). Each House has its own dining hall, social spaces, events, and even academic support systems. For example, you might find yourself eating dinner with your House Faculty Deans, playing intramural sports, or attending movie nights—so the undergraduate experience is very community-focused despite the large university structure.
In terms of campus culture, the size does impact things, but not necessarily in a negative way. There’s a huge diversity of academic and extracurricular opportunities because of the broad student body. Meanwhile, Harvard balances this with systems designed to make the campus feel smaller and more supportive. Social life, networking, and academic resources tend to be strong at both large and small scales, meaning you get the benefits of a world-class research university while still having plenty of close connections within your undergraduate community.
If you’re looking for a school that’s globally renowned but has a residential, community vibe for undergraduates, Harvard fits that bill quite well.
Despite what the overall numbers suggest, the undergraduate campus has a more intimate feel than you might expect from a university of this size. The undergraduate college is at the heart of campus life, with first-year students living together in Harvard Yard and, after that, being assigned to smaller House communities (think of them as residential colleges). Each House has its own dining hall, social spaces, events, and even academic support systems. For example, you might find yourself eating dinner with your House Faculty Deans, playing intramural sports, or attending movie nights—so the undergraduate experience is very community-focused despite the large university structure.
In terms of campus culture, the size does impact things, but not necessarily in a negative way. There’s a huge diversity of academic and extracurricular opportunities because of the broad student body. Meanwhile, Harvard balances this with systems designed to make the campus feel smaller and more supportive. Social life, networking, and academic resources tend to be strong at both large and small scales, meaning you get the benefits of a world-class research university while still having plenty of close connections within your undergraduate community.
If you’re looking for a school that’s globally renowned but has a residential, community vibe for undergraduates, Harvard fits that bill quite well.
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years