Harvard's acceptance rate hits a record low.

Harvard CrimsonAccording to reports, the acceptance rate for Harvard University's 2022 graduating class (graduating in 2022) is the lowest ever, with only 4.59% of applicants receiving an offer of admission, or 1,962 out of 42,749 applicants. This year marks the first time the acceptance rate has fallen below 5%, the lowest in the school's history.

The total number of applicants accepted last year was 2,056, representing a 5.2% acceptance rate. The 2022 intake marks the fourth consecutive year of declining acceptance rates.

"They are an amazing group of people from the most diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds in Harvard's history," commented William R. Fitzsimmons, head of admissions and financial aid.

Successful applicants for the 2022 intake came from all 50 US states and 90 other countries. International students made up 12%, compared to 11.4% last year.

For the first time in 10 years, the percentage of female applicants accepted was significantly higher – 50.1%, compared to 49.2% last year. The percentage of minority applicants accepted also increased. 15.5% of admitted students were African American, up from 14.6% last year and also a record high.

The number of Latino applicants who were accepted increased from 11.6% last year to 12.2%. The number of Native Americans increased slightly from 1.9% to 2%. The percentage of Asian Americans rose to 22.7%, compared to 22.2% last year.

These demographic shifts occurred amidst allegations that Harvard illegally discriminated against Asian American applicants and a request for an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

However, the school denies the allegations, arguing that the admissions process is based on many factors andIn accordance with the legal standards set by the Supreme Court.

First-generation college students accounted for 17.3% of this year's admissions, up from 15.1% in the 2021 cohort.

“We are truly moved to see the leap in first-generation students. This is a year where I think Harvard has had many breakthroughs,” said Fitzsimmons.

He also welcomed the socioeconomic diversity of the 2022 graduating class, noting that the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, launched in 2004, has been successful in helping students from low-income backgrounds.

Currently, more than half of the students at the school receive some form of financial aid as needed. Families earning less than $65,000 do not have to pay any tuition fees for their children's education at Harvard, and this group accounts for 20%. "No matter who you are, you can afford to study here," he said.

This year, 20.3% of successful applicants are eligible for the Federal Pell grant, a government initiative aimed at finding low-income students to support.The proposed cost for the Class of 2022 will be the highest in Harvard history. The total cost for the 2018-2019 school year will be $67,580, a 3% increase over the Class of 2021.

The offer of admission sent to successful applicants includes an invitation to Visitas – a campus visit from April 21st to 23rd. Applicants are given until May 1st to accept, postpone, or decline the offer of admission.