0
standardized tests required for admission
More About Admission
Believe you’re more than test scores and past grades? So do we. Admission to HES is based primarily on your ability to successfully complete 1-3 of our degree courses, depending on your field and admission pathway.
1
of 13 degree-granting schools at Harvard University
More about Harvard Extension
Harvard Extension School offers part-time degree programs that don’t interfere with full-time employment. Although we prioritize flexibility, we don’t compromise on the quality you'd expect from a Harvard education.
36
average age of HES degree candidates
More about degree candidates
HES students are motivated parents, scientists, executives, educators—all working professionals hoping to advance or change careers while balancing life’s responsibilities. They choose Harvard because they want the best that continuing education has to offer. Just like you.
114
years we've been education trailblazers
More about distance education
We've redefined the online classroom to be grounded in live, interactive experiences. You’ll take classes in person and online, but with an average class size of 31 you’ll get the individual attention you deserve.
800+
courses from which to choose
More about courses
With a variety of course formats, over 20 graduate fields, undergraduate fields of study and minors that span the liberal arts, and stackable credentials, you can conveniently fulfill your professional needs, academic goals, and personal interests.
Learn More
Earn a degree in your own space at your own pace.
We're designed for students to be challenged in the classroom, not getting to it.
Who said online courses can't be just as interactive as in-person courses? Our approach to online learning fosters the human connection achieved in the 20% of our courses that have an in-person, on-campus option.
Using Zoom, students from around the globe join an instructor in a live classroom. Students participate in thoughtful discussion with their peers and engage with their instructor in real time.
Many students and faculty find this environment just as intimate as a physical classroom. But we also realize that our students are busy working adults, which means joining a live online or in-person course might not be possible. Our solution: a variety of course formats. You have the flexibility to attend class in-person, live online or on-demand. Live online students join the physical class through Zoom displayed on large monitors and seamlessly interact with students in the classroom. On-demand students watch professionally recorded classes on their own schedule and interact through online discussion tools.
Here's a glimpse of Harvard Extension Live Interactive eXperience (HELIX).
Students in our online courses gave a 4.5 rating out of 5 to the following statement:
“The course provided opportunities for me to connect with my fellow classmates.”
Discover the breadth of our course offerings by exploring our Course Catalog, where you can filter and search by online or in-person course formats.
When we say part time, we mean it.
Most of our students enroll in 1-2 courses per semester to ensure they have the time to balance school, careers, and other life commitments.
ALB Average Number of Courses per Semester
ALM Average Number of Courses per Semester
Most ALB degree candidates complete their degree within 2-6 years.
ALM degree candidates complete their programs within 2-5 years.
We make it personal.
At Harvard Extension School, we want our students to feel that they have an academic co-pilot from their first course through graduation.
Even before becoming an admitted degree candidate, you can receive advising through the Office of Predegree Advising & Admissions. With your goals in mind, our advisors can assist you in efficiently achieving admission. While every student's advising needs are different, advising at this stage may include course selection assistance or application process guidance. Read more about our advising services.
“My experience at HES was overwhelmingly helpful for my personal and educational development because it is an approachable program with vast resources. I felt accepted and encouraged on and off campus. Professors empowered me to explore abilities I was unaware of until I joined their classrooms. Students, inspired by professors, were collaborative and excited to engage with each other. The spirit of the program was uplifting and ever-evolving during a harsh, fearful time in our world. I am incredibly grateful for its existence.”
Joslyn | Recent ALB graduate
After you're admitted, you'll be assigned a personal academic advisor who will help you map out long-term goals and identify academic opportunities to augment them. Graduate students are also assigned a research advisor to help with their independent research projects.
Our faculty are educators, practitioners, and scholars.
Although their research and professional experience differ, Harvard Extension School faculty share a passion for preparing and educating HES students to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing global society.
You'll take courses taught by faculty from many of the schools at Harvard and also other top-tier institutions like MIT, Princeton, and University of Cambridge, England, as well as leading industry experts.
~70%
faculty with doctoral degrees
4.6
average faculty rating on a scale of
1 to 5
Broaden your skillset without breaking the bank.
Our tuition is comparable to other primarily online degree programs and less when compared to those at peer institutions.
HES Undergraduate
|
Peer Institutions' Average Undergraduate Tuition per Course
|
---|---|
$2,040 |
$2,900 |
HES Graduate Tuition per Course
2022-2023 Academic Year
|
Peer Institutions' Average Graduate
|
---|---|
$3,220 |
$4,148 |
Financial Aid
Upon admission, US citizens and eligible non-citizens who demonstrate sufficient financial need generally receive HES-supported grant funds to cover a portion of their tuition costs each term in addition to conventional federal financial aid options.
Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more about this process.
Why students choose HES
Our students are above average.
Graduation rates are tied to return on investment. Ours are high. Discuss.
Average ALM Graduation Rate
85%
“I feel so encouraged to continue my studies with HES after three excellent classes. The professors are exceptional, fellow students are incredibly supportive, and the underlying philosophies and values upheld across the HES community create a safe environment for learning, exploration, and growth.”
Learn more, fast.
Take a minute to learn more about our current degree candidates and recent alumni.
Click on your program of interest below.
- Graduate: Finance
- Graduate: Global Development Practice
- Graduate: Government
- Graduate: History
- Graduate: Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Graduate: International Relations
Data pertain to academic year 2022-23 unless otherwise noted on the Fast Facts document.
In an effort to present the most accurate and meaningful data possible, Fast Facts sheets are not created
for a new field of study until a significant amount of time has passed and a truly representative cohort of
students has been admitted into and graduates from it, which is why some fields may not be represented above.
For even more information about alumni graduate schools and employment success,
check out our Career and Academic Resource Center (CARC).
Need more information and some inspiration?
Check out highlights from an event made for and shaped by students who are newer to the Harvard community.
There are many perks to admission at HES.
As an HES degree candidate, you have access to special options and privileges. The Degree Candidate Benefits and Opportunities page lists them, but here are a few things you can look forward to:
-
Career and graduate school resources, events and workshops, and individual career advising through the The Mignone Center for Career Success
-
Access to the Harvard i-lab to incubate a new venture (for students who meet the current course registration requirement) – Visit the i-lab challenge winners page to view the pitches of the two HES student who won grand prizes in 2021!
-
Paid research opportunities alongside Harvard faculty through our Faculty Aide Program
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Graduate certificate options while earning the ALM degree
-
Programmatic partnerships with Harvard Business School Online, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education, and MIT
-
Leadership opportunities in the Harvard Extension School Student Association upon admission
-
Membership in the Harvard Extension School Alumni Association and Harvard University Alumni Association
Graduate students culminate their experience with a thesis or capstone project.
Thesis
Sample Thesis Titles ↓
Sample Thesis Titles By Field |
|
---|---|
Anthropology
|
Biology
|
Creative Writing & Literature
|
Biotechnology
|
English
|
Government
|
History
|
International Relations
|
Mathematics for Teaching
|
Psychology
|
Sustainability
|
Religion
|
|
Capstone
Sample Capstone Titles ↓
Sample Capstone Titles By Field |
|
---|---|
Biotechnology
|
Development Practice
|
Digital Media Design
|
English
|
Government
|
History
|
International Relations
|
Journalism
|
Museum Studies
|
Psychology
|
Religion
|
Sustainability
|