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Keeping Higher Education Accessible
How the Extension School makes an Ivy League experience accessible. More >
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About Us
As Harvard University’s primary resource for continuing education for a century, Harvard Extension School offers an open and comprehensive academic curriculum, with courses and programs to meet the interests and needs of a diverse public.
Explore a subject in depth. Gain advanced training for a career change. Earn specialized field credentials. Whether you take a course or work toward a degree, we have options for you.
Satisfy your intellectual curiosity.
Courses in liberal arts and professional fields
With more than 600 courses, Harvard Extension School offers a range of possibilities for study, representing more than 65 fields.
- Attend evening classes on campus in Harvard Square.
- Choose from more than 100 online courses, including Harvard College lectures.
- Earn undergraduate or graduate credit, or take a course for noncredit.
Classes are open to any student up to the challenge. You don’t have to be in a degree program to enroll. Whatever your goals or experience, the only general requirement is a true commitment to learning.
Browse our abundant fall, January, and spring course offerings.
Pursue a rigorous program of study.
Accredited degree programs
As 1 of 13 schools at Harvard University, Harvard Extension School has degrees that allow you to enhance professional skills, prepare for a new career, or pursue intellectual inquiry for personal enrichment.
- Undergraduate and graduate liberal arts degrees combine a classic curriculum with opportunities for practical training and applied knowledge, priming you for success in academic and professional arenas.
- Graduate professional degrees provide focused study in preparation for careers in a variety of competitive fields.
Learn about the degree programs, including our unique admissions process.
Learn from the best.
World-class faculty
Instructors from the Harvard University and Greater Boston communities bring scholarly expertise and real-world experience to the classroom. You study with:
- Scholars, researchers, and professionals from Harvard University.
- Leading faculty from local universities.
- Experienced professionals from community and business organizations.
An investment in your future.
Competitive tuition rates
On average, tuition costs range from $900 to $1,975 for undergraduate and graduate 4-credit courses. Charged per course and not per credit, tuition is listed in course descriptions. Financial aid is available to students in degree programs.
Read about tuition.
A stimulating academic community.
Motivated classmates and rich resources
Harvard University is a place of intellectual stimulation and discovery, where ideas foster change and awareness inspires commitment. Harvard Extension School—a cornerstone of Harvard University for a century—represents the University’s dedication to extending its rich academic resources to the public, locally, nationally, and internationally.
A wealth of resources
As a student, you can take advantage of the extensive electronic resources available through Harvard’s libraries, career and academic workshops, and computer facilities. You can attend campus lectures and participate in student organizations.
Read more about the benefits of being an Extension School student in Resources.
Our students: focused, independent
The student population of nearly 13,000 women and men is diverse, but they all share a goal of engaging themselves in thought-provoking pursuits. In class, you might encounter a lawyer studying creative writing, a teacher broadening her knowledge of technology, a parent pursuing graduate studies part time, or a traditional college student working toward a degree. The age of our students ranges from the teens to the eighties, with the average of 33 years. Most students already have degrees, and all bring abundant life experience to the classroom.
Each of our past and present students has a story. Meet our students and faculty.
Alumni success
Graduates of our programs, who are members of the worldwide Harvard Alumni Association, have gone on to attend prestigious graduate programs and become leaders in fields such as business, medicine, education, law, and politics.
See a list of some of the graduate schools or careers that our students in the Master of Liberal Arts program have entered upon completing their degree.
Accreditation
Harvard Extension School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Learn more about our accreditation and transfer credit.