Harvard College Admits Class of 2028 with Highest Acceptance Rate in Four Years

Harvard College acceptance rate climbs following affirmative action ban

In the first admissions cycle post the fall of affirmative action, Harvard College has accepted 3.59 percent of applicants, the highest rate in four years. This comes as the college now refrains from considering race during the admissions process.

Record number of accepted applicants join Class of 2028

Harvard offered admission to 1,245 applicants at 7 p.m. on Thursday. These students will join the 692 students who were accepted in the early admission cycle in December, making a total of 1,937 students set to join the Class of 2028.

Positive outlook from Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, William R. Fitzsimmons ’67, expressed his enthusiasm about the admitted class, stating, “We think they’re the greatest. We really want to see them come here.”

Application numbers and notable omission

Harvard received a total of 54,008 applications this year, a 5.14 percent decrease compared to the previous year. However, the college did not release race and ethnicity data for the incoming class, intending to disclose this information once admitted students confirm their offers in the upcoming months. Transfer applications are still being processed, and waitlist decisions are to be released accordingly.

Tuition increase and financial aid decisions

Tuition fees for the upcoming academic year have risen to $82,866 for students without financial aid, a 4.3 percent increase from the previous year. Notably, the college did not raise its threshold for receiving full financial aid, marking a departure from the trend of previous years.

Increased financial aid accessibility and ties to donor backlash

Harvard continues to provide free tuition for students from families with annual incomes below $85,000. It is expected that maintaining the financial aid threshold at 2023 levels will raise questions about the impact of recent donor backlash on the university’s decision.

Diversity and inclusivity statistics

The Class of 2028 demonstrates notable diversity, with 20.7 percent of admitted students being Pell Grant eligible and over 20 percent being the first in their family to attend college. Women make up the majority at 53.1 percent of the admitted class. Moreover, the class hails from all 50 states, with representation from various regions and international students from 94 countries.

Retention of test-optional admissions and future plans

Harvard maintains its test-optional policies for the Class of 2028, allowing applicants to choose whether or not to submit standardized test scores. Unlike some peer institutions, Harvard does not require testing for admissions. The college has not yet made any announcements regarding future plans regarding admissions policies.

Timeline and invitation for admitted applicants

The Class of 2028 will be invited to visit Harvard’s campus on April 14-15 for the annual program, Visitas. Admitted students will have until May 1 to accept or decline their offers of admission.

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Elyse C. Goncalves at [email protected], or Matan H. Josephy at [email protected].