My son got into Harvard MBA, is it worth the debt?
Yes, Harvard MBA can be worth the debt if your son is using it to buy access to a higher-paying lane he can actually win in within 2-3 years, and no, it’s not worth it if he’s borrowing to postpone a decision or chase a brand that won’t change his underlying story. The uncomfortable part: “Harvard” doesn’t pay the loans; the job does. Run three quick checks: first, does he have a credible post-MBA target with a known pay band and hiring pipeline (not “something in business”)? Second, is he the kind of person who will recruit like it’s a contact sport, or does he avoid awkward asks and hope merit gets noticed? Third, after scholarships/savings/partner income, will his monthly payment still let him say no to a job that feels wrong? If the answer to any of those is shaky, debt turns into a leash.
You’re not deciding whether Harvard is “worth it”; you’re deciding which risks you’re underwriting: financial risk (debt) versus career risk (staying on the same trajectory) versus identity risk (two years of reset). Think portfolio, not headline. If he already has strong momentum (fast track, high upside, sponsors), the incremental value of HBS might be network density, optionality, and a safety net, which is real but not always debt-worthy. If he’s plateaued or switching industries, the degree can be a turbocharger, but only if he shows up with a plan and a spine. The diagnostic I like: if he had to repay every dollar personally and quickly, would he still choose the same path, or would he suddenly get “creative” about cheaper options? Debt is tolerable when it funds a specific bet, not a vague dream.
