Harvard Extension School

Continuing Educationextension.harvard.edu

Harvard Extension School, one of 12 degree-granting schools at Harvard University since 1910, offers part-time undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, certificates, microcertificates, and individual courses to working adult learners globally through online and on-campus formats.

Company typePrivate
Founded1910
HeadquartersCambridge, United States
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What Harvard Extension School does

Harvard Extension School is one of 12 degree-granting schools at Harvard University and has operated since 1910 as part of the Harvard Division of Continuing Education (DCE). It provides part-time adult learners with access to Harvard-level education through online, evening, and on-campus formats, serving a global student body that includes working professionals, career changers, premedical students, and graduate degree candidates.

The school's curriculum is built on a stackable credential architecture spanning individual courses, microcertificates, undergraduate and graduate certificates, undergraduate degrees (ALB), graduate degrees (ALM), and a postbaccalaureate premedical program. Recent additions include an Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate, Professional Communications Certificate, and Social Justice Certificate, signaling a pivot toward in-demand vocational skills. Delivery is built on the Canvas learning management system with live virtual classroom sessions and on-demand recorded lectures (typically available within hours of class completion).

Revenue is generated primarily through tuition charged per course or per credit hour, with published rates of $1,560 (noncredit), $2,100 (undergraduate credit), and $3,340 (graduate credit) per standard 4-credit course, alongside microcertificate and degree program fees. The school operates as a nonprofit academic division of Harvard University, with no venture funding or external investment, and supports learners globally through a direct-to-consumer enrollment model via extension.harvard.edu and courses.dce.harvard.edu, subject to geographic restrictions on certain sanctioned jurisdictions.

Harvard Extension School firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Harvard Extension School
Legal name: Harvard Extension School (Division of Continuing Education, Harvard University)
Website: https://extension.harvard.edu
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1910
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Short description: Harvard Extension School, one of 12 degree-granting schools at Harvard University since 1910, offers part-time undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, certificates, microcertificates, and individual courses to working adult learners globally through online and on-campus formats.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Harvard Extension School industry classification

Industry

Product category: Continuing Education
NAICS: Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (61)
SIC: Services-Educational Services (8200)
akta.pro primary industry: University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB), Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), Retention, Persistence & Completion Programs (EDALABAD)

Keywords

Continuing education
Adult learning programs
Graduate certificates
Undergraduate degrees
Professional development

Where Harvard Extension School is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Cambridge
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

Harvard Extension School business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

Tuition Revenue: Harvard Extension School generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged per course or by credit hour. Course fees vary by credit type: noncredit ($1,560), undergraduate credit ($2,100), and graduate credit ($3,340) for standard 4-credit courses.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Noncredit courses
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Undergraduate credit courses
Subscription	Pay-as-you-go	Graduate credit courses

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Harvard Extension School product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Harvard Extension School provides part-time continuing-education programs including undergraduate and graduate degrees, graduate and undergraduate certificates, microcertificates, individual noncredit and credit courses, and a premedical postbaccalaureate program. Offerings are delivered in online, on-campus evening, and hybrid formats and are designed for working adults who want a Harvard credential.

Product overview

Harvard Extension School is one of 12 degree-granting schools at Harvard University, offering a comprehensive portfolio of continuing education programs since 1910. The institution provides a flexible pathway architecture consisting of undergraduate and graduate degrees (ALB and ALM programs), graduate and undergraduate certificates, microcertificates, individual courses, and a premedical program. Programs are designed for part-time adult learners and offered online, in the evenings, and at the learner's own pace. Core offerings include graduate certificates in fields like Artificial Intelligence, Professional Communications, Social Justice, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The school supplements its academic programs with student support services including career services, academic advising, accessibility services, and library access. The portfolio is unified through Harvard's brand and DCE infrastructure while maintaining distinct credential tiers that allow students to stack microcertificates into certificates and ultimately into full degrees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Graduate Degrees

Companies that use Harvard Extension School

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Harvard Extension School technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Harvard Extension School partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Harvard Extension School competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Emerging players

edX (2U): Online learning platform offering university-partnered degrees, certificates, and courses, including Harvard-specific content. Direct competitor in the online prestige-credential space.
Coursera: Online platform partnering with universities (including Ivy League schools) to offer certificates, degrees, and courses globally. Competes with HES on price, format flexibility, and global reach.

Direct peers

Georgetown School of Continuing Studies: Georgetown's continuing education school offering certificates and professional programs. Comparable in delivering continuing education under a major university brand.
Columbia University School of General Studies: Columbia's continuing and professional education college for nontraditional/adult learners, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Direct structural analog to HES at another Ivy League institution.
Stanford Continuing Studies: Stanford's continuing education program offering courses, certificates, and degrees for adult learners. Most direct peer in terms of prestige-brand extension school structure.
Penn LPS (College of Liberal and Professional Studies): University of Pennsylvania's school for part-time adult learners, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with flexible formats. Direct Ivy League continuing education peer.
NYU School of Professional Studies (SPS): NYU's school dedicated to part-time adult learners, offering degrees, certificates, and continuing education. Mirrors HES's model of prestige-university continuing education with flexible formats.
University of Chicago Graham School: UChicago's continuing and professional education division offering certificates, courses, and select degree programs. Comparable Ivy-plus-tier continuing education model.
UC Berkeley Extension: Berkeley's continuing education arm offering certificates, courses, and select degrees to adult learners. Direct analog as a major research university's extension/continuing education division.

Broad incumbents

MIT Professional Education: MIT's professional and executive education arm offering short courses and certificates. Overlaps with HES's professional/continuing education focus but with a STEM-and-executive emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Harvard Extension School compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance2 records

Harvard Extension School financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Harvard Extension School leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Harvard Extension School subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries3 records

Harvard Extension School funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Harvard Extension School M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harvard Extension School

What does Harvard Extension School do?

Is Harvard Extension School a public or private company?

Harvard Extension School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was Harvard Extension School founded?

Harvard Extension School was founded in 1910. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is Harvard Extension School based?

Harvard Extension School is headquartered in Cambridge, United States, in the North America region.

How does Harvard Extension School make money?

One revenue line is on record: tuition Revenue.

Who are Harvard Extension School's main competitors?

Emerging players on record are edX (2U) and Coursera. Direct peers are Georgetown School of Continuing Studies, Columbia University School of General Studies, Stanford Continuing Studies, Penn LPS (College of Liberal and Professional Studies), NYU School of Professional Studies (SPS), University of Chicago Graham School and UC Berkeley Extension. MIT Professional Education is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does Harvard Extension School have an API?

No public API is recorded for Harvard Extension School.

What industry is Harvard Extension School in?

Harvard Extension School's product category is Continuing Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAEAA, University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHALAB, Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.