c- A Detailed Comparison

Harvard University vs University of Oxford

Subject Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)

Harvard University and the University of Oxford are two of the most renowned universities in the world, always fighting it out for the topmost places in international rankings. Harvard stands at #1 in U.S. News Best Global Universities (2025–26), #4 in QS World University Rankings 2025, #5 in QS 2026, and #3 in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025. Oxford, on the other hand, ranks #1 in THE World University Rankings 2025 for the eighth consecutive year and ranks #3 in QS 2026 and #2 in QS 2025. Harvard is strongest in Business, Law, Medicine, Economics, and Life Sciences, while Oxford is strongest in Humanities, Politics, Philosophy, Medicine, and Global Studies, and also highly competitive in STEM.

General Information

Harvard University, established in 1636, is situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and is the U.S.'s oldest institution of higher education. It has approximately 23,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. Oxford, established circa 1096, is the world's oldest English-speaking university and is situated in Oxford, England. It has more than 27,000 students, with approximately 12,000 undergraduates and 15,000 postgraduate students. Harvard has the American Ivy League liberal arts + professional school system, whereas Oxford is collegiate-based, with 39 colleges being both academic and residential.

Acceptance Rate & Admission

Harvard is among the most competitive universities in the world, with an acceptance rate of approximately 3.6%, admitting students with SAT scores generally higher than 1500 or ACT scores of 34–35, with outstanding extracurricular and leadership profiles. Oxford's acceptance rate is higher, at approximately 17%, but admission is extremely competitive and strongly dependent on academic performance, subject-specific tests (such as the TSA, LNAT, or MAT), and rigorous interviews. Both institutions require exceptional academic ability, but Oxford's process is more academically driven while Harvard considers more general achievements.

Harvard is a world research giant, boasting facilities such as the Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, and Widener Library, and has strong associations with MIT. Oxford is similarly research-dominant, boasting facilities such as the Oxford University Hospitals, Bodleian Library, and the Oxford Internet Institute. Oxford is best known for its contributions to medical advances, including the creation of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The two universities are funded billions of dollars in research money and are at the forefront of worldwide academic and practical research.

Cost & Financial Aid

Harvard's cost is approximately $56,000 a year, with overall expenses increasing to approximately $80,000 a year with room and board. Oxford, being a UK school, is more affordable for its domestic students (~£9,250 per year), while international students pay £28,000–£44,000 a year depending on the program. Both universities offer generous funding: Harvard is need-blind to international students and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, while Oxford provides highly competitive scholarships such as the Rhodes, Clarendon, and Reach Oxford Scholarships for international students.

Graduate Studies & Research

Alumni of Harvard are comprised of eight U.S. presidents, 161 Nobel laureates, and industry leaders in every field from law to business and technology. Median ten-year salaries after graduation run to approximately $113,900 (INR 94 lakh). Oxford alumni include 30 UK prime ministers, countless global leaders, and over 70 Nobel laureates. Its graduates are highly employable across academia, finance, law, and politics, with average salaries of £60,000 (INR 63 lakh) within a decade of graduation. Harvard provides unmatched global networking in the U.S., while Oxford offers unparalleled prestige and influence across Europe and the Commonwealth.