| Alan M. Garber, Interim President 2024- |
| Claudine Gay, 2023-2024 |
| Lawrence S. Bacow, 2018-2023 |
| Drew Gilpin Faust, 2007-2018 |
| Derek Bok, Interim President 2006-2007 |
| Lawrence H. Summers, 2001-2006 |
| Neil L. Rudenstine, 1991-2001 |
| Derek Bok, 1971-1991 |
| Nathan Marsh Pusey, 1953-1971 |
| James Bryant Conant, 1933-1953 |
| Abbott Lawrence Lowell, 1909-1933 |
| Charles William Eliot, 1869-1909 |
| Andrew Preston Peabody, Acting President, 1868-1869 |
| Thomas Hill, 1862-1868 |
| Andrew Preston Peabody, Acting President, 1862 |
| Cornelius Conway Felton, 1860-1862 |
| James Walker, 1853-1860 |
| Jared Sparks, 1849-1853 |
| Edward Everett, 1846-1849 |
| James Walker, Acting President 1845-1846 |
| Josiah Quincy, 1829-1845 |
| Henry Ware, Acting President, 1828-1829 |
| John Thornton Kirkland, 1810-1828 |
| Henry Ware, Acting President, 1810 |
| Samuel Webber, 1806-1810 |
| Eliphalet Pearson, Acting President, 1804–1806 |
| Joseph Willard, 1781-1804 |
| Edward Wigglesworth, Acting President, 1780-1781 |
| Samuel Langdon, 1774-1780 |
| Samuel Locke, 1770-1773 |
| Edward Holyoke, 1737-1769 |
| Benjamin Wadsworth, 1725-1737 |
| John Leverett, 1708-1724 |
| Samuel Willard, Acting President, 1701–1707 |
| Increase Mather, 1692-1701 |
| Increase Mather, Acting President, 1685-1686; Rector, 1686-1692 |
| John Rogers, 1682-1684 |
| Urian Oakes, 1680-1681 |
| Urian Oakes, Acting President, 1675-1680 |
| Leonard Hoar, 1672-1675 |
| Charles Chauncy, 1654-1672 |
| Henry Dunster, 1640-1654 [first president of Harvard] |
| Nathaniel Eaton, schoolmaster of the College, 1637-1639 |
