Application Fee Waived Automatically for Those Making $65,000 or Less
We believe that your financial circumstances should never prevent you from applying to, being admitted to, or attending our MBA program.
If you are applying to HBS in the 2023-2024 application cycle (Round 1 or Round 2) and your annual income at your current or most recent place of employment is $65,000 USD or less, the need-based application fee waiver will automatically apply.
If you do not automatically qualify, you may still submit a need-based waiver request form due to financial hardship once you have started your application. The fee waiver request must be submitted two weeks before the application round deadline in which you are applying, and you will receive a response to your fee waiver request before the application deadline. (If your fee waiver request is not approved, you are expected to pay the $250 application fee by the round deadline in order to be considered.)
Please note, admission to HBS is need-blind, which means we do not take your financial circumstances into account when making an admissions decision. Information collected in the fee waiver request process is not shared with the MBA Admissions Board. Read more about the application fee waiver process here.
The HBS MBA Application is Now Open!
We just opened the application for the MBA Class of 2026 (enrolling in fall 2024). Start an application here or download an application guide. The Round 1 deadline is September 6, 2023 and the Round 2 deadline is January 3, 2024.
We encourage prospective Class of 2026 applicants to check out upcoming virtual events including Demystifying the MBA Application, Q&A with Current HBS Students, and Applying to HBS as a Reapplicant. Once you start an application, you will also have access to sign up for small-group Application Help Sessions hosted by a member of the HBS Admissions team.
We look forward to connecting with you soon. Good luck!
Harvard University Leadership Statements on the Supreme Court Decision
"Today, the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. The Court held that Harvard College’s admissions system does not comply with the principles of the equal protection clause embodied in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The Court also ruled that colleges and universities may consider in admissions decisions 'an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise.' We will certainly comply with the Court’s decision.
"We write today to reaffirm the fundamental principle that deep and transformative teaching, learning, and research depend upon a community comprising people of many backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences. That principle is as true and important today as it was yesterday. So too are the abiding values that have enabled us—and every great educational institution—to pursue the high calling of educating creative thinkers and bold leaders, of deepening human knowledge, and of promoting progress, justice, and human flourishing."
Read Full Statement from Harvard University Leadership, Including HBS Dean Srikant Datar
"A few hours ago, the Supreme Court issued its decision in our admissions case—a decision that carries weight not only for Harvard as an institution, but for many of us as individuals. Today is a hard day, and if you are feeling the gravity of that, I want you to know you’re not alone. Please take a moment to watch my message"
Watch Video Message from Harvard President-Elect Claudine Gay
2023-2024 Application Updates + GMAT Policy
Calling all prospective MBA students who want to enroll at HBS for fall 2024, i.e. the Class of 2026. The application deadlines to apply are set: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 (Round 1) and Wednesday, January 3, 2024 (Round 2). You can learn more about the application process here.
A few things to keep in mind:
- The MBA application will open in summer 2023, but you can start preparing now by downloading the Application Guide or watching the Application Tips Videos.
- The essay prompt will remain the same as last year with a 900-word limit: “As we review your application, what more would you like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Harvard Business School MBA program?”
- To minimize confusion across Round 1 and Round 2 in this year’s MBA application, we will only accept the traditional GMAT exam or the GRE. We will not accept the new GMAT Focus exam as it will not be available until after this year’s Round 1 deadline. As a reminder, test scores are valid for five years from the test date, so rest assured that your scores from the traditional GMAT exam will continue to be accepted into the future.
- For those applying to 2+2 in 2024, we plan to accept the GMAT Focus and will provide further updates when available. The 2+2 application deadline is Thursday, April 25, 2024.
We are already looking forward to getting to know you and encourage you to get to know HBS at one of our upcoming virtual or in-person events this summer!