Harvard to Offer Free Tuition for Students From Families Earning Under $200,000
Harvard University has announced that it will provide free tuition to students from families earning less than $200,000 per year, beginning with the 2025-26 academic year. Additionally, students from families earning $100,000 or less will receive free housing, food, and health services.
“Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all of our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth,” said Harvard University President Alan M. Garber in a statement. “By bringing people of outstanding promise together to learn with and from one another, we truly realize the tremendous potential of the University.”
The cost of attending Harvard currently stands at $56,550 per year, with total expenses—including housing, food, and health services—reaching $82,866, according to the university. Roughly 55 percent of undergraduates receive financial aid, ABC News reported. Since 2004, the Ivy League school has awarded over $3.6 billion in undergraduate financial aid after launching the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative.
“We know the most talented students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences, from every state and around the globe,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard College’s dean of admissions and financial aid in a statement. “Our financial aid is critical to ensuring that these students know Harvard College is a place where they can be part of a vibrant learning community strengthened by their presence and participation.”
Under the new policy, approximately 86 percent of US families would qualify for financial aid if their children are admitted to Harvard. The university recently accepted just 3.59 percent of applicants for the Class of 2028, selecting from a pool of more than 54,000 candidates.
