Minerva University is a private, innovative San Francisco-based university that operates on a global, online model with the requirement that students reside in seven cities (San Francisco, Seoul, Hyderabad, Berlin, Buenos Aires, London, Taipei) throughout their degree. It is a small university with around 656 undergraduate students. It is incredibly competitive to get into, with an acceptance rate of around 1%. Most popular majors are Social Sciences, Business, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, and Arts and Humanities. The six-year graduation rate is not released because the university is relatively new, but preliminary data shows excellent retention. Median earnings for Minerva graduates are not yet widely documented because the university is young.
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it is situated in a midsize city environment. It is a huge university with nearly 7,240 undergraduate students. Admissions are highly competitive with an acceptance rate of around 3.5%. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Biology, Liberal Arts and Humanities, History, and Mathematics. Six-year graduation rate is 97% and Harvard graduates receive a median starting salary of around INR 1,13,33,000 (converted from $136,700 median earnings at ten years post-graduation).
| Minerva University | Harvard University | |
|---|---|---|
| Programs | UG Programs -5 PG Programs -2 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -53 Doctorate Programs -9 |
| Acceptance Rate | 1.0 % | 3.0 % |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Harvard Law School Harvard Extension School Harvard Kennedy School Harvard Business School |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Minerva University | Harvard University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 2012 | 1636 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 11:1:1 | 7:1 |
| Male:Female | 40% Male, 0% Female | 52% Male, 48% Female |
| Weather |
Minerva University vs Harvard University
Topic Strength & World Rankings (2025/2026)
Harvard is placed much higher in the world than Minerva because of its well-established name and vast research output. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Harvard is ranked 5th, and Minerva, being a younger university, is not ranked. In Times Higher Education 2025, Harvard is ranked 3rd, and Minerva does not have a world ranking because it is small and newly accredited (2021). Harvard leads the way in Social Sciences (1st QS 2025), Medicine (1st QS 2025), and Law (4th US News 2025), and achieves top 10 rankings in the majority of disciplines. Minerva specializes in multidisciplinary areas such as Social Sciences, Business, and Computational Sciences, with good regional reputation for its innovative teaching model but no international rankings as yet.
General Information
Harvard has a broader overall enrollment of 30,386 versus Minerva's 656. Harvard provides more than 50 undergraduate concentrations and 150 graduate programs in 13 schools, with a focus on traditional and research-based education. Minerva offers one flexible undergraduate program with five majors, taught via a proprietary online system and global immersion across seven cities. Harvard's Cambridge campus is historic and city-based, with large facilities, whereas Minerva's absence of a traditional campus provides a distinctive, nomadic student experience. Minerva's approach prioritizes cognitive skill-building over memorization, unlike Harvard's wider academic study.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Minerva's admissions process is more competitive, at a 1% acceptance rate versus Harvard's 3.5%. Minerva received 25,037 and enrolled 252 for the class of 2027, and Harvard received 56,937 and enrolled 1,965. Minerva is test-blind, with emphasis on intellectual ability and global vision, and no GPA or standardized testing. Harvard is test-optional, with an SAT score of 1500–1580, ACT 34–36, and a standard GPA of 4.0. Minerva's yield rate is 56.3%, which is less than Harvard's 83.7%. Minerva welcomes highly international students, whereas Harvard tends to target extremely high-performing, balanced individuals.
Research Impact & Facilities
Harvard, an R1 research university, boasts vast facilities, with a 16-million-volume library system, 4,900 faculty members, and more than 3,456,000 citations, ranking top in Medicine, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Minerva, as it is not an R1 institution with a concentration on undergraduate learning, focuses on applied education through its virtual platform and international residencies, with minimal customary research output. Harvard's research infrastructure in terms of labs and institutes is much larger compared to Minerva, which focuses more on experiential education rather than traditional research facilities.
Cost & Financial Aid
Minerva's cost is $18,700, plus room/board for $13,350, far less than Harvard's $54,269 tuition and room/board of $20,374. Minerva gives aid to 64% of students, averaging $18,394, whereas Harvard assists 57%, averaging $64,942. Minerva's lower price point means it is more affordable, but Harvard's greater endowment ($50 billion compared to Minerva's smaller, unspecified fund) allows for more generous aid. Both offer aid to international students, with Harvard providing more significant need-based aid.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Harvard's 97% six-year graduation rate and median earnings of $136,700 at ten years after graduation show its elite stature, with graduates succeeding in Business, Law, Medicine, and academia (190,000+ alumni). Minerva's graduation rate and long-term wages are not yet fully reported because it was founded recently (2012), but initial alumni demonstrate success in tech, consulting, and social good, taking advantage of its global network. Harvard's established legacy carries with it superior career outcomes, while Minerva's innovative model creates adaptability and global competence.
