Harvard accepts a record low percentage of applicants

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard University has accepted a record low 5.3 percent of applicants for admission into next fall's freshman class and made a record number of rejections.

Harvard College, the university's undergraduate school, announced Wednesday that it had sent admission notifications to 1,990 of the record 37,307 students who applied for admission into the Class of 2019.

The acceptance rate last year was 5.9 percent and the previous low was 5.8 percent two years ago.

Officials say applications were up thanks to increased publicity about Harvard's financial aid policies and outreach efforts to low-income and minority students.

Financial Aid Director Sarah Donahue says it costs less to attend Harvard for most American families than many public universities.

Record percentages of Asian-American, black and Latino students were accepted.

May 1 is the deadline for accepting.