Harvard vs NUS: Complete Comparison 2026

Side-by-side look at Harvard University and National University of Singapore: QS 2026 ranks 4 vs 8. Acceptance, tuition, language tests, and typical IB/A-Level…

→ Harvard University profile → National University of Singapore profile

Summary comparison

Figures come from the GlobalAdmit dataset — always confirm on each university’s official admissions site.

Metric	Harvard University	National University of Singapore
QS rank 2026	4	8
Country	US 🇺🇸	SG 🇸🇬
Acceptance rate	4%	5%
Tuition (intl / yr)	$59,950	$20,000
Language (summary)	IELTS 7+ · TOEFL 100+ · Duolingo 125+	IELTS 6.5+ · TOEFL 90+ · Duolingo 110+
IB typical	42/45	37/45
A-Level typical	AAA	AAA

Strengths

Harvard University

Globally elite QS band (top 10 in 2026).
Highly selective admissions profile.
Deep ties to US graduate training, recruiting, and industry hubs.

National University of Singapore

Globally elite QS band (top 10 in 2026).
Highly selective admissions profile.
Major research university scale with broad programme choice.

Popular majors (overlap)

Where both profiles list the same popular major label (case-insensitive).

No overlapping popular-major labels in our dataset yet — open each profile for subject-level detail.

Which is right for you?

If rankings are your north star

Harvard sits higher in QS 2026 (4 vs 8). That often correlates with research intensity and global name recognition — but NUS can still win on programme fit, city, or cost.

If budget is the deciding factor

All-in signals favour NUS on tuition plus living costs in our dataset — re-check official fee schedules because currency, programme, and visa rules move yearly.

If you are coming from IB / A-Levels / US high school

Compare the admission tabs on each profile: Harvard vs NUS can invert depending on whether you are optimising for IB typical offers, A-level expectations, or US-style testing. Use the evaluator after you narrow your list.

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