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Higher Education Finance for Academic Leaders

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Two participants converse during the program while outside on campus at HGSE

A strategic exploration of financial management fundamentals for higher education leaders working outside the finance field.

In Person
Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership (ECHE)

Upcoming Sessions

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In accordance with Harvard University policy, Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education affirms the right of all individuals to equal treatment in education without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As a leader in higher education, you face numerous challenges in securing the resources you need, spending wisely, and effectively supporting a diverse and resource-dependent student body. Economic trends, government policy, and competition make the job of managing resources even more precarious, and a growing number of institutions face existential financial threats as the higher education landscape becomes more competitive, complex, and politically volatile.

Higher Education Finance for Academic Leaders was developed to help you learn the fundamentals of financial management, the key levers available to influence decisions, and how to earn buy-in from faculty, staff, and other stakeholders. The program welcomes interest and applications from all practitioners in the field.

Gaining financial literacy can help you better strategize on how to attract revenue and invest successfully to advance your missions. Building financial literacy also improves your ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, donors, trustees, and other stakeholders about the financial health and strategic priorities of your institution to help build trust and support.

This on-campus program will help non-financial higher education leaders learn key concepts and tools related to financial management so you can lead strategically and navigate resource challenges for your institution’s financial stability. 

There will be a mandatory live online Foundations Session on January 22, 2026, from 12–3 p.m. (EST), which is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and resources needed for a successful start to your on-campus experience.

During this program, you will:

  • Learn about the key factors driving trends in higher education resources and consider the forces shaping current and future challenges.
  • Gain insight into your institution’s financial model by learning budgeting concepts and strategy, and the tools to evaluate financial performance.
  • Build understanding of critical strategies, levers, and decision points when making resource decisions, as well as important tradeoffs to consider.
  • Explore ways colleges and universities work to balance resource challenges with advancing their educational mission.
  • Develop ways to improve stakeholder understanding of your institution’s financial health and the connection between academic priorities and financial decisions.
  • Identify ways to advocate for needed resources and opportunities to work effectively with members of your institution’s finance team.
  • Foster a sustained professional network by engaging with colleagues on shared goals and challenges through peer learning.

This program is ideal for higher education leaders whose expertise is outside of financial management but who need to better understand financial concepts, trends, and strategies. It is also valuable to financial managers who wish to gain a deeper understanding of trends and challenges in the economics of higher education and who seek to communicate better with non-financial administrators.

  • Vice presidents, vice provosts, assistant or associate deans
  • Directors of: 
    • Admissions, both undergraduate and graduate level
    • Enrollment management
    • Marketing and communications
    • External relations
    • Financial aid
    • Student success
    • Student services
    • Institutional research
    • Finance leaders, such as budget managers and controllers, who wish to communicate more effectively with non-financial administrators

This program welcomes applications from both individuals and teams. First-time applicants need to create a Professional Education account to apply.

Individuals: Click the "Apply" button at the top of this page to log into your Professional Education account and access the application page. Proceed with the individual form until submission.

Teams: Designate one participant or an administrative staff member as the Coordinator.

  • The Coordinator should click the "Apply" button at the top of this page to log into their Professional Education account and access the application page.
  • Proceed with the team form, including providing the name, email address, and job title of each participant in your team. 
  • The Coordinator can choose to receive a team invoice.
  • Contact us if you need to make any changes to your team after submitting the form.

Invoices: Invoices will only be available upon your acceptance.

This program counts toward the Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership. Complete this program and two additional qualifying programs within 36 months to earn a distinguished credential designed to strengthen your leadership capacity and help you meet the evolving challenges of higher education.

Learn more about the Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership.

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