Oxford vs Harvard - Which is Better?

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Sristy Sharma
Updated on May 13, 2022 04:02 PM IST

Harvard University and the University of Oxford are the top and most ancient universities in the world. Both are known for their elite education and opportunities, but which one is better? Read on and find out why and how to choose one amongst the two.

Oxford vs Harvard - Which is Better?

The University of Oxford and Harvard Universityare the two consistent top performerson the global rankings including QS and THE, and rightfully so. With both hosting over 9,000 international students from around 160 countries, Harvard and Oxford have only remained top of the table globally.

Even though both the universities are top players and admission to any is a blessing, you, as an international student,need to know which is better to study abroad.This is becausenot only the focus but also the environment of the universities are extremelydifferent from each other. The graduates of both universities are welcomed globally but the reputation differswhile Vardians are known to have founded or worked for the world's biggest corporate giants, Oxonians are renowned for their intellectual rigour.

The rest of the article will give a betterinsight into Oxford vs Harvard and which among the two is better for you.

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Highlights of Oxford vs Harvard

Here is a table showcasing some decisive parameters to distinguish and find out which is better between Oxford and Harvard.

Parameter Oxford University

Harvard University

Type of University Public Research University

Private Research

Country UK USA
Year of Establishment 1096 A.D. 1636 A.D.
Campus Area 70 acres 5,076 acres
Campus Buildings 67 (listed) 600+
Student Demographic 76.4% White; 23.6% BME (Black and Minority Ethnic)

52.1% White; 23.8% Asian; 11.4% Black/African American; 10.2% Hispanic/Latino; 1.7% American Indian/Alaskan

Degrees Offered Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, Diplomas, Certificate and Certificate Diplomas

Bachelor's and Master's Degrees, Diplomas, Certificate and Certificate Diplomas

Academic Affiliations IARU, Russell Group, Europaeum, EUA, Golden Triangle, G5, LERU, SES, Universities UK

NAICU, AICUM, AAU, URA, Space Grant

English Proficiency Eligibility IELTS-7.0; TOEFL-100 (ibt); PTE-66

IELTS-7.0; TOEFL-104 (iBT); PTE-54

Standardized Test Scores SAT-1470, GRE-321, GMAT-690

SAT-1048, GRE-296, GMAT-500

GPA GPA-4.5 (5 point scale)

GPA-4.0 (5 point scale)

International Students Percentage 45% 23%
Top Courses Modern Languages, History, Medicine, English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Archaeology, Anthropology, Engineering and Law

B.Sc., B.E./B.Tech, BBA, M.A., MS, MBA/PGDM, M.E./M.Tech, M.Des and M. Arch

Student-Faculty Ratio 10:9 5:1
World Ranking (THE) 1 2
Employability 96.7 (#7) 97.7 (#5)
Acceptance Rate 17.50% 5%
Affiliated Colleges 45 11
Top Recruiters Bain & Co., Deloitte, Ernst & Young, McKinsey, IBM, Google, Apple, Amazon, KPMG, EY, Pepsico

McKinsey, Bain, BCG, IBM, Morgan Stanley, Amazon, AfterPay, Apple, Google, SpaceX

Annual Tuition Fees GBP 9,250 USD 51,143
Career Council Support Career Guidance and Support; Manages Campus placement, career counselling, part-time jobs, etc.

The Office of Career Services; Connects students with top recruiters, manages campus placement, career counselling, etc.

Scholarships Crank start Scholarships, Oxford Travel Supplement, Hill foundation Scholarship, Palgrave Brown Scholarship, Simon and June Li Undergraduate Scholarship, OCIS Undergraduate Scholarship, etc.

Faculty Department Scholarships, Education Loans, Federal and State Grants, Third-Party Scholarships, Regional Scholarships, International Students Scholarships

Oxford vs Harvardon ROI

Most international students think getting a degree, whether it is from Harvard or Oxford, would be their ticket to the highest-paid jobs. However, Return on Investmentthe salary after graduation relative to fees paidis different for both. Let us have a quick look at the statistics below to get an understanding of Harvard vs Oxford ROI:

Parameter Oxford Harvard
Average International Tuition Fee (2022) USD 34,495 (Annual) USD 75,891 (Annual)
Average Highest Salary Package (2022) USD 138,000 USD 394,000
Department with Highest Salary Financial Services Healthcare & Alternative Medicine
School offering the Highest Package Said Business School Harvard Medical School

Oxford vs Harvard in World Ranking

In the year 2022, Oxford University has been ranked as the worlds number one by the Times Higher Education, second by the QS, and fifth by US News and World Report. While on the other hand, THE has ranked Harvard University second (tied with California Institute of Technology), fifth by the QS, and the first by the US News and World Report. The universities have been ranked on various parameters, such as teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.

As can be deduced from the rankings, both the universities are among the worlds top five universities. However, in comparison, Oxford has dominated the charts for the year 2022, by ranking twice above Harvard.

Since various parameters are involved, both the universities are bound to be in cutthroat competition, leaving marginal differences to create huge impacts. Both the institutions have near-perfect scores in judgment parameters, and it is the decimal values that have caused one to reign over the other.

Other than the parameters mentioned, employability and subjects have also been used to assess the performance of universities.

Oxford vs Harvard onCourses and Employability

Both Oxford and Harvard areamong the oldest universities in the world. Their faculties are well developed and spanned, with both offering elite quality courses in every possible discipline includingmedical Sciences, engineering, and business. Moreover, the graduates of both Oxford and Harvard are accepted worldwide irrespective of their employability scores.

Yet, there does exist an upper hand for each university.

Harvard University has domination over the programmes in theEngineering and Technology discipline. Harvard graduatesfrom courses like Data Science, Computer Science,Architecture, Information Technology, Digital Art Design, Graphic Arts, Engineering, etc., are considered more competitive in comparison to Oxonians.

On the other hand, Oxford University graduates are a clear first choice when it comes to Literature, Languages, History, Geological Sciences, Natural Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Biomedical Engineering, Law, Performance Arts, etc.

Oxford vs Harvard for Eligibility and Acceptance Rate

The minimum eligibility criteria of both universities are one of the highest. Yet in comparison to Oxford University, Harvard has achievable eligibility. Oxford Univerisity in particular in maintaining the education quality, and therefore the courses offered at the university also require such competence. The GPA requirement is about 2% - 5% higher than Harvard (4.0) at 4.5. Similarly, the required GMAT and GRE scores are also comparatively higher than Harvard.

Harvard University, on the other hand, even with comparatively easy minimum eligibility criteria, maintains a very low acceptance rate of 5% in comparison to Oxfords 17.5%. Hence, it is more likely to get admitted to Oxford if eligibility is satisfiedthan to Harvard.

Oxford vs Harvard on Availability of International Scholarships

Oxford University and Harvard have quite a range of scholarships available for the enrolling students. Both the universities acknowledge the need for financial support, especially for international students. They have international scholarships just to give the students a better chance of gaining some aid for their studies.

Comparatively, speaking Harvard is more famous for its scholarship programs. The reason is that it is a private institution with higher tuition fees. As the website claims, Harvard also offers financialaid based on the family income of the applicant. The awards, therefore, add comparatively more value to the students. Harvard also often awards students full scholarships based on their academic, social, or sporting and originally innovative and creative achievements.

On the other hand, Oxford University does offer international scholarships although full scholarships are very rare and require almost exemplary performance.

Oxford vs Harvard: Which is Better for You?

While a bird-eye view makes it a lot easier to know which university shall be the best to apply for, here are a few tips to decide which one is better for you:

  • Employability:While Harvard promises an averagesalary of around USD 81,500, Oxford graduates tend to earn a relatively lower averagesalary of USD 51,252. However, the graduation rate at both Harvard and Oxford always goesabove 90% every year.

  • Cost:The Harvard international tuition feesare around six times higher than the average tuition fees of other US universities. The reason is that the institution aims to maintain its elite status through both, finances and academics, and therefore, only the exceptionally outstanding students are aided with scholarships funded by the institution itself.

  • Acceptance Rate:The acceptance rate at Oxford or Harvardis a huge factor in deciding where to study. Even many outstanding students meet rejection due to their late submission of applications. Hence, students must see whether theirapplication has a chance to be part of the proposed acceptance rate of the university.

  • Reputation:The University of Oxford has been voted the No. 1 university in the world because of the exceptionalteaching, research and learning resources it offers. Moreover, ranking lists byTHE and QS reflect the same, with Oxford always retaining higher ranks than Harvard.

  • Scholarships: While Harvard is widely popular for its financial aid, Oxford is also known to offer a good number of international scholarships. Additionally, thereare special scholarships for international studentsat both Oxford and Harvard and these, when applied for, need not only academic but also co-curricular excellence of the students. However, the parameters of which activities are prioritized differ for respective universities.

  • Student Life: At Oxford, students are offered the best education paired with opportunities to do what students love. With over 400+ student clubs and aclose-knit Oxford community, the university goes out of its way to build the future of its students. Similarly, Harvard has 450+ student organisations with close to 80% of students engaged in athletics.

The difference between the two educational juggernauts - Oxford and Harvardis fairly simple. While Oxford emphasises 'the advancement of learning by teaching and research', Harvard is dedicated tointellectual growth and seeks to offermore practical knowledge. But, if given a chance to study at either,students are likelyto be rewarded with an experience which is both challenging andinspiring.

Still confused about whether to study at Oxford or Harvard, get in touch with our experienced study abroad counsellors and get your profile evaluated. You can also contact them at abroas@collegedekho.com.

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