Use our Student Budget Calculator to map out your finances for the academic year.
At Harvard Kennedy School, we apply a “modest but livable” standard when determining the student budget or cost of attendance. We estimate your living expenses will be about $2,900 per month. This may require you to live more modestly, have roommates, and cook more meals at home.
The student budget applies to the current academic year.
Academic Year Timeline
Use the following time frames to calculate your living expenses for the academic year:
| MPP, MPA/ID, and MPA students | 9-month academic year (late August-May) |
| MC/MPA students | 10-month academic year (July-May) |
| MC/MPA Mason students | 10-month academic year (July-May) |
Student Budget Calculator
Expenses
We realize you may incur expenses before the academic year gets underway, but they cannot be included in your cost of attendance. For example, if a two-year student has a lease with beginning in July, the student's July and August rent payments cannot be included in the cost of attendance.
The following list details expenses that can and cannot be included in your cost of attendance.
Included |
Not Included |
| Tuition and fees | Credit card payments |
| Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) | Dependent care, excluding child day care |
| HUHS Student Health Fee (SHF) | Expenses before the academic year |
| vlog activity fee | Gym memberships |
| Books and supplies | Smartphones, iPads, tablets |
| Child day care | Travel unrelated to coursework |
| Food | |
| Local travel, excluding car/car insurance payments | |
| Personal computer for coursework | |
| Rent | |
| Unreimbursed medical expenses (from academic year) |