Harvard's Class of 2029 Saw a Rise of 90 Percent International Student Enrollment

Applications, Acceptance, and Composition for Harvard College

Here are the key metrics associated with the class of 2029 Harvard.

Applications & Acceptance

• There is a 10% increase in the number of applications received for class of 2029 at Harvard College (47,893 applications).

• Out of those applications, only 2,003 students got admission.

• In the end, only 1,675 students enrolled in the class.

• This makes the acceptance rate of Harvard round 4.2%, signalling towards intensive selectivity.

Student Composition & Diversity

• The students enrolled in the 2029 class of Harvard are from 50 US states and 92 countries.

• About 15% of the students in the class are international students.

• As per the racial/ethnicity distribution, the class consists of 41% Asian American students, 11.5% African American or Black, 11% Hispanic or Latino, and 2% Native American or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.

• Around 20% are first-generation college students and approximately 21% are eligible for Pell Grants.

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Financial Aid & Tuition Relief

• One of the biggest developments is that almost 50% of the class will attend Harvard tuition-free as one of the financial aid policies of the institution.

• These policies are introduced to help those families who are able to demonstrate that their annual earning is below the defined income thresholds.

• Students getting these aid get full tuition waiver and in some cases, even accommodation and board assistance.

What has changed?

Initially, SAT/ACT was optional for Harvard admissions. However, this year, Harvard reinstated mandatory requirements for taking standardized tests like SAT or ACT. With these tests becoming compulsory, the university now had a limited and clearer pool of applicants. With the results and ready processing, students who get admission after taking these tests may have had stronger intentions to get admission, boosting the yield rate of international students.

Why does this impact Indian students?

For Indian aspirants, following are the key takeaways from this situation.

• Yield data demonstrates serious intent: Keep an eye on the yield rate as higher yield means students are more rigorously willing to take up the admission offer, and competition is intense.

• Strong reputation of Harvard despite changes: Amidst all the regulatory, visa, and admission changes, Harvard has still managed to secure a 90%+ yield among international students.

• Financial aid policies minimise economic barriers: With 50% of the class studying at Harvard without paying any tuition fee, it can be a golden opportunity for Indian students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds to get admission.

• The significance of test scores: After years of optional submission, now students again have to prepare well to score good in standardised tests.

• A shift to holistic approach: The focus is not only on academic track record but also on extracurricular activities for admission in Harvard.

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What can be the challenges?

While the headline numbers are positive, it is important for Indian students to keep in mind the broader situations and challenges as well. These include:

• There are limited sets for international students at Harvard (15%)

• The admission situation in the US is dynamic

• There is no guarantee of admission based on yield as even after admission, only a few students enrol.

• Strong yields mean greater competition for Indian students so preparation must be strong.