Harvard University has announced a major expansion of its financial aid program, making tuition free for students from families earning $200,000 or less per year. The policy, set to take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, aims to make one of the world’s most prestigious institutions more accessible to a broader range of students.
Harvard College, the university’s undergraduate division, unveiled the initiative on Monday. “Harvard has long sought to open our doors to the most talented students, no matter their financial circumstances,” said Hopi Hoekstra, Harvard’s dean of the faculty of arts and sciences.
Currently, tuition at Harvard stands at $56,550 for the 2024-25 academic year, with additional costs for housing, supplies, and travel bringing the total annual expense to about $82,000. Under the new policy, families earning up to $200,000 will receive full tuition coverage, while those earning $100,000 or less will have all costs covered, including room and board. These students will also receive a $2,000 grant in their first and junior years to support their transition into and out of college.
Harvard’s move follows similar financial aid expansions by other elite universities. The University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently set the same $200,000 income threshold for full tuition coverage. The University of Texas, meanwhile, has extended free tuition to students from families earning $100,000 or less annually.
