ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø

In 2023, 688 graduates left Harvard Kennedy School for professional destinations spanning the globe, eager to apply their talents to the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø mission of building communities that are safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous.

Our graduates did so in a world that, while largely recovered from the COVID pandemic, wrestled with new and emerging economic, political, and social challenges. They fanned out to address them, lending their talents to public, private, and nonprofit organizations in service of a better world.

Many entered positions focused on climate change, technology, community economic development, and international development. More entered government and intergovernmental organizations than in recent years, while private sector employment fell. 

Their story is one of continued impact on the lives of others. We are proud to share it with you.

Read about each degree program

• Master in Public Policy
• Master in Public Administration/International Development
• Master in Public Administration
• Mid-Career Master in Public Administration
• Combined Degrees

Graduates by Degree Program

Graduates' Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment by Sector

Settled Graduates Reporting Employment

Knowledge rate: The ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Office of Career Advancement (OCA) collected data from November 2022-2023 using a variety of techniques, including an exit survey and follow-up survey, individual email inquiries, and publicly available sources.

Settled refers to those who are employed, pursuing further education, running for office, or not seeking employment.

Employed refers to those who started a job with a new employer, are returning to a previous employer, self-employed, or launching a new venture. Of the 88% graduates settled, 84% were employed (55% with a new employer; 23% returning to their pre-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø employer; 4% launching new ventures; and 2% self-employed); 2% were continuing their education; 1% were running for office; and 1% were not seeking employment.

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The two-year Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program prepares students to understand complex global and local policy problems and construct concrete solutions.

Through courses, exercises, and fieldwork, MPPs master a conceptual tool kit that draws on the social sciences but is adapted for action. They arrive at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø committed to improving the world and equip themselves by developing broad-spectrum analytic competency. This translates into intellectual honesty, a hunger for evidence, and the capacity to extract answerable questions from the messy clutter of real-world public problems.

Highlights for the MPP Class of 2023*

• 53% had 3+ years of professional experience before entering ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø
• 73% took on new jobs with new employers, 10% returned to their previous employers, and 2% launched new ventures
• Nearly all MPPs took up summer internships in policy areas, including the U.S. federal government, state/local/regional governments, and nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations

*of reporting

MPP Class of 2023 Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment by Sector

Unspecified employment sector is 3 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.

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The two-year Master in Public Administration/International Development (MPA/ID) Program trains the next generation of leaders in international development.

This economics-centered multidisciplinary program provides meticulous training in analytic and quantitative methods with an emphasis on policy and practice. MPA/IDs demonstrate talent in economics and quantitative analysis as well as leadership potential in international development. Most have at least three years of development-related work experience before coming to ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, typically in developing or transitional economy countries.

 Highlights for the MPA/ID Class of 2023

• Of the class, 86% came to ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø from countries and territories outside of the United States
• Of those reporting, 86% had at least three years of professional experience before entering ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø
• Of those employed, 37% returned to their home countries

 MPA/ID Class of 2023 Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment by Sector

Unspecified employment sector is 1 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.

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The two-year Master in Public Administration (MPA) Program equips professionals for positions of significant responsibility in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.

Before coming to ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, students demonstrate academic distinction, professional accomplishment and promise, graduate-level training, and at least three years of work experience. MPAs have significant latitude in designing their academic experience and take courses in a range of disciplines. Many pursue concurrent degrees in business, law, medicine, design, or another field with our partner institutions, including other schools at Harvard.

Highlights for the MPA Class of 2023

• Of those reporting, 75% had 3+ years of professional experience as they entered ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø
• Of those employed, 36% accepted positions in government, intergovernmental, or nonprofit organizations while 59% joined the private sector
• 11 graduates launched new ventures

 MPA Class of 2023 Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment by Sector

Unspecified employment sector is 5 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.

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The one-year Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) Program trains highly accomplished mid-career professionals to learn how to tackle the world’s most complex public challenges.

MC/MPAs hone their skills, redefine their career goals, and pursue specialized interests through a flexible curriculum either at ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø, other Harvard graduate schools, or schools in the Boston area. They come from professions in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, and many become heads of state, cabinet ministers, military officers, diplomats, journalists, chief executives, and nongovernmental organization directors.

Highlights for the MC/MPA Class of 2023

• Of those reporting, 42% returned to their previous organizations either by preference or contract/prior agreement
• Of those employed, 72% accepted positions in the public sector or with nonprofit/nongovernmental organizations
• Many took up leadership roles in emerging areas such as climate change, technology, environmental sustainability, and community economic development    

 MC/MPA Class of 2023 Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment by Sector

Unspecified employment sector is 8 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.

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The two-year MPP, MPA/ID, and MPA programs allow a combined (joint or concurrent) degree track for students to earn a second graduate degree—an MBA, MD, or JD, for example—from a professional school either at Harvard or at a partner academic institution.

Twenty-six percent of the Class of 2023 two-year graduates earned a combined degree.

Post-ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Employment Sector Comparison