Harvard Yield

The Harvard yield statistic for the Class of 2018 is in. The figure stands at around 82%.

The Harvard yield statistic is in for the Harvard Class of 2018 and that figure stands at about 82%. This means that about 82% of students who were offered admission to Harvard University intend to matriculate this coming fall to be members of Harvard’s Class of 2018. This 82% yield figure marks the single highest yield rate in a very long time…since the yield rate for Harvard’s Class of 1973 in fact.

If you’re a student on the waitlist at Harvard hoping to gain admission, you’d be correct in forecasting that this does not bode well for you. As you know from reading our college admissions blog, there are never guarantees that colleges will go to their waitlists. Is there a chance that Harvard will still go to their waitlist? Absolutely. You never know until school starts in the fall. Students who deposit at Harvard may choose to travel the world instead. Or maybe they’ll found a startup that takes the world by storm. You just don’t know. However, an 82% yield rate is not the statistic that most students hoping to gain admission off Harvard’s waitlist were hoping for.

The fact is that not many students turn down Harvard. When Harvard admits students, unlike just about every highly selective college in the nation, they don’t really give much thought to whether the student will actually matriculate if admitted. Because most do. It’s the exceptions that don’t. When 82% of admitted students take Harvard up on their offer of admission, there’s no real cause for concern among Harvard admissions officers.

As reported by “The Harvard Gazette” in an article on the Harvard yield, “‘Harvard’s yield is particularly notable because the College does not offer athletic or other non-need-based scholarships,’ said Marlyn E. McGrath, director of admissions. In addition, Harvard’s early action program, unlike binding early decision programs, allows admitted students to apply elsewhere and asks only that they reply by May 1 after comparing other offers of admission and financial aid. ‘Such freedom and flexibility allow a student more time to choose the college that provides the best match, a contributing factor to Harvard’s nearly 98 percent graduation rate,’ said McGrath.”

Are you surprised that 82% of students chose to accept Harvard’s offer of admission this year? Let us know your thoughts as well as your questions by posting a Comment below. We look forward to hearing from you.