Comparison · 12 material differences
The Aster vs Harvard Club of Boston
This comparison was generated on request from the records. It carries no editorial verdict and is not indexed. The published comparisons are listed on the compare page.
Read down each column for one organization, across a row for the difference. A bronze mark at the left of a cell means the organizations differ on that row. A dash or “not published” means the organization does not disclose the fact; it is not a zero.
What the records say
- Geographic restriction: The Aster: No published geographic restriction; Harvard Club of Boston: Fees are set by the ZIP codes where an applicant lives and works: Resident 1 within 15 miles, Resident 2 within 16 to 50 miles, Nonresident 51 or more miles within the United States, and International outside the United States.
- Monthly dues: The Aster: $300 a month; Harvard Club of Boston: $60–426 a month.
Side by side
| The Aster | Harvard Club of Boston | |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | ||
| Type | Private club | Private club |
| Founded | Not documented | 1908 (The club's timeline records that 22 alumni men started the Harvard Club of Boston in 1908 with annual dues set at $5.) |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, United States | Boston, United States |
| Geographic footprint | One club and hotel at 1717 Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with reciprocal access to more than 100 clubs worldwide through the Sonato network and direct partners | Back Bay clubhouse at 374 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston; the club's current site lists no other location |
| Members | 500as of September 2026 | Not publicly disclosed by the club. Wikipedia gives approximately 5,000 members across 40 countries; that has not been independently verified and carries no date. |
| Chapters | 1 | Single clubhouse; no chapters. Members have reciprocal access to more than 170 private clubs worldwide. |
| Primary audience | The club says it is "designed for creative leaders shaping the future of arts and culture" and describes a community built around collaboration in Hollywood | The club states its mission is to be "the social, intellectual, and athletic hub for Harvard alumni and our affiliated community in the Greater Boston area", and its published eligibility extends to alumni of Harvard, MIT, Yale and the Fletcher School at Tufts, faculty and students of Harvard and MIT, medical residents and fellows at Harvard-affiliated hospitals, and the direct relatives of member |
| Typical member | The club characterises members as creative professionals working in and around the Hollywood entertainment industry. It publishes no income, seniority or occupational test. | Alumni, students, faculty, parents and affiliates of Harvard and MIT, plus Yale and Tufts Fletcher School alumni, together with a limited number of Commonwealth members admitted as friends and family of existing members. Fees are banded by age and by distance from the clubhouse. |
| Qualification | ||
| Geographic restriction | No published geographic restriction | Fees are set by the ZIP codes where an applicant lives and works: Resident 1 within 15 miles, Resident 2 within 16 to 50 miles, Nonresident 51 or more miles within the United States, and International outside the United StatesFees are also banded by ageverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Invitation required | No | No |
| Sponsor required | No | Sometimes |
| Application process | Prospective members submit a membership enquiry through the club's website or by email to its membership address. The club states that all memberships are subject to approval and that an initial membership fee of US$500 applies, with no long-term contract required. No sponsorship, nomination, interview or committee stage is described. | Applicants review the eligibility categories and the published dues schedule, then select their affiliation and complete an online application form. The club verifies the applicant's university affiliation directly with the institution and a member of the team follows up to finalise details. The club's Become a Member page asks applicants to allow two to three weeks for review, while its membership FAQ says a membership is activated within 10 to 15 business days; new members then receive membership numbers and an electronic welcome package. Commonwealth applicants complete a separate application and need a member sponsor. |
| Selectivity | Not publicly disclosed. The club publishes no acceptance rate or waitlist information; it reports more than 500 active members. | Not publicly disclosed as an acceptance rate. Eligibility is defined by university affiliation; the only published numerical limit is the 50 Commonwealth places reserved each year. |
| Cost | ||
| Monthly dues | $300 a monthFull Membership: "$300 per month", giving "access to all six floors of The Aster, including work, wellness, dining, and event spaces - plus member-exclusive perks and preferred hotel rates". The club states "No long-term contracts required."verified September 2026 · source ↗ | $60–426 a monthPublished monthly cost of membership effective 1 September 2026. Resident 1: $135 (25 and under), $154 (26-30), $250 (31-35), $372 (36-40), $426 (41-74), $295 (75+), $385 (HCB plus HCNYC 41-74). Resident 2: $127 / $143 / $206 / $287 / $327 / $262 / $298. Nonresident: $113 / $127 / $159 / $190 / $218, $182 for HCB plus HCNYC. International: $60 / $79 / $94 / $114 / $133. Undergraduate students $85, graduate students $95, Harvard College faculty $125. The facilities renewal assessment is built into these figuresverified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Initiation fee | $500 one-time"Initial membership fee of $500 applies."verified September 2026 · source ↗ | $305–4,327 one-timePublished schedule effective 1 September 2026, banded by residence and age. Resident 1 (within 15 miles): $964 for 25 and under, $1,183 for 26-30, $2,280 for 31-35, $3,684 for 36-40, $4,327 for 41-74, $2,763 for 75+, $3,843 for a combined HCB and Harvard Club of New York membership aged 41-74. Resident 2 (16-50 miles): $862 / $1,053 / $1,754 / $2,661 / $3,143 / $2,369 / $2,801 on the same bands. Nonresident (51+ miles, USA): $761 / $920 / $1,242 / $1,622 / $1,958, with $1,520 for HCB plus HCNYC aged 41 and over. International: $305 / $532 / $773 / $1,012 / $1,239. Students $660; Harvard College faculty $960verified September 2026 · source ↗ |
| Membership term | Monthly, with no long-term contract required, plus a one-off initial membership fee | Ongoing; dues may be paid monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually |
| Structure | ||
| Meeting frequency | Open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with more than 20 classes and events a week | More than 250 member events a year, virtual and in person, from wine dinners to faculty discussions and holiday events |
| Peer forums | Not documented | Member-led Shared Interest Groups (SIGs), plus a Golf Society giving access to regional country clubs and a squash programme with leagues and clinics |
| Confidentiality | Could not be independently verified | The club describes itself as an electronic-device-friendly clubhouse and asks only that members not take phone calls in the restaurant; sound-proof phone booths are provided in the Member Commons. |
| Time commitment | Not documented | Not documented |
| Organized as | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused | Clubhouse premises, Event-focused |
| Confidential peer forums | No | No |
| Local chapters | No | No |
| Virtual membership | No | No |
| Online community | Not documented | Partial |
| Member directory | Not documented | Yes |
| Events | Yes | Yes |
| Programming | ||
| Educational programming | Partial | Yes |
| Leadership development | No | No |
| Retreats | No | No |
| Travel | Yes | Yes |
| Family programming | No | Yes |
| Spouse and partner programming | No | Yes |
| Next-generation programming | No | Yes |
| Investment discussions | No | No |
| Investment opportunities | No | No |
| Philanthropic component | Not documented | Partial |
| Networking emphasis | High | High |
| Social emphasis | High | High |
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Sources
Drawn from the sources listed on each page: The Aster · Harvard Club of Boston