Harvard’s Class of 2006 has been selected from a record pool of 19,605 applicants. The university announced the admission of 2,068 students via letters and emails on April 3rd. This year, the acceptance rate of 10.5% marks the lowest in Harvard’s history.

William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid, commented, “Although the strength of the applicant pool made the selection process unusually difficult, Harvard’s mission to attract the nation’s and the world’s most promising students has resulted once again in a freshman class of remarkable excellence.” He highlighted the financial aid program, which has been significantly augmented in recent years to reduce both work and loan requirements, ensuring that Harvard remains accessible to talented students from diverse financial backgrounds.

Standard measures of academic talent, such as test scores and academic performance, indicate an impressive applicant pool. Over 54% of candidates scored 1,400 or higher on the SATs, with 2,100 achieving a perfect 800 in mathematics and nearly 1,600 scoring 800 in English. Close to 2,900 were valedictorians, and 70% of the applicants were in the top 10% of their high school classes.

Sally Clark Donahue, director of financial aid, noted, “Harvard’s generous financial aid program provides the foundation for our efforts to reach out to outstanding students.” Under the leadership of Jeremy R. Knowles, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the self-help portion of a financial aid package has been reduced from $7,250 to $3,250 annually. Students may meet this obligation through work, loans, or a combination, and outside scholarships can further reduce or eliminate the self-help portion. The financial aid budget for undergraduates next year will be nearly $100 million, with $68 million in scholarship assistance from the College based on need.

Nearly 70% of Harvard undergraduates receive some form of financial aid, with the average grant exceeding $22,000. Other forms of financial assistance, such as the Faculty Aide Program, the Harvard College Research Program, and the Dean’s Summer Research Program, enable students to engage in academic projects.

Admitted students will have various payment options, including the opportunity to prepay tuition at current rates or extend payments up to 15 years. The geographical composition of the class remains fairly similar to last year, with nearly 27% residing in the mid-Atlantic, 18% in New England, 18% in the Western and Mountain States, 17% in the South, 12% in the Midwest, and over 8% from the Territories and abroad. International students number 146, down slightly from last year’s 154, but still well above the 116 who entered five years ago.

Academic interests among the admitted students include the humanities, social sciences, biology, engineering, physical sciences, mathematics, and computer science. Extracurricular activities cited by students include music, creative writing, journalism, social service, arts, dance, drama, student government, debate, and political groups. Over 60% plan to participate in recreational, intramural, or intercollegiate athletics.

Demographically, Asian Americans comprise over 16% of the admitted group, African Americans nearly 9%, Hispanic Americans 3.7%, Mexican Americans 2.6%, Puerto Ricans 1.5%, and Native Americans 1.2%. Women did well in the admissions competition, with more than 48% of the total admitted.

Director of Undergraduate Minority Recruiting Roger Banks expressed gratitude for the contributions of students, faculty, and alumni in the recruitment efforts. Marlyn McGrath Lewis, director of admissions, highlighted the efforts of the Undergraduate Admissions Council, the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, and the Crimson Key. She also thanked the over 6,000 alumnae/alumni Schools and Scholarship volunteers for their recruitment efforts and remarkably perceptive interviews.

Fitzsimmons emphasized the critical role of the teaching faculty in the admissions process, noting that they spend considerable time talking to prospective students and reading application folders. Personal contact with admitted students will be crucial, with members of the Undergraduate Admissions Council, the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, the admissions staff, and faculty members making phone calls to admitted students.

A Visiting Program for admitted students is scheduled for April 20-22, featuring faculty panel discussions, concerts, receptions, department open houses, symposia, and activities offered by extracurricular organizations. The program aims to give students a firsthand experience of the College and meet their future professors and classmates.

Over 96% of applicants opted for email notification of their admission decisions, with a deadline of May 1st to respond.

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences held a meeting on October 6, 2026, to honor the life and service of the late John E. Malmstad.

Check the official portal for more detailed information.

News is prepared from public university announcements for general guidance. Policies change frequently; confirm current details with each university admissions office.