Harvard Expands Financial Aid: Free Tuition for Families Earning $200,000 or Less
Harvard University has announced a major expansion of its financial aid program, offering free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less per year.
New Policy to Take Effect in 2025-26
The initiative, set to begin in the 2025-26 academic year, aims to broaden access to the Ivy League institution. Previously, full tuition coverage was only available to families earning under $85,000 annually. The revised policy will also provide additional financial support to students from families earning below $100,000.
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Comprehensive Financial Support
The aid package will not only cover tuition fees but also expenses such as:
✔ Housing
✔ Meals
✔ Health insurance
✔ Travel costs
This expansion will significantly ease the financial burden on middle-income families.
Harvard’s Leadership Applauds the Initiative
Harvard President Alan Garber called the policy a step toward greater inclusivity, stating that it would “make a Harvard College education possible for every admitted student.”
Similarly, Hopi Hoekstra, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, emphasized that the expansion highlights the university’s commitment to admitting students based on merit, not financial background.
Rising Costs and Socioeconomic Disparities
Despite this initiative, the cost of attending Harvard remains high. Tuition for the 2024-25 academic year is set at $56,550, with total expenses—including housing and other costs—exceeding $80,000 annually.
Harvard is not alone in expanding financial aid for middle-income families. Other prestigious U.S. institutions, including:
✔ University of Pennsylvania
✔ Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
✔ University of Texas
✔ Dartmouth College
have also introduced similar policies.
However, concerns remain over the socio-economic makeup of elite universities. Data from Harvard’s Opportunity Insights initiative show that nearly 40% of Harvard students come from families in the top 5% income bracket, while fewer than 5% hail from the bottom 20%.
A Step Toward Greater Accessibility
While challenges persist, this historic expansion of Harvard’s financial aid program represents a significant move toward making Ivy League education more accessible to a diverse range of students.
