Everything You Need to Know About Discounts and Financial Assistance for Harvard Online Courses

Eligible learners can receive 30% off select Harvard Online courses through several discount programs, including:

• Harvard Online’s Past Participant Discount
• HarvardX Past Participant Discount
• Discounts for eligible nonprofit, government, military, and education employees

Additional opportunities including free course audits, financial assistance, installment plans, and customized organizational pricing, may be available depending on the course and platform.

Because discounts cannot be applied after payment has been submitted, we recommend reviewing the available programs and confirming your eligibility before completing your enrollment.

Save 30% on Select Harvard Online Courses

Harvard Online offers several ways for eligible learners to receive a 30% discount on select courses. Although the qualifying requirements differ, these programs make it easier for returning participants, HarvardX certificate earners, and professionals working in certain sectors to continue their learning.

Past Harvard Online Participant Discount

Learners who have previously enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online course may be eligible to receive 30% off each subsequent qualifying Harvard Online course enrollment.

You do not need to complete the first course or earn a certificate to become eligible. However, the discount does not apply to your first qualifying course purchase. Eligibility begins after the withdrawal deadline for that first course has passed, generally 24 hours after the course materials become available.

To receive Past Participant Pricing, you must:

1. Have previously enrolled in a qualifying Harvard Online course.
2. Wait until the withdrawal deadline for that course has passed.
3. Log in using the same account when enrolling in your next qualifying course.
4. Confirm that the discounted price appears before submitting payment.

The discount should be applied automatically during enrollment. It cannot be added or refunded after payment has been submitted. If the discount is not automatically applied, contact our support team.

Past HarvardX Participant Discount

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the edX platform may also be eligible to receive 30% off a qualifying Harvard Online course.

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

Most qualifying Harvard Online courses also offer a 30% discount for eligible learners who work in nonprofit organizations, government, the military, or education.

Eligibility is generally determined using a professional or organizational email address ending in:

• .org
• .gov
• .mil
• .edu

Interested learners must apply for the discount before enrolling. If approved, they will receive a promotional code to enter when completing their payment information.

Discounts cannot be added after payment has been submitted, so apply and confirm your eligibility before enrolling.

Courses Eligible for Harvard Online Discounts

The following courses currently qualify for the Past Harvard Online Participant and Past HarvardX Participant discounts:

• Adaptability, Resilience, and AI
• Adaptive Leadership
• Agentic AI Foundations: Business Applications and Risks
• Big Data for Social Good
• Building a Winning Mindset: Flexibility and Resiliency at Work
• Cultivating Power for Positive Impact
• Data Science for Business
• Data Science and AI Principles
• Data Privacy and Technology
• Digital Health
• Disagreeing Productively and Collaborating Well
• Effective Writing for Greater Impact
• Financial Analysis and Valuation for Lawyers
• Health Care Economics
• Health Care Strategy
• How to Bring the Real You to Work: Authenticity, Connection, and Identity
• Innovation Strategy: Tools and Frameworks for Business
• Innovations for Teamwork in Health Care
• Make Better Decisions: The Psychology of Blind Spots for Leaders and Teams
• Open Innovation
• Purpose, Perspective, and Persuasion
• Reducing Racial Disparities in Health Care
• Storytelling as Strategy: Narrative and AI
• Strategy Execution for Public Leadership
• Tech Ethics: Critical Thinking in the Age of Apps, Algorithms, and AI

The selection of courses eligible for nonprofit, government, military, and education discounts may differ. Visit the Course Policies and Discounts page to confirm current eligibility and access the appropriate application for your course.

Important Harvard Online Discount Policies

Before enrolling, keep the following terms in mind:

• Discounts cannot be applied after payment has been submitted.
• Only one discount may be used per order.
• Discounts cannot be combined with scholarships, financial assistance, or other promotional offers.
• Learners enrolling through a corporate learning package are not eligible for individual discounts.
• A discount may not carry over if a learner defers from an eligible course cohort to a non-eligible cohort.
• Deferrals remain subject to Harvard Online’s standard program policies.
• Discounts cannot be redeemed for cash, transferred, or sold.
• Offers are void where prohibited by law.
• Eligibility, participating courses, and offer terms are subject to change.

Review the complete Course Policies and Discounts information before submitting payment to make sure the appropriate discount appears in your order.

edX-Hosted Courses

For courses hosted on the edX platform, learners may have two additional ways to reduce the cost of learning: auditing eligible courses for free or applying for financial assistance for a verified certificate.

Audit Select Courses for Free

Many HarvardX courses available through edX can be audited at no cost. Auditing allows you to explore the course and learn from its core materials without paying a course fee.

The audit experience may not include every graded activity or feature available through the paid certificate track, and learners who audit a course do not receive a verified certificate of completion. Depending on the course and enrollment period, you may have the option to upgrade to the paid certificate track later.

Apply for edX Financial Assistance

Learners who want to pursue a verified certificate but cannot afford the full fee may be able to apply for financial assistance through edX.

Financial assistance may substantially reduce the cost of an eligible verified certificate course or professional certificate program. Applications and eligibility decisions are administered by edX, so learners should review the current edX Financial Assistance policies and application instructions before enrolling.

HarvardX learners who earn a verified certificate may also become eligible for the 30% Past HarvardX Participant Discount on qualifying Harvard Online courses.

GetSmarter-Hosted Courses

Learners enrolling in select Harvard Online courses hosted on the GetSmarter platform may be able to spread the full course fee across multiple payments.

Depending on your location, your payment plan may be administered through EdAid or through GetSmarter’s internal installment-payment option. Available plans, payment schedules, and terms vary, but course fees may generally be divided into two to six installments.

A payment plan does not reduce the total course fee, but it can make the cost more manageable by distributing payments over time. Review the GetSmarter Finance FAQs for current options and terms.

Learning Options for Organizations

Teams and organizations can also work directly with Harvard Online to create flexible learning experiences for groups.

Organizational offerings may include:

• Flexible and scalable pricing
• Enrollment and timing flexibility
• Harvard Online certificates of completion
• Access to Harvard faculty-led course content

Participants enrolling through a corporate learning package are not eligible for individual Harvard Online discounts. Organizations interested in group learning should connect with the Harvard Online team to discuss available programs and pricing.

Find the Right Option Before You Enroll

Your available discount or financial-assistance options will depend on the course, hosting platform, employment sector, and previous Harvard Online or HarvardX participation.

Before completing your enrollment:

1. Confirm which platform hosts your course.
2. Review the current list of qualifying courses.
3. Determine whether you are eligible for a past-participant or employment-sector discount.
4. Apply for any required promotional code.
5. Log in to the correct account.
6. Confirm that the discount appears before submitting payment.

Visit the Harvard Online Course Policies and Discounts page for current eligibility requirements, participating courses, application links, and complete offer terms.

With multiple discounts and financial-assistance options available, your next Harvard Online learning experience may be more accessible than you think.