Getting into Harvard University has always been a dream for many students, but now, affording it just got easier. Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard College will offer free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less per year.
This marks a significant expansion of the university’s long-standing commitment to making an Ivy League education accessible to more students.
Who Qualifies for Free Tuition?
Harvard’s latest financial aid expansion ensures that:
- Families earning $200,000 or less per year will have tuition fully covered.
- Families earning $100,000 or less per year will receive additional financial support, covering not only tuition but also housing, books, and other expenses.
- Students from qualifying families can also receive a $2,000 start-up grant in their first year and another $2,000 during their junior year to help with their transition out of college.
This is a significant increase from Harvard’s previous aid threshold of $85,000, which was raised in 2023.
Why Is Harvard Expanding Its Financial Aid?
Harvard, with its $53 billion endowment, has one of the largest financial reserves of any university in the world. This expansion reflects its commitment to ensuring that talented students are not held back by financial limitations. Harvard’s Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hopi Hoekstra, emphasized that the goal is to “make a Harvard education possible for every admitted student, so they can pursue their academic passions and positively impact our future.”
What Costs Are Still Left for Students?
While tuition will be free for qualifying families, students will still need to account for other costs, such as:
- Housing and food: Estimated at $26,000 per year
- Books, supplies, and personal expenses
- Travel costs for out-of-state or international students
Families making below $100,000, however, will receive additional aid covering these expenses as well.
How Does This Compare to Other Ivy League Schools?
Harvard is not alone in offering generous financial aid:
- Princeton University: Offers free tuition for families earning under $100,000.
- Yale University: Provides similar full-need aid without loans.
- Stanford University: Covers tuition for families earning up to $150,000.
Harvard’s new expansion places it among the most generous financial aid programs in the country, helping more middle-class families afford a world-class education.
What This Means for Future Harvard Applicants
If you’re a high school student considering applying to Harvard, this news means:
- More students from middle-income families will have access to a top-tier education without the burden of high tuition costs.
- Less reliance on student loans, as Harvard replaced loans with grants in 2007.
- A stronger push for economic diversity at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
Harvard’s new tuition policy could be a game-changer for many students and families across the U.S. With college affordability being a major concern, this initiative offers a path to one of the best universities in the world, without the crippling debt. If you qualify, Harvard’s doors are now even more open than before.
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