About Harvard
Those who venture here—to learn, research, teach, work, and grow—join nearly four centuries of students and scholars in the pursuit of truth, knowledge, and a better world.
The people of Harvard
What makes Harvard special are our people. Through continued efforts in inclusion and belonging, Harvard has built a community comprising many backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
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25,266
undergraduate and graduate students
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19,639
faculty and staff
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400k+
alumni worldwide
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Explore more data about our community with the Harvard Fact Book
Harvard leadership and governance is composed of four components:
The President
Claudine Gay, Harvard’s 30th president
Deans and Officers
Leading Harvard’s 15 Schools and many offices
Harvard Corporation
The oldest corporation in the Western Hemisphere
Board of Overseers
Alumni committed to Harvard’s missions and interests
The history of Harvard
Explore the history of our founding, our Nobel Prize winners, the honorary degrees we’ve awarded, and how our iconic shield was created.
On September 8, 1636, Harvard, the first college in the American colonies, was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard University was officially founded by a vote by the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Harvard’s endowment started with John Harvard’s initial donation of 400 books and half his estate, but in 1721, Thomas Hollis began the now standard practice of requiring that a donation be used for a specific purpose when he donated money for “a Divinity Professor, to read lectures in the Halls to the students.”
Native American history at Harvard
The education of Native Americans is woven into the long history of Harvard University. The Charter of 1650, which continues to govern Harvard, pledges the University to “the education of English and Indian youth.”
Women’s history at Harvard
As staff members, then as students and faculty, the women of Harvard paved the way for the next generation, and continue to carve new paths today.
African American history at Harvard
A complete look at Harvard’s Black history includes the dual legacies of slavery and discrimination along with pioneering moments of inclusion, equity, and empowerment.
The greater Harvard community
Harvard is dedicated to being a good neighbor to the communities we reside within, whether in Massachusetts or at one of our locations abroad.
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$3 million
in Harvard funding provided in support of affordable homeownership in Allston-Brighton through the All Bright Homeownership Program.
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650,000
visitors to Harvard museums each year
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22
locations abroad that link Harvard faculty and students to local academic institutions, government organizations, businesses, and communities
Local commitment
Harvard is dedicated to giving back to the places we call home.
Global perspective
We invite the world to pursue scholarship on our campus and in our research centers around the globe.