We're Harvard with a twist.

Two male HES students sitting in a classroom

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. 

Backs of HES students' heads while walking at Harvard convocation

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.

Head shot of female HES student smiling

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.

HES graduate holding sign & a bushel of wheat

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.

HES student receiving instruction from a professor in class

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

  • Here’s what HES students have to say about our faculty:

    “The faculty bridge textbook concepts to real-world events and situations, allowing the student to fully grasp the subject in scope. With their professional and academic expertise, they are able to prepare great studying materials tailored for professionals. I have greatly enjoyed everything that Harvard Extension School has to offer.”

  • Here’s what HES students have to say about our faculty:

    “The curriculum is strong and the delivery formats are excellent for a working professional. In addition, the faculty are experts in their fields; their dedication to students' learning is palpable.”

  • Here’s what HES students have to say about our faculty:

    “I have been deeply touched by the classroom experience so far: from taking classes with faculty who are experts in their respective domains to brilliant classmates who bring empirical and anecdotal evidence to the classroom based on their lived experiences, it has been nothing short of an exceptional experience.”

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
Tuition per Course

2022-2023 Academic Year

Peer Institutions' Average Undergraduate Tuition per Course 

 

 $2,040

$2,900

 

HES Graduate Tuition per Course

2022-2023 Academic Year

Peer Institutions' Average Graduate
Tuition per Course 

 

$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

“The student body is varied and creative and the services HES provides are just what are needed by those wanting a career change or to hone a new skill. Every course I’ve taken has taught me numerous things about myself, the craft of writing, my peers, life... HES is the gift that keeps on giving. I am in love with this community!"
 
Julie | Recently admitted ALM Creative Writing and Literature student
"I chose HES because of price, convenience, and the caliber of professors. The price is appealing because it's generally lower than other competing institutions. The combination of online learning and on-demand courses, along with flexibility in choosing the curriculum, is convenient for me. And I have found the caliber of professors to be above average."
 
Alexander | Recent ALM Biology graduate
"My learning experience has been very positive. I've truly enjoyed learning from every instructor I have taken classes from so far. Having extremely knowledgeable professors in combination with all of the support I have found in my classmates has made my learning experience truly amazing. I genuinely look forward to attending class each week and I can see growth within myself as I learn and master new concepts."
 
Stephanie | Recently admitted ALM Industrial-Organizational Psychology student

Our students are above average.

Graduation rates are tied to return on investment. Ours are high. Discuss.

ALB Graduation Rate vs. National Average

*Source: National Student Clearinghouse

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.” 

Aiyana | ALM Journalism applicant

Learn more, fast.

Take a minute to learn more about our current degree candidates and recent alumni.

Click on your program of interest below.

 

 

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: 

Graduate students culminate their experience with a thesis or capstone project. 

Thesis

 
Graduate students whose programs require or offer the thesis option develop a question that has yet to be answered by prior research. Working with a research advisor and a faculty or industry expert, students emerge from the thesis process with a solid understanding of how original research is executed and how to best communicate research results. Many students have gone on to publish their research in academic or professional journals. 

Sample Thesis Titles ↓

Sample Thesis Titles By Field

 
Anthropology 
  • Influence and Culture in Virtual Spaces: Population health campaigns and the role of social media on beliefs, bias and stigma during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Biology
  • Revealing Ancestral Arachnid Genes by Tracking Acetylcholinesterase Evolution in Spiders
Creative Writing & Literature
  • Halfway Home; the Beloved Anti-Villain: How Empathy Is Used to Humanize Villains 
  • Unraveling the Loom: How to Weave Multiple Narratives, Close Point of View and Backstory into a Novel
Biotechnology
  • The Role of Genetics and Environmental Factors on Autoimmune Disease Incidence With a Focus on Gender Bias in a Family Case Study
  • Stem cell-derived pancreatic beta cell function may be enhanced through the incorporation of alpha cells for the treatment of Type I Diabetes 
English
  • The Rogue Underground: Hidden Encryption Systems in Toni Morrison’s Beloved
Government
  • The American Presidency: No Women Need Apply
  • Our God’s Appointed Ones: Using Eastern Cults to Predict Possible Paths for QAnon
 
History
  • Liquidity Preference in Maturity Transformation: The Federal Reserve as Lender of Last Resort, Moral Hazard, and the Theory of Unlimited Protection
International Relations
  • Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Group Peace Education Tactics and their Effectiveness
 
Mathematics for Teaching
  • A Study of Motivational Techniques for Inner-City Math Classrooms: How to Increase Student Engagement while Decreasing Teacher Burn-Out
    Designing for and Understanding the Adult Learner in a Mathematics Course
Psychology
  • The role of masculine personality characteristics and beliefs about sexuality in anxiety, guilt, and shame of men treated for prostate cancer
 
Sustainability
  • Analysis of Impacts and Trade-offs from Changes to Short-Haul Business Travel Policies in Europe to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Religion
  • Drifting Out, Spiraling Back Home: Americans’ Motivations for Converting to Paganism
 

Capstone

 
Depending on the graduate field, two forms of capstones may also be offered: the Capstone Course (faculty directed) and Capstone Independent Project (student directed). A Capstone Independent Project focuses on a current issue or problem that has become compelling to a student during their course of study. The project represents their academic passion and professional interest. The research is completed individually (journalism) or in a classroom setting with fellow candidates (all other fields). For both types of capstone, students draw upon their entire ALM training to produce a project worthy of a Harvard degree.

Sample Capstone Titles ↓

Sample Capstone Titles By Field

 
Biotechnology
  • Bio-Games: Biology-based characters and functions introduced to the gaming experience
  • Gennovation: Viral vectors for the future of gene therapy
Development Practice
  • Girl Scouts of Eastern MA – Community Development Plan enables scouts to gain an understanding of the lifecycle of food choices and sustainability practices during summer camp
Digital Media Design
  • Martial Art Movement Tracker: A wearable device to track the movement of a Taekwondo athlete
  • The Thirty-One Percent: Combining content creation and web design to tell the stories of women business owners
English
  • Animalization, Trauma and the Possibility of Healing: Animal imagery in Cynthia Ozick’s "The Shawl"
  • "You Might Not Remember the Island but It Remembers You”: Liminal spaces in "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz
Government
  • Does America Have a Moral Obligation to Provide Aid to Refugees?
  • Poverty, Pandemics, and People (of Color): How the COVID-19 pandemic showcased the need for universal housing security
History
  • Debates within the Leadership of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE)
  • The Inclusion of Women in the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial
International Relations
  • Human Trafficking: Moving from a rescue model to a more trauma informed approach
  • Paid Parental Leave in the United States: A proposal for government-mandated paid parental leave benefits for all working parents
Journalism
  • New York City’s Kava Community Finds Antidote for Loneliness
  • For Decades Drug Users Were Sent to Jail, Now Massachusetts Embraces Major Reforms
Museum Studies
  • Symbols of Heritage or Monuments to Oppression: The future of confederate iconography
  • The Art of Caring: An empathetic museum for the twenty-first century
Psychology
  • Normalize Disagreeing: Cultivate a culture of addressing controversy with empathy
  • Warriors and Heroes: Training cancer heroes to lead cancer warriors from diagnosis to growth
Religion
  • The American Missionary Association and the Creation of a Black Subculture in Postbellum America 
  • The Rajneesh in Review: The value of flexibility in the study of new religious movements
Sustainability
  • Analyzing Implementation Barriers to Farm-to-School Programs: Comparisons between New York State’s rural and urban areas
  • Next-Gen Benchmarking: To what extent can a regenerative design index demonstrate value in community sustainability? 
 
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