Harvard University Athletics

Harvard fields 36 varsity teams in Division I, where athletic competition reaches the highest collegiate level with substantial time commitments and recruiting. About 13% of students compete as varsity athletes across the Crimson's programs. The school competes in the strong Ivy League, which famously offers no athletic scholarships despite the top level of play. Harvard's historic rivalry with Yale culminates in "The Game," their annual football showdown that dates back to 1875. The crew program is one of Harvard's most celebrated athletic traditions, with the men's heavyweight crew winning multiple national championships. Harvard Stadium, built in 1903, was the first reinforced concrete stadium in the world and remains a iconic venue. While sports culture exists, academics clearly take precedence in this intensely intellectual environment where student-athletes must meet the same rigorous admission standards as all other students.