Harvard Business School (HBS): Courses, Fees, Rankings

Dating back to 1908, Harvard Business School or HBS as it is commonly known came into effect to offer Management programs. The world's very first MBA program began with HBS in 1908. With one MBA program in the 1900s, HBS stands strong with over 50+ programs in 2024. HBS is the oldest but one of the most renowned B-schools in the world.

Harvard Business School is the Business wing of Harvard University which is an Ivy League school, the most prestigious university in the USA. Usually, HBS makes it to the top 10 ranking B-schools globally on an annual basis. Those graduating from the Business School of Harvard University, bag well-paying jobs and get good placements across top companies. This article will discuss in detail about Harvard Business School and its courses.  

Harvard Business School Highlights

Top Reasons to Study at HBS

Harvard Business School is the dream school for those who wish to pursue an MBA abroad and study in the USA. Admissions are very tough at HBS, yet there are numerous reasons which can be considered if aiming to study at HBS, and they are as follows:

• HBS is one of the top ranked MBA schools abroad and is known for its courses, academics and post-study work opportunities.
• Apart from the regular courses at Harvard, there are also HBS online courses for international applicants.
• Academics at HBS are defined through case studies and experience-based knowledge which helps budding leaders hone their leadership skills.
• Despite the high costs at HBS, there are need-based scholarships awarded of around USD 45 million each year to MBA students to ease their financial burden.
• Also, HBS online courses provide the applicants with an option to avail scholarships at the actual price. A cost reduction between 10-15% can be availed for online courses.
• Harvard University placements for those graduating with a management degree from its B-school are some of the highest-paid jobs in the USA. 

Thus, apart from the courses, HBS is a well-known B-school and admissions to HBS are equally tough. Courses at Harvard University across the management stream are tougher but the benefits are equally rewarding in the long run. 

Check out: List of Top 10 Famous Harvard Alumni

HBS Rankings 2023-24

Based on the global rankings for Management and MBA courses, HBS ranks in the top 5 across. Check out the most recent HBS rankings in the table below:

Thus, from the above-given data, it can be concluded that HBS ranks in the top 5 positions of all major categories of management programs based on the agencies ranking them globally. It can be concluded that Harvard Business School has a very good reputation with its rankings and academics for MBA and other Management level programs globally. 

Popular Harvard Business School Courses

The most popularly offered courses at Harvard Business School are MBA, Executive MBA, Online courses and Doctoral programs. Each of these programs has predefined admission requirements to be fulfilled. 

Harvard Business School MBA 

MBA at HBS is a full-time two-year long course which is offered in two different timelines. Applications for Harvard Business School MBA are also accepted in two rounds - one in January and the other in September. Around 50% of need-based financial aid is offered to MBA students who qualify for admission at HBS and the average amount offered is USD 46,000. 

HBS Online Courses

HBS Online courses are divided into seven broad categories and each of them has a certificate course to offer. HBS Online classes are flexible and can be adjusted based on the aspirant’s timeline. Upon completing the HBS Online course, the applicants are awarded with an HBS stamped certificate for completion. Each course is designed across 4-9 weeks. Some of the most popular programs are Harvard Business online certificate programs which has three different certification programs. Check out the courses offered at HBS Online based on interest:

Please note, that there is no HBS Online MBA program offered, but certifications under different domains of Business functionality are offered. Thus, Harvard University does not offer MBA in any other mode other than the full-time mode. 

What is Harvard Business School Fee 2024?

The fee at HBS is usually on the higher side for all major courses. The fee varies for each of the courses offered at Harvard University’s Business School. The following is the cost of attendance for popular business courses offered at Harvard Business School. 

HBS MBA Fee

The fee for MBA at Harvard is quite high, and it is the same for domestic and international students alike. Harvard Business School fees for MBA in Rupees are as follows for Indian students who are planning to apply for admission:

These fees mentioned above in both currencies are subject to change based on the current market rate and exchange rate. Thus, applicants must check the website beforehand and then plan out their expenses accordingly. 

HBS Online Courses Fee

Following are the HBS Online courses’ fees in the table, these fees are majorly consistent across all major subject areas, check them out for reference: 

Applicants must note that there are no HBS Online courses for free. The applicants can apply for scholarships and avail discounts on the actual price of certifications but there are no free online courses up for grabs at Harvard.  

How to Get Into Harvard Business School?

Admissions at Harvard University for its various B-school courses is tough and follows different timelines for admission. Check out Harvard Business School admissions course-wise details in the following section:

MBA at HBS Admission

For HBS MBA admissions, there are three stages of application. First is the written application, second is the interview and the third is the post-interview reflection. HBS MBA applicants will have to submit the following documents, and exam scores:

• Transcripts
• IELTS / TOEFL / PTE scores
• GMAT / GRE scores
• One admission essay question to be attempted
• 2 letters of recommendation (LORs)
• Resume
• USD 250 application fee 

After a written application is submitted, in case shortlisted then applicants will be called for an interview round. Within 24 hours of appearing for the interview, applicants will have to submit written reflection about it, details will be provided as and when applicants proceed. 

HBS MBA Deadlines 2024

The following are the deadlines for Harvard Business School MBA course for the year 2024:

Applicants should stick to these timelines and check before applying and plan accordingly. 

EMBA Admissions at HBS

While there are over 15+ EMBA programs each offering a different type of specialization, the requirements for each of them vary. But some of the basic admission requirements for EMBA at HBS are as follows:

• 10 years of work experience
• TOEFL scores
• LORs (may not be required for all courses)

There may be additional requirements for EMBA admissions at HBS, also the deadlines may vary for all courses offered, thus, applicants must check for all details and then apply.

Doctoral Courses Admissions at HBS

There are around eight doctoral programs offered at Harvard Business School. Again, there are different courses offered leading to a PhD or DBA thus, admission requirements vary per course and specialisation. All applications for doctoral programs at HBS are accepted in the Fall only.  

HBS Online Courses Admissions

There are no specific guidelines for HBS Online course admission. The applicants should just be 18+ years old and should have an understanding of the English language. The courses are offered all around the year, thus, there are no set deadlines as well. 

Harvard Business School Acceptance Rate

Since admissions are Harvard University are tough, acceptance rates would likely be lower. For Harvard Business School acceptance rates were recorded at 13% for the MBA class of 2023 and 3% for doctoral applicants. 

This means out of 9,773 applications received for MBA admissions, only 1,013 applications were accepted. And for 995 applications for doctoral courses, only 23 were accepted. Thus, it can be concluded that the acceptance rate at HBS is very low and selective. This is also the reason why Harvard ranks highly because of its academic reputation. 

Admissions at HBS across its various courses can be a time-consuming process and require a lot of effort because of the kind of competition but, getting into these programs and studying at the world’s best B-school under a renowned faculty is a different experience altogether. 

If you are looking for admissions at HBS, you can apply for Shiksha Topper Counselling and get help with your applications from our expert team of counsellors.