Why Advertise in Harvard Magazine's Classifieds Section?

• Exclusive Audience: Access Harvard University's alumni, faculty, and staff—an engaged readership with high purchasing power.
• Proven Success: Advertisers have rented properties, sold homes, grown businesses, and even found life partners.
• Long-Term Trust: Many advertisers have partnered with us for over 20 years due to quality leads and results.
• Support Independent Journalism: Advertising helps fund 1/3 of Harvard Magazine’s budget, ensuring editorial independence.
• Flexible Options: Choose from text or display ads, specialty sections like the Harvard Authors' Bookshelf, and online add-ons to fit your needs.
• Cost-Effective Exposure: Reach a targeted, loyal audience at competitive rates with discounts for frequency and Harvard alumni businesses.
   
• Issue Dates and Deadlines
• Plain Text Ads
• Classified Display Ads
• Harvard Authors' Bookshelf
• Education & Enrichment Resource
• Terms
• Contact Information/Business Hours

Issue Dates and Deadlines

Harvard Magazine is published bi-monthly (6X/year).
 

2027 Issues                          Deadline                             Publication Date
Jan-Feb 2027                       November 10, 2026           January 1
March-April 2027             January 8, 2027                 March 1
May-June 2027                   March 10, 2027                 May 1
July-August 2027              May 10, 2027                     July 1
Sept-Oct 2027                      July 9, 2027                       September 1
Nov-Dec 2027                     September 10, 2027           November 1

Plain Text Ads
 

• 1-2 issues: $5.50 per word
• 3 issues: $4.95 per word (save 10%)
• 4-5 issues: $4.67 per word (save 15%)
• 6 issues: $4.40 per word (save 20%)
  
  Add-ons:
• Crimson border: $65      
• Star icon: $40     
• Bolded crimson class year: $10 (Harvard class years verified)   
• Website inclusion: $40
• Photo on website (not in print): $40
  
  Specifications:
• Minimum: 12 words
• Phone number = 1 word, Email/Website = 2 words, Abbreviations = the words they stand for
• First two words bolded free; extra bolding costs 2x the per-word rate.
  
  Submit:
  Use our online form or email your ad to classifieds@harvard.edu.
   

Classified Display Ads
 

• 1-2 issues: $425 per column inch
• 3 issues: $382.50 per column inch (save 10%)
• 4-5 issues: $361.25 per column inch (save 15%)
• 6 issues: $340 per column inch (save 20%)
  (Pricing differential for 1/2 page, 2/3 page, and full page classified display ads. Contact us for rates).

Harvard Alumni Business Discount: 50% off display ads (not applicable to plain text ads).

Website Inclusion: $40

Camera-ready display ad specifications: 

• Standard column width: 2.188 inches
• Minimum column height: 1 inch
• Format: The preferred format for classified display ads is high resolution (300 dpi) PDFs with fonts embedded or outlined
• Fonts: All text should be at least 6 pt minimum—or 8 pt minimum for white type knocked out of a colored background. Avoid thin fonts (at all sizes) when using white type knocked out of a colored background. Consider using serif fonts below 9pt for improved legibility. Please avoid creating text-heavy files in Photoshop, as it’s a pixel-based program and the text may not reproduce as sharply as vector-based text, especially after resizing or web compression.
• Images: Bright/light photos work best. Image resolution should be 300 dpi (150 dpi min). Images taken from the web (72 dpi standard resolution) are not print quality—use originals when possible. Images should be converted CMYK (not RGB) for print. If we convert fi les to CMYK for you, there may be a color shift and images may appear darker.
• Please note: Improperly formatted Canva files are not acceptable for print. If your Canva file needs to be reformatted, you will be charged a $75 fee for our 
  designer to re-size and convert your file for print (if that’s possible).

Submit camera-ready ads to: classifieds@harvard.edu. 

Harvard Magazine Design Service: $75/hour (1-hour minimum)

• Submit Your Request: Click here to fill out our design request form
• Design Schedule: Design work is done on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  Submit by Tuesday → First proof available Thursday.
  Submit by Thursday → First proof available Tuesday.
• Proofs & Revisions:
  1. You'll receive a first proof of your ad for review.
  2. You can approve your ad—or request edits or design changes.
  3. You’ll receive a final proof of your ad for review.
  4. Changes after the final proof is approved will incur an additional $70 fee.
  5. Changes may not be submitted after the materials deadline has passed.
• Our design services ($75/hour, one-hour minimum) are intended for straightforward layout and production requests—not for branding or highly 
  customized projects. To help us manage requests efficiently, please complete the design request form as noted above and include any supporting materials (photos, logos, sample ads, etc.). For complex or brand-focused work, we recommend engaging a professional design firm.
   

Harvard Authors' Bookshelf

The Harvard Authors' Bookshelf appears in Harvard Magazine twice a year and is open to Harvard alumni, faculty, and staff. Eligibility is verified through Harvard University records.

2027 Issues                            Deadline                   Publication Date
May-June 2027                     March 10                  May 1
Nov-Dec 2027                       September 10           November 1
 

Harvard Authors' Bookshelf Ads: $595/book per issue

• Harvard Authors' Bookshelf ads showcase the front cover of your book jacket followed by 8 lines* of text which include in the following order:
  • Book title
  • Your name and Harvard affiliation
  • Brief descriptive text
• Ads may require editing for length* or clarity.
• Discounts (e.g., frequency or network) are not available for this ad type.
• We do not offer positioning guarantees—NO EXCEPTIONS. Ads are placed in the layout in first come, first paid order.
  
  *The number of characters that fit in each line can vary depending upon the content—we use tracking to adjust them. Please click here to view examples of Harvard Authors' Bookshelf ads with word counts for reference.  

Submit Your Ad: 
Click here to submit your ad. A proof will be sent to you for approval.
 

Education & Enrichment Resource

The Education & Enrichment Resource section is published in Harvard Magazine 4X/year.

2027 Issues                             Deadlines                      Publication Date
Jan-Feb 2027                          November 10, 2026      January 1
March-April 2027                January 8                      March 1
Sept-Oct 2027                       July 9                            September 1
Nov-Dec 2027                        September 10               November 1
 

Education & Enrichment Resource Ads:

Formatted Text Ad $275

Includes school/business name and website or phone in boldface, 6 lines of text, approximately 50 words depending on length. You will be contacted if your ad must be edited. Email your text to: classifieds@harvard.edu. A proof will be sent for your approval

Education & Enrichment Display Ad Options:

• 1.5” (2.188” X 1.5”): $395
• 1/12 page (2188” X 2.25”): $695
• 1/6 page (horizontal: 4.563” X 2.25”, vertical: 2.188” X 4.75”): $1,390
• 1/3 page (square: 4.563” X 4.75”, vertical: 2.188” X 9.625”): $2,780
  *For larger size options, please contact classifieds@harvard.edu
• Discounts (e.g., frequency or network) are not available for this ad type.
   
  Camera-Ready Display Ad Specifications:
• Format: The preferred format for classified display ads is high resolution (300 dpi) PDFs with fonts embedded or outlined
• Fonts: All text should be at least 6 pt minimum—or 8 pt minimum for white type knocked out of a colored background. Avoid thin fonts (at all sizes) when using white type knocked out of a colored background. Consider using serif fonts below 9pt for improved legibility. Please avoid creating text-heavy files in Photoshop, as it’s a pixel-based program and the text may not reproduce as sharply as vector-based text,  especially after resizing or web compression.
• Images: Bright/light photos work best. Image resolution should be 300 dpi (150 dpi min). Images taken from the web (72 dpi standard resolution) are not print quality—use originals when possible. Images should be converted CMYK (not RGB) for print. If we convert fi les to CMYK for you, there may be a color shift and images may appear darker.
• Please note: Improperly formatted Canva files are not acceptable for print. If your Canva file needs to be reformatted, you will be charged a $75 fee for our 
  designer to re-size and convert your file for print (if that’s possible).

Submit camera-ready ads to: classifieds@harvard.edu

Harvard Magazine Design Service: $75/hour (1-hour minimum)

• Submit Your Request: Click here to fill out our design request form
• Design Schedule: Design work is done on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  Submit by Tuesday → First proof available Thursday.
  Submit by Thursday → First proof available Tuesday.
• Proofs & Revisions:
  1. You'll receive a first proof of your ad for review.
  2. You can approve your ad—or request edits or design changes.
  3. You’ll receive a final proof of your ad for review.
  4. Changes after the final proof is approved will incur an additional $70 fee.
  5. Changes may not be submitted after the materials deadline has passed.
• Our design services ($75/hour, one-hour minimum) are intended for straightforward layout and production requests—not for branding or highly 
  customized projects. To help us manage requests efficiently, please complete the design request form as noted above and include any supporting materials (photos, logos, sample ads, etc.). For complex or brand-focused work, we recommend engaging a professional design firm.

TERMS:

• All rates are per issue. All rates are net. 
• Clients cannot choose their ad positioning. 
• All ads must be pre-paid.
  Accepted payment methods: credit card (MC, Visa, Amex, Discover), ACH transfer, U.S. check, or money order. 
  Payment for ads by credit card accepted at: 617-835-5840 
• Harvard Magazine retains the right to decline or cancel any advertisement at any time. 
  All ads are subject to the Publisher’s approval.
   

Contact Information/Business Hours: 

Gretchen Bostrom
Advertising Manager
Harvard Magazine 
7 Ware St., Cambridge, MA 02138
Questions: 617-496-6686
Credit Card Payments: 617-835-5840