Many students dream of studying at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Harvard University is often high on the list. Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Studying at this prestigious school can sometimes seem like a pipe dream, especially when you consider tuition, room and board, books, materials, health insurance, travel, and other expenses. In this article, we provide a comprehensive breakdown of the cost of attendance for international students at Harvard University to help you understand what it takes to attend one of the best universities in the world.
Study Costs at Harvard University
Choosing to study at Harvard University is a major decision and can be costly. If you are an international student, expenses vary by school and program, so you should always confirm the latest figures on the official Harvard school page for your degree. Let us look at what you can expect to budget for during your study period at this highly ranked institution.
Application Costs
One of the first expenses for international students applying to Harvard is the application fee. For Harvard College first-year applicants, the current application fee is $90, or students may request a fee waiver. Harvard College states that its admissions and financial aid processes are the same for all applicants regardless of nationality or citizenship. If the fee presents a hardship, international applicants can request a fee waiver through the Common Application or Harvard’s fee-waiver process.
Undergraduate applicants can apply under Restrictive Early Action by November 1 or Regular Decision by January 1. Graduate application fees vary by school and program. For example, Harvard Griffin GSAS currently lists a $105 application fee, while some Harvard Graduate School of Education programs list an $85 application fee. International students may also need to budget for costs related to testing, credential translation, document delivery, or other program-specific requirements. Harvard College advises that any translated academic credentials should include the original document and should not be translated by the applicant.
Tuition Costs
The tuition fees at Harvard University vary depending on the school and program of study, with some programs costing more than others. Whether you plan to study at the undergraduate or graduate level, let us look at what you might expect to pay in tuition at the institution.
Bachelor’s Tuition Costs
A bachelor’s degree at Harvard College is competitive, and Harvard offers more than 50 undergraduate fields of study, called concentrations, as well as secondary fields. For the 2026-2027 academic year, Harvard College tuition is $62,226. You should also expect billed fees, including $4,272 for student services and $1,944 for health services, as well as housing and food if you live on campus. The listed billed total for tuition, fees, housing, and food is $91,634 before estimated books, personal expenses, transportation, and health insurance.
Financial aid can significantly reduce costs for eligible students. Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, Harvard College says families with incomes of $100,000 or less pay nothing toward the cost of attendance, and families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less pay no tuition, assuming typical assets, living costs, and taxes.
Master’s Tuition Costs
Harvard University is known for highly regarded master’s programs, but costs vary widely by school. At Harvard Griffin GSAS, the 2026-2027 standard full tuition rate for master’s and Ph.D. students is $59,048 for the full year. Some programs have different tuition structures. For example, the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences lists the Computational Science and Engineering SM at $67,504 for its one-year program. The Data Science SM costs $67,504 for the first year and $33,752 for the second year, which is one term. Students taking fewer than a full course load in those SEAS master’s programs pay per-course term rates, including $25,314 for three courses per term.
If you enroll in an MBA at Harvard, the MBA tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year is $84,760. Harvard Business School lists a total single-student cost of attendance of $130,318 for the nine-month academic year, excluding a variable computer allowance.
Ph.D. Tuition Costs
International students can pursue doctoral programs at Harvard University, including the Doctor of Philosophy in Education, which Harvard Graduate School of Education describes as offered jointly with Harvard Griffin GSAS, as well as Ph.D. programs in fields such as Engineering Sciences and Bioengineering. At Harvard Griffin GSAS, the 2026-2027 tuition guide lists $59,048 for the first two years of study, $15,352 for the third and fourth years, and a $3,906 continuation fee after the fourth year. Harvard notes that Ph.D. students may receive grants to cover tuition and fees according to their individualized Notice of Financial Support.
Students applying to the Graduate School of Education should note that its 2026-2027 full-time degree-student tuition is $64,428, while full Ph.D. cost details are directed to Harvard Griffin GSAS. Always confirm the current tuition page for your specific Harvard school and degree program before applying.
Other Academic Costs at Harvard University
Apart from tuition costs, there are other expenses you will incur during your study period at Harvard University.
Books and Miscellaneous Expenses
If you are studying in a master’s or Ph.D. program at Harvard Griffin GSAS, current cost-of-attendance estimates list books, course materials, supplies, and equipment at about $1,100 for a 10-month budget, or $1,320 for a 12-month budget. Miscellaneous expenses are estimated at about $5,800 for 10 months, or $6,960 for 12 months. Your actual costs may be higher or lower depending on your program, lifestyle, and housing arrangement.
Accommodation and Transportation
When budgeting to study at Harvard, you should plan for accommodation and transportation. For instance, Harvard Law School’s on-campus housing for 2026-2027 ranges from $8,694 to $21,222 for dormitory-style residential rooms and from about $16,983 to $24,552 for apartment-style rooms for the academic year. HLS notes that on-campus options are fully furnished and include utilities, but costs vary by residence and room type.
For transportation, students can often save by walking, biking, using bike-share options, or using public transportation. MBTA subway fares are commonly listed at $2.40 per one-way ride, though fares and pass options can change, so check current MBTA prices before budgeting. The Harvard bike commuter benefit of up to $30 per month is an employee benefit for eligible faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows, not a general student bike-rental price.
Living Expenses
There are other living expenses, such as food and insurance, that you will incur during your study at Harvard University. For Harvard College undergraduates, the 2026-2027 food rate is $8,942, and Harvard College estimates books at $1,000, personal expenses at $2,500, and transportation at $0 to $5,000. Health insurance is required unless waived with comparable coverage; for 2026-2027, Harvard lists the Student Health Insurance Plan at $4,954 and the Student Health Fee at $1,944, for a total HUSHP cost of $6,898. Also remember the cost of living in the Boston/Cambridge area, especially if you plan to rent off campus.
Studying at Harvard University is a significant financial decision for international students. You need to think about tuition, application fees, accommodation, food, transportation, health insurance, books, and other living expenses. Costs also vary because Harvard has multiple schools, each with its own tuition and budget estimates. Despite the high sticker price, need-based financial aid may reduce costs substantially for eligible students, so review the official aid page for your school before deciding what Harvard may cost for your family.
We hope this article about the cost of studying at Harvard University was informative and helpful. Feel free to visit our Study in the USA Page and Available Programs for International Students!
