Harvard Kennedy School (HKS): Courses, Campus, Admissions 2024-25, Cost, Scholarships, Placements & Alumni

Harvard Kennedy School (HKS): Courses, Campus, Admissions 2024-25, Cost, Scholarships, Placements, & Alumni

Cambridge, MassachusettsLocation
SchoolSchool type
Estd1936established year
1213enrollment
NEASC
Private (Not for Profit)

Harvard Kennedy School is a public policy school of Harvard University. It is located in Cambridge, USA, and was established in 1936. The Harvard Kennedy School currently hosts more than 56% of international students out of its total student body. Students hail from 84 countries, including India, which contributes 109 students.

International students are offered enrollment in graduate courses at Harvard Kennedy School. For Harvard Kennedy School admissions you should have a bachelor's degree. The average tuition fee at Harvard Kennedy School ranges between 49,769 - 74,936 USD (41.4 lakhs - 62.4 lakhs INR). HKS offers great return on investment as you can anticipate 136,000 USD (1.1 crore INR) as the average annual salary.

Harvard Kennedy School Courses

Harvard Kennedy School offers 4 master’s degrees, 3 PhD courses and 50+ executive education courses. HKS offers undergraduates opportunities to participate in summer programs and conferences for exposure. HKS is especially known for its executive programs that are short professional development classes. These are of one week or less, for senior-level professionals.

Some of the Harvard Kennedy School Programs and their respective fees are as follows:

Harvard Kennedy School Top Programs and Fees

Programs Annual Tuition Fee (USD) Annual Tuition Fee (INR)
Master of Public Policy [M.P.P] USD 63,328 INR 5290421
Master of Public Administration [M.P.A], International Development USD 63,328 INR 5290421
Master of Public Administration [M.P.A] USD 63,328 INR 5290421
Master, Public Administration (Mid-Career) USD 63,328 INR 5290421

Harvard Kennedy School Admissions

For admission to Harvard Kennedy School’s 2025-2026 academic year, the application will be available from September 2024. The application deadline is early December. The deadline is for Fall enrollment only. The following should be kept in mind while considering applying for admission at Harvard Kennedy School.

What are the admission requirements for Harvard Kennedy School?

Category Admission Requirements
Application portal Application portal
Application fee 100 USD (8,334 INR)
Academic requirement Bachelor's degree
Required English proficiency test scores IELTS - 7.0 | TOEFL-iBT - 100
Standardized test scores GRE or GMAT (program specific)
Additional requirements Official transcripts | Essay | Resume | 3 LORs | Work experience (vary by program)

Harvard Kennedy School Cost of Attendance

The average tuition fee at Harvard Kennedy School ranges between 49,769 - 74,936 USD (41.4 lakhs - 62.4 lakhs INR), including additional fees. The total cost of attendance at Harvard Kennedy School is 96,045 - 112,473 USD (80 lakhs - 93.7 lakhs INR) which includes accommodation, tuition, transportation etc. Below is the Harvard Kennedy School’s cost of attendance for the Master's Degree Program:

Expense Type Cost in USD Cost in INR
Tuition 37,369 - 59,316 31.1 lakhs - 49.4 lakhs
Student Activity Fee 220 18,335
Course Materials Fee 574 47,839
Student Health Fee 1,592 1.3 lakhs
Student Health Insurance Plan 4,202 3.5 lakhs
Math Seminar 2,120 1.7 lakhs
Mid-Career MPA Summer Program (Program Specific) 9,032 7.5 lakhs

What is the Cost of Living in the USA?

The cost of living is an important factor to consider when planning to study at Harvard Kennedy School. Students should plan accordingly to ensure a comfortable experience while studying. The average cost of living in the USA for HKS students is 33,595 USD (27.9 Lakhs INR) per annum. Types of expenses for students of Harvard Kennedy School is tabulated below:

Expense Type Annual Expenses in USD Annual Expenses in INR
Living Expenses 27,940 23.2 lakhs
Personal Expenses 2,610 2.1 lakhs
Transportation 1,150 95,845
Books and Supplies 1,895 1.5 lakhs

Harvard Kennedy School Campus

The Harvard Kennedy School, formally known as the John F. Kennedy School of Government. It is Harvard University's public policy school. The institute has its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. The campus consists of several buildings for academic programs, as well as research centers, administrative offices.

Take a look at Harvard Kennedy School's campus in the collage given below:

HKS Campus

What is the student life like at Harvard Kennedy School?

The Harvard Kennedy School campus hosts a rich culture and diverse extracurricular activities, creating a vibrant and engaging student life.

  • Students of Harvard Kennedy School have access to Counselling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS), it provides psychiatric care, support groups, and psychoeducational workshops.
  • HKS offers health services through Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) exclusively for its community.
  • Students at Harvard Kennedy School can partake in more than 80 student-led clubs and associations.
  • Harvard Dance Center offers free community dance classes to HKS students in various dance traditions.
  • HKS students can access recreation facilities at Harvard University such as aquatic programs, personal training, sports, etc.
  • Various other offices such as academic support offices, supportive offices make HKS and Harvard University more accessible and safe.

Harvard Kennedy School Scholarships

At Harvard Kennedy School, funding possibilities are limited. HKS grants competitive fellowships and scholarships on the basis of merit, as evaluated by their Admissions Committee. International students at Harvard Kennedy School receive the same financial help as American students. In fact, about 30% of HKS students get some type of financial aid. International students are also eligible for some of these scholarships to study in the USA.

Scholarship Name Eligibility Award
George W. Mallinckrodt Fellowship MC/MPA admission Full tuition fee
Kennedy Fellowships and Presidential Scholarships Exceptional academic ability and professional distinction Varies based on financial need
Scott and Isabelle Black Fellowship Students in two-year degree programs Full tuition fee

Check out some of the popular scholarships to study in USA for Indian students, here:

Scholarships in USA

Harvard Kennedy School Placements

According to the Harvard Kennedy School reports, 97% of recent graduates are either employed or running for office, launching new business after their graduation. HKS through the career service helps students hone their skills and interests, and articulate them confidently in resumes, cover letters, interviews, and personal statements. Graduates of HKS are recruited by many institutions such as the Government of India, Government of USA, World Bank, Amazon, Deloitte Consulting, Facebook, Google, etc. Graduates of Harvard Kennedy School earn an annual salary of 136,000 USD (1.1 crore INR).

Here are the salaries of Harvard Kennedy School graduates pursuing high-paying jobs in USA:

HKS Graduate Salary by Employer

Employers Range Average Salary (USD) Average Salary (INR)
Consulting 50,000 - 240,000 USD 150,000 1.25 crore
US Federal Government 53,065 - 170,000 USD 90,000 75 lakhs
Nonprofit and Non-governmental Organizations 30,000 - 360,000 USD 85,000 70.8 lakhs
Non US Government 20,000 - 135,000 USD 60,000 50 lakhs

Harvard Kennedy School Alumni

Harvard Kennedy School has more than 23,000 alumni worldwide. HKS alumni remain connected through their participation in nearly 30 regional alumni networks and shared interest groups. They also connect and share knowledge via conducting various virtual and in-person events.

Who are some notable alumni of Harvard Kennedy School?

Alumni Names Profession Achievement
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Liberian Politician Former President and Nobel Prize winner
Nripendra Misra Indian Bureaucrat Former Principal Secretary to the PM of India
Ajay Narayan Jha Indian Bureaucrat Finance Secretary of India and Member of 16th Finance Commission of India
Pierre Trudeau Canadian Politician Former PM of Canada
Ban Ki-moon South Korean Politician and Diplomat Secretary General of the United Nations

The Harvard Kennedy School has educated 17 heads of state or government, more than any other graduate school in the world. Other public workers who have graduated from the program include cabinet members, military commanders, central bankers, and legislators. To inculcate leadership and management skills, studying at Harvard Kennedy School in the US is highly recommended.

FAQs

Ques. Is IELTS compulsory for Harvard Kennedy School?

Ans. Yes, an English language proficiency test is required for international students to get admission into Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard Kennedy School accepts IELTS, TOEFL.

Test name Required Score
IELTS 7.0
TOEFL 100

Ques. What is the Salary package of Harvard Kennedy School graduates?

Ans. Graduates from Harvard Kennedy School have shown a promising return on investment, with an average annual earning of 136,000 USD (1.1 crore INR). Graduates of HKS are recruited by many institutions such as the Government of India, Government of USA, World Bank, Amazon, Deloitte Consulting, Facebook, Google, etc. Here are the salaries of Harvard Kennedy School graduates pursuing high-paying jobs in USA:

Employers Range Average Salary (USD) Average Salary (INR)
Consulting 50,000 - 240,000 USD 150,000 1.25 crore
US Federal Government 53,065 - 170,000 USD 90,000 75 lakhs
Nonprofit and Non-governmental Organizations 30,000 - 360,000 USD 85,000 70.8 lakhs
Non US Government 20,000 - 135,000 USD 60,000 50 lakhs

Ques. What is the eligibility for admission to Harvard Kennedy School?

Ans. The eligibility criteria for admission to Harvard Kennedy School is mentioned in the following table:

Category Admission Requirements
Academic requirement Bachelor's degree
Required English proficiency test scores IELTS - 7.0 | TOEFL-iBT - 100
Standardized test scores GRE or GMAT (program specific)
Additional requirements Official transcripts | Essay | Resume | 3 LORs | Work experience (vary by program)

Ques. What is the tuition fee in Harvard Kennedy School?

Ans. The average tuition fee at Harvard Kennedy School ranges between 49,769 - 74,936 USD (41.4 lakhs - 62.4 lakhs INR), including additional fees. The approximation of certain expected expenses given below should help towards that end:

Expense Type Cost in USD Cost in INR
Tuition 37,369 - 59,316 31.1 lakhs - 49.4 lakhs
Student Activity Fee 220 18,335
Course Materials Fee 574 47,839
Student Health Fee 1,592 1.3 lakhs
Student Health Insurance Plan 4,202 3.5 lakhs
Math Seminar 2,120 1.7 lakhs
Mid-Career MPA Summer Program (Program Specific) 9,032 7.5 lakhs

Ques. Does Harvard Kennedy School provide scholarships for students?

Ans. International students at Harvard Kennedy School receive the same financial help as American students. In fact, about 30% of HKS students get some type of financial aid. International students are also eligible for some of these scholarships to study in the USA.

Scholarship Name Eligibility Award
George W. Mallinckrodt Fellowship MC/MPA admission Full tuition fee
Kennedy Fellowships and Presidential Scholarships Exceptional academic ability and professional distinction Varies based on financial need
Scott and Isabelle Black Fellowship Students in two-year degree programs Full tuition fee

Ques. Is there any application fee for applying to Harvard Kennedy School?

Ans. There is an application fee of 100 USD for applying to Harvard Kennedy School. For an Indian student, it is equivalent to 8,334 INR. Once you've paid your application fee, it is non-refundable.

2 years
On Campus
English
Full Time
Exam Scores: TOEFL100|IELTS7
INR 48.2 L/YrUSD 57,660 /Yr
2 years
On Campus
English
Full Time
Exam Scores: TOEFL100|IELTS7
INR 48.2 L/YrUSD 57,660 /Yr
1 year
On Campus
English
Full Time
Exam Scores: TOEFL100|IELTS7
INR 48.2 L/YrUSD 57,660 /Yr

Harvard Kennedy School Scholarships


NameScholarship Per StudentLevel of StudyType
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation ScholarshipsScholarship per student₹ 83.5 L/Yr$100,000Level Of StudyDoctorateTypeMerit-Based
Novus Biological Scholarship ProgramScholarship per student₹ 1.3 L/Yr$1,500Level Of StudyAssociateTypeMerit-Based
JN Tata Endowment ScholarshipScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyDoctorateTypeMerit-Based
Paul Foundation scholarshipsScholarship per student₹ 16.9 L/Yr$20,174Level Of StudyDiplomaTypeMerit-Based
STEM Scholarship for young womenScholarship per student₹ 12.5 L/Yr$15,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeNeed-Based
Liberty University Scholarships:Scholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeCollege-Specific

Harvard Kennedy School Admissions

  • Fall Admissions Deadlines

    Important Date: December3 (Application deadline)

Harvard Kennedy School Exam Scores

ExamsAvg. ScoreMin ScoreMax. Score%Submitted'
Graduate
GRE319.5299340-
Language Proficiency
TOEFL110100120-
IELTS879-

Attendance Cost

₹5,290,421

attendance cost

The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees

Tuition fees
Post Graduate Program
₹5,290,421 / Year
On Campus
Room and Board
₹1,477,154 / Year

Harvard Kennedy School Accreditations

Institutional accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Harvard Kennedy School Campus Location


+1-617-495-1100
Telephone
79 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Address

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