Is Harvard or Yale a better school?

Asked by: Annetta Gaylord III  |  Last update: December 7, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (2 votes)

Harvard frequently tops the list in global university rankings, with particular strengths in areas like law, business, medicine, and government. Its endowment, the largest of any academic institution worldwide, exceeds $40 billion, underwriting various projects, scholarships, and research initiatives.

Which is more prestigious, Yale or Harvard?

When comparing Ivy League schools, both Harvard and Yale are firm fixtures at the top of the QS World University Rankings. Harvard is pretty much unbeatable on most of the indicators used to create the rankings, performing particularly well in QS's huge global surveys of academics and graduate employers.

Which Ivy League school is the best?

For overall prestige, Harvard is the best, followed closely by Yale and then Princeton. There is a gap after that. The next tier is led by Brown, and then Dartmouth, Columbia, Penn, and Cornell. The US News rankings are only directionally helpful. There are many important variables missing from their ranking formula.

Who usually wins, Harvard or Yale?

The Harvard-Yale series is the third most played rivalry in collegiate football history, including 139 games since 1875. In the series, Yale has 70 wins, Harvard has 61 wins, and the teams have tied eight times.

What are the big 3 Ivies?

The Big Three, also known as HYP (Harvard, Yale, Princeton), is a historical term used in the United States to refer to Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton University.

Is Harvard better than Yale? A look at which school is the better value.

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What is the easiest ivy to get into?

Cornell is considered the "easiest" Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate. While statistically speaking, it's easier to get into Cornell, it's still challenging.

What is Yale's rival school?

Sports and Spirit

The Harvard-Yale rivalry, often referred to as The Game, is one of the most iconic college rivalries in the U.S. This annual football matchup, dating back to 1875, attracts thousands of fans and alumni from around the world.

Are people happier at Yale or Harvard?

Yale students mention happiness more than their Harvard peers, but they all agree that these Ivy League universities shaped their lives, and gave them the best possible start in their careers – as well as an amazing network of friends and colleagues to take with them into the future.

Is it harder to get into Yale or Harvard?

Acceptance by The Numbers

Statistically speaking, you have more chances of getting into a program at Yale than Harvard. Both universities assume you belong to the top of your class when applying for a program. Harvard requires a 4.18 GPA, while Yale a 4.14 GPA.

What is the oldest college rivalry?

What is the oldest rivalry in college football? The Yale-Princeton rivalry is the oldest in college football history. These two teams have been playing each other since 1873.

Which Ivy has the happiest students?

Brown University is known as the “happiest Ivy League School” and is the number one college with the happiest students in the United States. This is because Brown University not only has strong academic ability, but also has a relatively relaxed learning atmosphere.

What is Yale famous for?

GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND INNOVATION. Yale University is renowned for its culture of groundbreaking research and innovation, where faculty and students push the boundaries of knowledge and make significant contributions to their respective fields.

Why is Stanford not an ivy?

However, top institutions like MIT and Stanford, which outperform several Ivy League schools in global rankings, are not part of the League due to geographic and historical reasons. Both universities excel in academic reputation, faculty-student ratio, employer reputation, and employment outcomes.

What is the #1 university in the world?

Harvard University

United States|Cambridge (U.S.)

What GPA is required for Harvard?

GPA requirements for Harvard

At Harvard, the standard GPA is 4.18. (While some schools publish an unweighted GPA, most utilize a weighted GPA out of 4.0.) Harvard needs you to be at the top of your class with a GPA of 4.18. To compete with other applications, you'll need to receive almost all A's.

What is the hardest college to get into?

Harvard University

The Harvard acceptance rate is 3%, tied with Caltech for the #1 spot on our list of hardest colleges to get into. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard is a quintessential New England school globally recognized for its rigorous academic programs and influential alumni.

What high school sends the most kids to Ivies?

The high school that traditionally sends the most students to Ivy League schools is often a prestigious private school. Phillips Exeter Academy and Phillips Academy Andover, both elite private boarding schools, are known for sending a significant number of their graduates to Ivy League schools every year.

Is Dartmouth a fake ivy?

Dartmouth College (/ˈdɑːrtməθ/ DART-məth) is a private Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States.

Should I go to Yale or Harvard?

Both universities are highly regarded for their academic excellence, and each has unique strengths in different fields. Yale is known for its excellence in the humanities, social sciences, and law, while Harvard is known for its strength in business, economics, and STEM fields.

What is Yale's most famous class?

Yale psychologist Laurie Santos is famous for teaching the university's most popular class ever — on happiness. Her insights on how to achieve the good life were so incredibly popular that they have even been turned into an online class taken by millions of people.

What are the top 3 Ivies?

Princeton University ranks highest among the Ivy League schools, followed by Yale University and then Harvard University, in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking. All three are among the top 10 colleges in the country, with Princeton at No. 1, Yale at No. 4 and Harvard at No.

What is Yale's minimum GPA?

Yale does not set a strict minimum GPA requirement for admission; however, the average GPA of admitted students is typically around 4.0. This reflects the competitive nature of the admissions process, where students are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance.

Who is Yale's sister school?

Some notable pairs include Harvard University and Yale University, the University of Oxford, University of Dublin, and the University of Cambridge, and the University of York and Durham University.