Harvard Kennedy School’s Class of 2021 navigated a professional landscape—still uncertain but starting to show signs of recovery and opportunity—as the COVID-19 pandemic continued in its second year.
Primed with new skills and broadened perspectives, these graduates searched across the globe for their next professional landing spots. Their goal: to leverage their talents in ways that help people live in communities that are safe, free, just, and sustainably prosperous.
They succeeded, securing positions at the highest rate in recent years.
As you will see in the report that follows, the Class of 2021 found employment in a range of industries, sectors, policy areas, and geographies. For many, the effects of the pandemic on people, communities, and organizations created new types of opportunities.
2021 reinforced the need for talented public leaders being shaped at HKS.
Here is their story.
- Master in Public Policy (MPP)
- Master in Public Administration / International Development (MPA/ID)
- Master in Public Administration (MPA)
- Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA)
- Combined Degree (Joint and Concurrent)
- Employment Sector Comparisons
OUR PROCESS
The HKS Office of Career Advancement (OCA) collected data from March through October 2021 using a variety of techniques, including an exit survey and follow-up survey in October, individual email inquiries, and publicly available sources. Employment information on 90 percent of the Class of 2021 May graduates is represented this year.
Numbers in this report have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.
The Class of 2021 pursued public service careers across sectors, policy areas, and industries. They took on roles in a range of areas, including government, nonprofit work and nongovernmental organizations, strategy and economic consulting, education, and advocacy. And they reported the top factors in choosing their first post-HKS roles were potential for professional and personal growth, prior agreement with their employers, contribution to the public good, and the right fit for their skills and experience.
Continue reading to learn more about this talented class.
Graduates by Degree Program
Graduates' Post-HKS Employment by Sector
398 Graduates
| 169 | Master in Public Policy (MPP) |
| 42 | Master in Public Administration / International Development (MPA/ID) |
| 46 | Master in Public Administration (MPA) |
| 141 | Mid-Career Master in Public Administration (MC/MPA) |
| Public and IGO | 37% |
| National / Federal Government | 25% |
| State / Provincial Government | 5% |
| City / Local / Regional Government | 2% |
| IGO | 5% |
| Private | 43% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 19% |
| Unspecified | 1% |
Note: 91 percent of graduates were employed and 7 percent were running for office, launching new ventures, or continuing their education by the end of October 2021.
Some top destinations for the class
U.S. Federal Government
The U.S. federal government continues to be the top employer of our graduates. 49 are working in the U.S. federal government in 15 departments and agencies while 41 percent are transitioning into the U.S. federal government.
International Government
38 graduates accepted roles in non-U.S. governments across the globe, including 25 national governments, 5 state/regional, and 2 city governments.
Nonprofit and Nongovernmental Organizations
61 graduates engaged in domestic and international nonprofit work, addressing: education, natural resource governance, racial equity, election law, climate change, worker rights, technology, housing, malnutrition, agriculture innovation, youth leadership development, women's economic empowerment, healthcare, misinformation, criminal justice, and infrastructure.
Consulting
60 graduates joined 26 strategy and economic consulting firms in 9 countries, advising on topics as wide-ranging as: infrastructure, digital transformation, behavioral insights, health equity, manufacturing, socioeconomic determinants of health, capital markets regulation, social impact, and sustainability/Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).
Top 7 industry destinations
| Government / Military / IGO / International Development | 120 |
| Consulting / Advisory (combined private and public) | 60 |
| Finance / Financial Technology (FinTech) | 31 |
| Education | 27 |
| Technology / Science | 26 |
| Advocacy / Public Interest | 11 |
| Healthcare | 7 |
| Law / Legal Services | 7 |
| Research, including think tanks | 7 |
| Energy / Utilities | 7 |
Our Graduates' Salaries
It is an inexact exercise to give an accurate picture of the salaries our graduates earn after attending Harvard Kennedy School. Averages and medians cannot tell the full story.
Our graduates are incredibly diverse—from the skills, interests, and professional experiences they have, to where they live and work. Our team works one-on-one with students to navigate their unique situations and help clarify salary expectations and negotiate job offers.
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 HKS 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.
MPP Class of 2021 Post-HKS Employment by Sector
Unspecified employment sector is 1 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.
Employment Sector 10-Year Comparison: 2013 – 2021
| Public | 30% |
| National / Federal Government | 21% |
| State / Provincial Government | 6% |
| City / Local / Regional Government | 3% |
| Private | 44% |
| IGO | 1% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 24% |
| Unspecified | 1% |
| 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public and IGO | 39% | 39% | 31% | 26% | 31% |
| Private | 34% | 27% | 34% | 39% | 44% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 26% | 33% | 34% | 32% | 24% |
| Unspecified | 1% | 1% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
City of Detroit, MI
City of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
City of Somerville, MA
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Federal Court of Appeal (Canada)**
Global Affairs Canada
Government of Australia
Government of Republic of Korea
Government of Thailand
Massachusetts Clean Energy Center
State of Colorado Supreme Court**
State of Connecticut**
State of New Mexico
State of Texas, Harris County
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Congress
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Justice**
U.S. Department of State
U.S. District Court for Central District of California**
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska**
U.S. Navy
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission**
U.S. Senate
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy on Climate
University of California, San Francisco**
World Bank
World Food Programme
**combined degree
Advancing Justice—Asian Law Caucus
Asociación Latinoamericana de Internet
Bridgespan Group
Campaign Legal Center**
Center for American Progress
Clean Air Task Force
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute**
Defender Association of Philadelphia
Democracy Corps
FSG
GenUnity* **
Government Performance Lab
Jobs for the Future
JP Morgan Chase
Open Government Partnership
Pew Charitable Trusts
Rebuild Congress Initiative
RMI
Teach for America
The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative
Vocal Justice* **
World Wildlife Fund
*new venture
**combined degree
A.T. Kearney**
Amazon**
Amazon Web Services
Anduril Industries**
Avangrid**
Avangrid Renewables
Behavioural Insights Team
Berkshire Partners**
Boston Consulting Group**
Bridgewater Associates**
Carta**
Catalist
Convoy**
Covington & Burling LLP**
Dalberg Advisors
Deloitte**
Developing World Markets
Emergent
Enel X North America**
Ernst & Young (EY)
Ford Motor Company
Goldman Sachs**
Google**
Grubhub
Guidehouse**
Jamestown LP**
LifeLabs Learning
Mathematica Policy Research
McKinsey & Company**
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
Oak Street Health**
Optum**
Politico
Popolopen Group* **
Rebel
Sendwave
Serengeti Asset Management
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates**
Snorkel AI**
Sustainable Energy Advantage
t.ai lab**
Touchdown Ventures**
Twitter**
Vanguard
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz**
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP**
WestExec Advisors
*new venture
**combined degree
Boston Medical Center**
Duke University Hospital**
Emory University School of Medicine**
Harvard Kennedy School
Mount Sinai Hospital**
University of Chicago
University of Oxford
University of Pennsylvania
**combined degree
The two-year Master in Public Administration in 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 HKS, typically in developing or transitional economy countries.
MPA/ID Class of 2021 Post-HKS Employment by Sector
Unspecified employment sector is 3 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.
Employment Sector 10-Year Comparison: 2013 – 2021
| Public | 22% |
| National / Federal Government | 22% |
| State / Provincial Government | 0% |
| City / Local / Regional Government | 0% |
| Private | 40% |
| IGO | 13% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 22% |
| Unspecified | 3% |
| 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public and IGO | 39% | 48% | 38% | 34% | 35% |
| Private | 44% | 31% | 31% | 33% | 40% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 17% | 21% | 31% | 33% | 22% |
| Unspecified | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Three (ASEAN+3)
Banco de México
Bank of Japan
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
Government of Costa Rica
Government of India
Government of Mexico
Government of Peru
Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB) Invest
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Mubadala Investment Company
World Bank
Center for Financial Inclusion
Commonwealth Corporation
Darsel* **
Harvard Kennedy School
IMAGO Global Grassroots
Innovations for Poverty Action
University of California, Los Angeles
*new venture
**combined degree
Amazon
Blackstone**
Churpy, Inc.*
Google**
JP Morgan Chase**
Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Trust (MassPRIM)
McKinsey & Company**
Neuberger Berman**
Oliver Wyman
Ormonde Advisory Ltd
Theory and Practice
Vivid Economics
*new venture
**combined degree
TechCharge* **
*new venture
**combined degree
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 HKS, 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.
MPA Class of 2021 Post-HKS Employment by Sector
Unspecified employment sector is 0 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.
Employment Sector 10-Year Comparison: 2013 – 2021
| Public | 8% |
| National / Federal Government | 8% |
| State / Provincial Government | 0% |
| City / Local / Regional Government | 0% |
| Private | 90% |
| IGO | 0% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 2% |
| Unspecified | 0% |
| 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public and IGO | 17% | 18% | 16% | 13% | 8% |
| Private | 63% | 53% | 72% | 78% | 90% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 14% | 23% | 11% | 5% | 2% |
| Unspecified | 6% | 6% | 1% | 4% | 0% |
Government of Japan
U.S. Department of Defense
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Accenture**
Autonomous Inc. **
Bain & Company**
Bank of America**
Boston Consulting Group**
Deloitte**
Empower**
FinTech Collaborative* **
Google**
Iterative Scopes
Jefferies**
Kijamii
McKinsey & Company**
Morgan Stanley**
Norton Healthcare
Sports Innovation Lab**
TCG**
Thiozen Inc.* **
Twitter
*new venture
**combined degree
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 HKS, 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.
MC/MPA Class of 2021 Post-HKS Employment by Sector
Unspecified employment sector is 2 percent. Numbers have been rounded up/down when necessary to help simplify reporting.
Employment Sector 10-Year Comparison: 2013 – 2021
| Public | 50% |
| National / Federal Government | 39% |
| State / Provincial Government | 8% |
| City / Local / Regional Government | 3% |
| Private | 25% |
| IGO | 6% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 17% |
| Unspecified | 2% |
| 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public and IGO | 48% | 53% | 54% | 49% | 56% |
| Private | 25% | 26% | 23% | 21% | 25% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 25% | 16% | 21% | 24% | 17% |
| Unspecified | 2% | 5% | 2% | 6% | 2% |
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court
City of Boston, MA
City of Richmond Hill, GA
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Comptroller and Auditor General of India
European Commission
Government of Angola
Government of Cross River State of Nigeria
Government of Ghana
Government of India
Government of Liberia
Government of Maharashtra, India
Government of Nigeria, Kaduna State Government
Government of Philippines
Government of Republic of Azerbaijan
Government of Singapore
Government of South Africa
Government of the City of Buenos Aires
Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Government of Tunisia
Inter-American Development Bank
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Mubadala Investment Company
Pauma Unified School District
United Nations
U.S. Agency for International Development
U.S. Air Force
U.S. Army
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of State
U.S. Export–Import Bank of the United States
U.S. Navy
U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy
State of Colorado National Guard
World Bank Group
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Brookings Institution
Invisible Hands Deliver
Millennium Campus Network (MCN)
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority
Nutrition International
Pearls Africa Foundation
Península Institute
Result for Development Institute
Society of Jesus
University of California, Los Angeles
The Apprentice Project
360 Privacy
Amazon
Black Rock Group
Boston Globe
Colvin Run Networks*
Credit Suisse
Deloitte
Disaster Technologies
Edelman
Goldman Sachs
Google
Hyundai Motor Company
International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory and Institute (IDFL)
McKinsey & Company
Meeting House Capital, LLC*
Orange Digital Solutions*
Parkland
Parreno Bolastig Munsayac Law Firm*
PE Firm
PwC
ScaleAI
Siemens Energy
Spear AI
SustainaMENA*
Targus Management Consulting
The California Bridge*
Yunus Social Business
*new venture
Harvard Kennedy School
Harvard University
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.
39 percent of the Class of 2021 graduates in a two-year program earned a combined degree.
Class of 2021 Post-HKS Employment Sector Comparison
Sole HKS Degree Graduates
| Public and IGO | 40% |
| Private | 33% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 26% |
| Unspecified or Campaign | 1% |
Combined Degree Graduates
| Public and IGO | 9% |
| Private | 79% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 11% |
| Unspecified or Campaign | 1% |
Public Sector and International Governmental Organizations
Federal Court of Appeal (Canada)
U.S. District Court for Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
State of Colorado Supreme Court
State of Connecticut
University of California, San Francisco
Nonprofit Sector and Nongovernmental Organizations
Campaign Legal Center
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
GenUnity*
Vocal Justice*
Private Sector
A.T. Kearney
Amazon
Anduril Industries
Avangrid
Berkshire Partners
Boston Consulting Group
Bridgewater Associates
Carta
Convoy
Covington & Burling LLP
Deloitte
Enel X North America
Goldman Sachs
Google
Guidehouse
Jamestown LP
McKinsey & Company
Oak Street Health
Optum
Popolopen Group*
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates
Snorkel AI
t.ai lab
Touchdown Ventures
Twitter
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Colleges and Universities
Boston Medical Center
Duke University Hospital
Emory University School of Medicine
Mount Sinai Hospital
*new venture
Public Sector and International Governmental Organizations
N/A
Nonprofit Sector and Nongovernmental Organizations
Darsel*
Private Sector
Blackstone
Google
JP Morgan Chase
McKinsey & Company
Neuberger Berman
Other
TechCharge*
*new venture
Public Sector and International Governmental Organizations
N/A
Nonprofit Sector and Nongovernmental Organizations
N/A
Private Sector
Accenture
Autonomous Inc.
Bain & Company
Bank of America
Boston Consulting Group
Deloitte
Empower
FinTech Collaborative*
Google
Jefferies
McKinsey & Company
Morgan Stanley
Sports Innovation Lab
TCG
Thiozen Inc. *
*new venture
Employment Sector 10-Year Comparison: 2013 – 2021
| 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public and IGO | 39% | 42% | 37% | 34% | 37% |
| Private | 37% | 31% | 36% | 37% | 43% |
| Nonprofit and NGO | 22% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 19% |
| Unspecified | 2% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 1% |
| Sector / Year | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents | 36% | 39% | 33% | 30% | 32% |
| International Residents | 42% | 46% | 41% | 36% | 46% |
| Total | 39% | 42% | 37% | 34% | 37% |
Note: Unspecified makes up <5%
| Sector / Year | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents | 35% | 27% | 38% | 38% | 47% |
| International Residents | 39% | 33% | 35% | 37% | 35% |
| Total | 37% | 31% | 36% | 37% | 43% |
Note: Unspecified makes up <5%
| Sector / Year | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents | 26% | 31% | 29% | 28% | 20% |
| International Residents | 18% | 16% | 23% | 23% | 17% |
| Total | 22% | 24% | 26% | 25% | 19% |
Note: Unspecified makes up <5%