Vanguard University of Southern California vs Harvard
When it comes to higher education, two prominent institutions that often draw comparisons are Vanguard University of Southern California and Harvard University. While both offer a wealth of opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. Vanguard, a private Christian university, boasts a significantly higher acceptance rate compared to Harvard's highly selective admissions process. In terms of student demographics, Vanguard's undergraduate population is predominantly female, while Harvard's is more evenly balanced. Regarding academic offerings, Vanguard excels in fields like business, education, and nursing, while Harvard is renowned for its strength in a wide range of disciplines, including law, medicine, and engineering. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, providing valuable insights into the unique strengths and characteristics of each institution.
|
![]() Harvard University |
![]() Vanguard University of Southern California |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Costa Mesa, California |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 96.0% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | Protestant | |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 4.0% | 69.0% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$105
|
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
|
SAT range | 1480 - 1580 | 980 - 1200 |
ACT range | 33 - 36 | 19 - 25 |
Students submitting SAT score | 54.0% | 12.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 31.0% | 5.0% |
Total number of applicants | 57,786 | 2,917 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,318 | 2,013 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,951 | 500 |
Yield rate | 84.2% | 24.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $78,028 | $60,800 |
Average net price | $13,910 | $20,427 |
Tuition | $51,143 | $37,000 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$11,705
Meal plan:
$7,236
|
Room/dormitory:
$6,588
Meal plan:
$5,430
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
56.0%
Average amount $59,840 |
100.0%
Average amount $27,535 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
3.0%
Average amount $5,180 |
95.0%
Average amount $5,626 |
Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $8,080 |
3.0%
Average amount $15,362 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
9,579
Men 49.0% Women 51.0% |
1,975
Men 31.5% Women 68.5% |
Graduate students |
21,766
Men 46.3% Women 53.7% |
293
Men 31.4% Women 68.6% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 23.9% | 0.2% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Midsize |
Dormitory capacity | 12,874 | 1,049 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | Yes | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York California Texas Illinois New Jersey | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 17:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 96.7% | 61.5% |
Dropout rate | 2.0% | 37.7% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Statistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Doctoral Degrees)
Dentistry (First Professional Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (Bachelor's Degrees)
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.















































































































































