The Harvard Business School has one of the world's most popular MBA programs. Renowned for it’s extensive curriculum and world-famous alumni, a Harvard MBA doesn’t come cheap. To calculate the total cost of the Harvard MBA, you need to look beyond Harvard’s MBA tuition fees. Read this blog to learn more about the cost of studying for an MBA at Harvard as an indian student.
Key Highlights:
- Harvard Business School has the lowest tuition fee among the M7 B-schools.
- The average cost of studying MBA at Harvard ranges from USD 100,000 to USD 150,000 (INR 84 lakhs to 1.26 Cr)
- Living costs for an international student at the Harvard Business School can range from USD 34,000 to USD 40,000 (INR 25 lakhs to INR 33 lakhs)
- A part-time job at Harvard can pay you anywhere from USD 20 to USD 50 (INR 1660 to INR 4150) per hour.
- After a Harvard MBA, you can expect an ROI of 350%, exceeding the ROIs offered by numerous top B-schools.
Understanding the Cost of Attendance for MBA at Harvard
The total cost of attendance at the Harvard Business School for international students ranges from USD 100,000 to USD 150,000 (INR 84 lakhs to 1.26 Cr). The annual tuition fee is USD 76,410 (INR 64.50 lakhs ). This is considered the “direct” cost. The cost of attendance for an MBA at Harvard also includes living expenses, which can range from USD 34,000 to USD 40,000 (INR 25 lakhs to INR 33 lakhs) (depending on your lifestyle).
There are other additional costs that involve Student Health Fees, Health Insurance, and other course and program fees, which amount to approximately USD 8320 (INR 7.02 lakhs) yearly.
Some additional details about HBS are as follows:
|
QS MBA Ranking 2025 |
4 |
|
Popular Programs |
MBA in Finance |
|
Tuition Fees ( 2-year program) |
USD 240,000 (INR 2 CR) |
|
Average Living Expenses (yearly) |
USD 34,000 to USD 40,000 (INR 25 lakhs to INR 33 lakhs) |
|
Student Healthcare (yearly) |
USD 6,000 (INR 5 lakhs) |
|
Course Materials (yearly) |
USD 2650 (22.40 lakhs) |
Living Expenses at the Harvard Business School
Studying at Harvard can be quite expensive, and the living costs in the US are also on the higher side. The average living cost during your 2-year MBA program at HBS ranges from USD 30,000 to USD 40,000. Other expenses are listed below:
|
Parameter |
Cost (monthly, USD) |
Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
|
Rent |
1920 |
1.60 lakhs |
|
Transport |
260 |
21,500 |
|
Groceries |
700 |
58,240 |
|
Utilities |
1000 |
83,200 |
|
Phone Cost |
150 |
12,500 |
|
Total |
4030 |
3.50 lakhs |
Cost of MBA at Harvard vs Other B-Schools
As one of the world's best business schools, studying at Harvard comes with a hefty price tag. But, the top-ranking B-schools in the USA have a similar cost structure. MIT Sloan's tuition is USD 83,350 (INR 70 lakhs) per year, over USD 10,000 (INR 8.3 lakhs) more than Harvard's MBA. You would be surprised that HBS has the lowest tuition fees among the M7 business schools, which include Columbia, Yale, NYU Stern, and others.
Let’s take a comparative look at the top MBA school costs:
|
B-School |
Tuition (USD) |
Rent (USD) |
Food (USD) |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
76,410 |
17,280 - 34,560 |
6,120 - 11,430 |
99,810 - 122,400 |
|
|
84,350 |
123,384 (includes food) |
Included in rent |
207,734 (INR 1.7 cr) |
|
|
60,720 |
22,425 |
400 (estimated) |
83,545 (INR 70 lakhs) |
|
|
119,110 |
25,000 (estimated for New Haven) |
~25,000 (combined) |
144,110 (1.19 cr) |
|
|
84,180 |
23,588 |
6,450 |
114,218 (INR 95 lakhs) |
|
|
77,520 |
24,000 (estimated) |
Included in rent |
101,520 (INR 84 lakhs) |
|
|
84,830 |
33,804 (includes food) |
Included in rent |
118,634 (INR 98.5 lakhs) |
|
|
64,842 |
8,000 - 12,000 (on-campus) or 600 - 1,500/month (off-campus) |
400 - 800/month (estimated) |
77,642 - 86,442 (INR 64 lakhs to INR 71 lakhs) |
Ways to Fund your MBA at Harvard
An MBA is a valuable investment for your future. The Harvard Business School proudly supports this investment by offering need-based scholarships to both domestic and international students. More than 50% of students at HBS receive a need-based scholarship from HBS.
The average MBA scholarship offered by Harvard Business School is approximately USD 92,000 for 2 years.
Let’s check out other ways to fund your MBA at Harvard:
- Scholarships like the AAUW Women’s Scholarship, The National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund, and the Fulbright-Nehru Program
- Summer Fellowships which fund you to join an NGO/ social enterprise.
- More than 50% of students receive financial aid at Harvard, and covers half of the tuition.
- On and off-campus student part-time jobs like a TA, research assistant, and tutor for UG students.
Types of Financial Aid at Harvard Business School
There are 3 types of financial aid available at Harvard Business School:
- Need-based scholarships: If you have an average 3.33 CGPA/ 4.0 in your undergraduate, you can apply for a need-based scholarship at HBS. Apply with all the necessary financial documents of your family.
- Summer Fellowships: You can apply to be a Rock Fellow (summer fellowship) at NGOs or social organisations.
- Employer Sponsorships (Google, McKinsey, and BCG): Many top companies offer employer-based sponsorship during your MBA, if you sign a contract to work for them for a particular time period post MBA.
How to Apply for Financial Aid at Harvard?
You need a systematic approach to avail financial aid at Harvard. With thousands of strong candidates competing, this can be a tough challenge. However, with the right research, strategy and communication, you can avail financial aid at HBS. While we’re discussing the general steps below, they can be different for your situation.
- Research the right financial aid for you, whether you qualify for the scholarship or fellowship.
- Get your financial profile ready by compiling your tax returns and other necessary documents.
- Fill out the HBS financial aid application on the official portal, while applying for the program.
- Research and apply to external scholarships like JN Tata Endowment and Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship.
- Connect with HBS alumni or use Yocket to understand how other Indian students are availing financial aid at Harvard.
Part-time Jobs & Salary During Harvard MBA
While the 2 year MBA has a very rigorous curriculum, you can consider some part-time jobs for extra cash. You can work as a teaching assistant, research assistant, or tutor on the campus. You can also work at a bookstore or cafe, depending on your flexibility.
Some part-time job options and their average wages are below:
|
Role |
Average Salary |
|---|---|
|
Teaching Assistant |
USD 15 - USD 25 per hour |
|
Tutor |
USD 25 - USD 40 per hour |
|
Bookstore/ Cafe |
USD 12 - USD 18 per hour |
|
Freelance (Finance, Consulting) |
USD 30 - USD 50 per hour, depending on the project |
Student Visa Work Hour Restrictions at Harvard
You can pursue your MBA at HBS either with an F-1 or a J-1 student visa. F-1 is the usual student visa in the US, but if you’re coming here as an exchange student, you can avail of the J-1 visa.
The key points about the work hour restrictions for international students are:
- Both F-1 and J-1 allow up to 20 hours of part-time work per week during the academic term.
- During summer breaks and other official vacations, you can work upto 40 hours per week as an international student.
- If you have an OPT, you can work for 12 months post-education in your field of study (If you’re doing a tech MBA, you can stay for 24 months).
- If you have a dependent, the F-1 restricts spouse work, but the J-1 allows spouses to work with permission.
Return on Investment of MBA from Harvard
A Harvard MBA will give you a 320% ROI over a decade. A Harvard MBA is a substantial investment, and the returns do not disappoint.
Some of the highest-paying jobs after pursuing an MBA at Harvard include:
|
Top Job Roles |
Salary |
|---|---|
|
Investment Banker |
USD 175,000 (+ USD 100,000 signing bonus) |
|
Management Consultant |
USD 192,000 (+ USD 40,000 signing bonus) |
|
Product Manager |
USD 170,000 (+ USD 30,000 signing bonus) |
|
Private Equity |
USD 175,000 (+ USD 120,000 signing bonus) |
From the Desk of Yocket
An MBA from Harvard is a significant investment and one you should make if given the offer. The 10-year ROI reaches as high as 320% and promises excellent career growth. The graduate employment rate at HBS is 84%, and 57% of the alumni receive an average signing bonus of $30,000 (INR 25 lakhs). Now this is a career trajectory you don’t want to miss, right?
Schedule a call with us as we take you through a roadmap for a successful IVY League application. More than 400 Yocket Premium students have received IVY League admits, and we couldn’t be prouder. Talk to us about scholarships, financial aid, and more for free!
