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Harvard University's Acceptance Results for the Class of 2029
27/03/2025•13 minute read
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Key Trends & Insights
Early Action Acceptance Results
RD Acceptance Rate
Historical Trends
How To Stand Out
Harvard completed the admissions cycle for the Class of 2029 on Ivy Day, March 27, 2025, at a time of historically low admissions rates at Ivy League schools.
On account of Harvard's new policy on admissions statistics, however, school leaders will not release final acceptance results for its Class of 2029 until the fall of 2025, setting the stage for a great deal of anticipation and speculation about just how competitive the admissions landscape is this year at what one of the most hallowed institutions of higher education in the world.
Through the lens of known and estimated acceptance results data, here are some additional breakdowns and insights to help prospective applicants understand Harvard's admissions landscape.
Harvard University's Overall Acceptance Rate by Year
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Applicants | 53,700* | 54,008 | 56,937 |
| Number of Acceptances | 1,950* | 1,937 | 1,942 |
| Acceptance Rate | 3.63%* | 3.58% | 3.41% |
* Estimated pending release of data
Key Trends and Insights
- Harvard, under a policy announced last year, will not be releasing admission data for its Class of 2029 until the fall of 2025, preventing a full assessment of the school's level of selectivity until later in the year.
- The estimated acceptance rate of 3.63% is in line with acceptance rate figures for Harvard going back four years, during which time overall rates have hovered between 3.2 and 3.6%
- The total number of applicants has decreased over the past three years, from 61,200 for the Class of 2026, down to 54,008 for the Class of 2028 (last year), and recently reinstated testing mandates may contribute to additional declines in the number of applications received this year.
Broader Admissions Trends:
- Consistently High Selectivity: For the past seven years Harvard's overall acceptance rate has remained below 5%, revealing how challenging it is to gain admission.
- Pandemic-Era Rise in Applications: Applications increased over 40% beginning with the Class of 2025 (ascending to 57,435 applications) and resulting in a 3.43% acceptance rate the same year. Numbers have since edged down, but only slightly, remaining elevated overall.
- REA Advantage: Early-round applicants may get a boost from significantly higher acceptance rates — still very competitive, but 3–4 percentage points higher than overall rates, and 4–6 points above RD acceptance rates.
- Fluctuations Influenced by External Factors: Acceptance rates and application totals can vary due to external influences such as policy changes, global events (e.g., COVID-19), or targeted recruitment efforts. Noteworthy for Harvard are the reinstatement of SAT/ACT testing after a brief period of test-optional admissions in the wake of the pandemic, and a leadership controversy that led to the University President stepping down last year.
Advice From Our Crimson Strategists
Harvard's admissions remain fiercely competitive, demanding not only exceptional academic performance but also evidence of meaningful engagement and genuine passion. Applicants should focus on standing out authentically in academics, service, and leadership while pursuing authentic personal, scholarly, and intellectual passions and interests that will help them present a unique and exceptional applicant profile.
Harvard’s Restrictive Early Action Acceptance Results
Although Harvard isn’t releasing its REA results for the Class of 2029 until October/November 2025, we can make thoughtful projections based on years of Harvard data we track.
Over the past four years Harvard’s REA acceptance rate has hovered between 7–8%, providing a fairly reliable range for estimating this year's REA acceptance rate.
Restrictive Early Action Acceptance Rate Data for Harvard
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total REA Applications | 6,950* | 7,921 | 9,553 | 9,406 |
| Number Accepted | 640* | 692 | 722 | 740 |
| % of Students Admitted Under REA | 32.8%* | 35.7% | 37.2% | 37.9% |
| REA Acceptance Rate | 9.2%* | 8.7% | 7.6% | 7.9% |
* Estimated pending release of data
Harvard's REA acceptance rates for the past three years reveal a significant statistical advantage for applicants who are able to apply before the early-round deadline and willing to accept the restrictive nature of the policy.
The data also show that applicants admitted in the early round make up a signification proportion of overall admitted students.
Why Apply Early Action?
- Higher Acceptance Rates: Early-round applicants typically enjoy higher acceptance rates compared to Regular Decision applicants.
- Demonstrated Interest: Applying early shows Harvard your strong interest in joining their academic community.
Harvard's Regular Decision Acceptance Results
Regular Decision Acceptance Rate Data for Harvard
| Class of 2029 | Class of 2028 | Class of 2027 | Class of 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total RD Applications | 46,750* | 46,087 | 47,384 | 51,814 |
| Number Accepted | 1,310* | 1,245 | 1,220 | 1,214 |
| RD Acceptance Rate | 2.8%* | 2.7% | 2.57% | 2.34% |
* Estimated pending release of data
The RD acceptance rate continues to be exceptionally competitive year after year at Harvard, remaining below 3%. While the rate may be edging upward, we must rely on estimates until Harvard leaders release figures in the fall.
Historical Trends
Historical Acceptance Rates at Harvard
| Class Year | Total Applications | Total Accepted | Overall Rate | RD Rate | EA Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2029 | 53,700* | 1,950* | 3.63%* | 2.8%* | 9.2%* |
| 2028 | 54,008 | 1,937 | 3.6% | 2.7% | 8.7% |
| 2027 | 56,937 | 1,942 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 7.6% |
| 2026 | 61,220 | 1,954 | 3.2% | 2.3% | 7.9% |
| 2025 | 57,435 | 1,968 | 3.4% | 2.6% | 7.4% |
Estimated pending release of data
How To Stand Out in Harvard’s Admissions Process
Academic Excellence: Maintain top grades in rigorous coursework and a high overall GPA.
Strong Essays: Use well-crafted essays to showcase your unique voice and story.
Leadership and Extracurriculars: Demonstrate meaningful engagement outside the classroom.
Test Scores: Aim for high SAT or ACT scores within or above Harvard's reported range.
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About the Contributor
Arkesh Patel
Arkesh Patel is the Chief Operating Officer of Crimson Education, the world's largest and most successful university admissions consulting firm. Crimson Education has helped thousands of students gain admission into the Ivy League and top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, MIT, and many others. Arkesh graduated from the University of Cambridge with a B.A in Chemistry (First Class Honors) and received his M.B.A with Distinction from Harvard Business School.
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