The Harvard Business School has one of the world's most popular MBA programs. Renowned for its extensive curriculum and world-famous alumni, a Harvard MBA doesn’t come cheap. To calculate the cost of studying at Harvard Business School, you need to look beyond the tuition fees.
Read this blog to learn more about the cost of attending Harvard Business School.
Key Highlights:
- Harvard MBA fee is around INR 66.6 Lakhs (USD 76,410), the lowest among all the M7 business schools.
- Total cost of attendance can go up to 1.26 Cr ($118,854), covering tuition, fees, housing, food, transportation, and other expenses.
- A part-time job at Harvard can pay you anywhere from USD 20 to USD 50 (INR 1660 to INR 4150) per hour.
- After an MBA from Harvard, you can expect an ROI of 350%, exceeding the ROIs offered by numerous top B-schools.
- 1. Harvard MBA Fees 2025
- 2. Ways to Fund Harvard MBA Fees
- 3. Financial Aid to Reduce Harvard MBA Fees
- 4. Part-time Job Options to Manage Harvard MBA Fees
- 5. Student Visa Work Hour Restrictions at Harvard Business School
- 6. Cost of Living in the USA During MBA at Harvard Business School
- 7. Harvard MBA Fees: Return on Investment for Graduates
- 8. Harvard MBA Fees vs Other B-Schools Fees
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Harvard MBA Fees 2025
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 current Harvard MBA fee is approximately USD 76,410 (INR 66.6 Lakh).
There are 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.
Here’s a breakdown of the annual total cost of attendance of Harvard Business School:
|
Expense Category |
Cost (USD) |
Cost (INR) |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuition Fee |
$76,410 |
₹66 Lakh |
|
Course & Program Materials Fee |
$2,650 |
₹2.3 Lakh |
|
HUHS Student Health Fee (SHF) |
$1,592 |
₹1.4 Lakh |
|
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) |
$4,202 |
₹3.6 Lakh |
|
HUSHP for Student Spouses/Dependents |
$0 |
₹0 |
|
Housing |
$17,280 |
₹15 Lakh |
|
Food |
$6,120 |
₹5.3 Lakh |
|
Transportation |
$2,280 |
₹2 Lakh |
|
Other Living Expenses |
$8,320 |
₹7.2 Lakh |
|
Computer (Variable; not included in total) |
[$1,500] |
[₹1.3 Lakh] |
|
Total Estimated Cost |
$118,854 |
₹1.03 Cr |
Source: Harvard MBA Fee
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Ways to Fund Harvard MBA Fees
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, which covers half of the tuition.
- On and off-campus student part-time jobs like a TA, research assistant, and tutor for UG students.
Financial Aid to Reduce Harvard MBA Fees
Harvard Business School offers financial aid to help reduce your MBA fees. Most aid is need-based, covering tuition and living expenses. International students, including from India, are eligible. Plan early, assess your financial profile, and apply during the admissions process to increase your chances.
Let’s understand the different types of aid available and how to apply.
Types of Financial Aid at Harvard Business School
There are 3 types of financial aid available to help manage Harvard MBA fees:
- 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 secure aid to reduce the tuition fees of Harvard Business School. While the general steps are outlined below, your process may vary based on your profile.
- Research the right financial aid for you, whether you qualify for a 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 Job Options to Manage Harvard MBA Fees
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 campus. You can also work at a bookstore or cafe, depending on your flexibility.
Part-time Jobs & Salary at Harvard:
|
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 Business School
If you’re pursuing your MBA at HBS, you’ll likely use an F-1 or J-1 student visa. Most students use the F-1 visa, but if you’re here as an exchange student, you’ll get a J-1 visa.
Here’s what you need to know about work hour restrictions as an international student at Harvard:
- You can work up to 20 hours per week part-time during the academic term on both F-1 and J-1 visas.
- During summer breaks and official vacations, you can work up to 40 hours per week.
- If you get Optional Practical Training (OPT), you can work in your field for 12 months after graduation. If you’re in a tech-related MBA, you may extend this to 24 months.
- If you bring a spouse, know that F-1 visa holders’ spouses cannot work, but J-1 visa holders’ spouses can work with proper permission.
Cost of Living in the USA During MBA at Harvard Business School
Studying at Harvard can be expensive, and living costs in the US are high too. You can expect to spend between USD 30,000 and USD 40,000 on living expenses during your 2-year MBA program at HBS.
Here are some other expenses to consider:
|
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 |
Harvard MBA Fees: Return on Investment for Graduates
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) |
Harvard MBA Fees vs Other B-Schools Fees
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 cost of studying at top MBA colleges:
|
Name of the Business School |
Tuition fee (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) |
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?
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