What Is Harvard College's Official Website (college.harvard.edu)?

Updated

college.harvard.edu is the official website of Harvard College, the undergraduate college of Harvard University. It is the primary online entry point for prospective students, applicants, and current members of the College community, covering admissions, financial aid, campus visits, and community information. Use it when you need authoritative details on applying to Harvard College, estimating costs, or planning a visit—rather than relying on third-party summaries.

What the Site Covers

The homepage is organized around a few core areas, each linking to a dedicated section:

Section What it provides
About Context on Harvard College's mission and community, framed around its motto, Veritas
Admissions How to start an application and what is required
Financial Aid Need-based aid information and cost resources
Community & Access Information on the College's diverse student community
Visit Our Campus Details for planning an in-person visit
Virtual Tour Online exploration of spaces not always shown on in-person tours

Admissions: Starting an Application

The Admissions area is split into two useful pages:

  • Apply — explains how to begin your application and what the process involves.
  • Application Requirements — gives detailed instructions for each component of the application. Most of this information applies to both first-year and transfer applicants.

If you are unsure where to begin, start with the Apply page, then move to Application Requirements to confirm every item you need to submit.

Financial Aid and Cost Estimation

The site states plainly that "You can afford Harvard," and the Griffin Financial Aid Office provides need-based aid designed to bring students to Harvard regardless of their ability to pay.

Two tools stand out:

  • Financial Aid Overview — the starting point for understanding how need-based aid works.
  • Net Price Calculator — a calculator tool that gives a quick estimate of what your family would be expected to contribute toward the cost of a Harvard education.

Use the Net Price Calculator early if cost is a deciding factor; it is intended for a quick estimate rather than a final aid determination.

Visiting and Exploring Campus

Harvard College offers two ways to experience the campus:

  • In-person visit — a one-hour information session with an admissions officer and one to two current students, followed by a one-hour campus tour.
  • Virtual tour — covers spaces that aren't even available on an in-person campus tour, such as classrooms, laboratories, and residence halls.

If you cannot travel to Cambridge, the virtual tour is the more complete option for seeing academic and residential spaces.

Who the Site Serves

  • Prospective students — explore what Harvard College offers and how to begin.
  • Applicants — confirm application requirements and estimate costs.
  • Admitted and current students and families — reference financial aid and community information.

The site is maintained by Harvard College itself, so details found there should be treated as more reliable than secondary sources when preparing an application or planning a visit.