“Harvard’s work begins right here in Massachusetts. The University is fortunate to benefit from the extraordinary capacities and strengths of the region. Extensive partnerships throughout the Commonwealth enable us to advance our mission—from the teaching that happens every day on our campus to the groundbreaking discoveries that hold the promise of a better future. We are emboldened to seek answers to the greatest questions facing humanity, in part, because we are embedded in one of the greatest innovation ecosystems in the world.”
Alan Garber
President of Harvard University
Harvard Students and Employees from Massachusetts
With thousands of students, employees, and alumni from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Harvard University plays an important role in supporting the region through campus-born research and innovation, financial aid for Massachusetts residents, employment and local spending, and community-serving
programs and partnerships.
Harvard Students and Employees from Massachusetts
| MA County | Employees | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire, Dukes, Franklin, Hampden, Nantucket | 65 | 95 |
| Barnstable | 66 | 79 |
| Bristol | 197 | 97 |
| Essex | 906 | 299 |
| Hampshire | 33 | 44 |
| Middlesex | 10,828 | 5,655 |
| Norfolk | 2,184 | 976 |
| Plymouth | 447 | 170 |
| Suffolk | 3,767 | 2,411 |
| Worcester | 424 | 209 |
|
Employee Data: September 2024 | Student Population Data: 2023 – 2024 Academic Year
|
||
Supporting Massachusetts Residents Through Employment
Harvard is one of Massachusetts’ largest employers leading a dynamic nonprofit sector that anchors and fuels the regional economy. Employees hail from across the Commonwealth and benefit from competitive pay and industry-leading benefits. To help employees advance in their careers, the University provides leadership and skills training through its Center for Workforce Development and the ability to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree from a Harvard school for a fraction of the cost through tuition assistance programs.
19,639
Massachusetts residents directly employed by Harvard
5TH
Largest employer of Massachusetts residents
$2.7B
Wages, salaries, and benefits paid to Massachusetts residents in FY24
1,000+
Participants in Harvard Ed Portal’s Workforce Development Program in FY24
Powering the Regional Economy
The University’s operations and research activities have a critical impact on the local economy, supporting businesses small and large across the Commonwealth. Harvard’s research enterprise fuels an ecosystem that attracts hundreds of millions in funding to the state. This goes to support salaries and wages for Massachusetts residents, purchasing from local businesses, and the advancement of scientific discoveries that contribute to the public good.
Supporting Local Businesses
Harvard Spending in Construction, Supplies, and Services in FY24
$1.6B
Spent in Massachusetts
$825M
Spent in Boston
$134M
Spent in Cambridge
Research Impact
Ecosystem of Innovation
Harvard is at the heart of Massachusetts’ unique ecosystem of innovation. The University’s research enterprise, coupled with its affiliated teaching hospitals and sister institutions, create a powerhouse for attracting funding and generating early stage ideas, driving innovation, discovering cures, and building the regional economy.
5,800+
Patents held by Harvard as of July 2024
3,700+
Ventures launched through Harvard Innovation Labs in past decade
160+
Startups launched
around Harvard research
innovations in the past
decade
Companies Launched Around Harvard Technologies
Partnering to Address Regional Issues
Whether in collaboration with local nonprofits or government, Harvard is an active partner around some of the region’s most pressing challenges. These partnerships represent another extension of the University’s nonprofit mission and a shared vision of community.
Affordable Housing
To address the housing affordability crisis, Harvard has committed $20 million to help create and preserve affordable housing in greater Boston through a partnership with three nonprofit lending organizations.
7,000+
Units of affordable housing have been created or preserved in the past 20 years in greater Boston through the Harvard Local Housing Collaborative
Expanding Access to Education
Harvard is deeply committed to expanding access to education and eliminating economic obstacles for students attending college.
2023 – 2024 Academic Year
$26.7M
In scholarships awarded to Harvard College students from Massachusetts
1,098
Massachusetts students enrolled in Harvard College
10,035
Students from Massachusetts at Harvard
3,693
Massachusetts residents enrolled in coursework at Harvard Extension School
Spotlights
Harvard Law School Clinical & Pro Bono Programs
One of the largest providers of free legal services in New England, Harvard Law School’s Clinical and Pro Bono Programs serve hundreds of Massachusetts residents across the state on a wide range of legal issues, including housing, immigration, and government benefits.
LabXchange
A free digital learning platform designed to support classroom learning and to bring the scientific process to life, LabXchange helps to expand access to STEM education and promote students’ exploration of STEM careers.
