None of it has knocked it off its perch. The Ivy league institution was once again deemed the No. 1 “dream school” among college applicants, according to a new survey by The Princeton Review.
Harvard has consistently ranked near the top throughout the survey’s 24-year history. Although it was dethroned last year by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this year’s revival suggests that sustained controversy has done little to dent its appeal.
“Harvard ultimately reigns as the world’s most desirable university with unparalleled brand recognition, alumni achievement and history,” Jamie Beaton, founder and CEO of Crimson Education—who holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from the university—told Fortune. “Trump’s battle with Harvard has only made the school more notable and famous.”
While admissions for the incoming fall cohort are still being finalized, Harvard has only become more competitive over the years. Of the nearly 48,000 applications to its class of 2029—who started this past fall—only about 2,000 were admitted, an acceptance rate of around 4%. By comparison, the acceptance rate 18 years ago was about 9%.
Harvard graduates are entering the workforce with near six-figure salaries—and little student debt
