Harvard University has revealed that beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year, students from families earning up to $200,000 will not have to pay tuition.
This initiative aims to make the prestigious university more accessible to middle-income families, with students from households earning under $100,000 also receiving full coverage for additional costs like housing and food.
In a statement, University President Alan Garber explained that the move is part of Harvard’s commitment to expanding diversity and opportunity.
“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 Garber.
The new financial aid policy will ensure that nearly 90% of U.S. families with children admitted to Harvard qualify for some form of financial assistance, making the Ivy League education more attainable than ever.
According to the U.S. Census, the median household income in the United States was $80,000 in 2023, which means that a significant number of families will benefit from this change. Harvard’s financial aid expansion follows a trend set by other prestigious universities in the U.S.
For example, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also offer free tuition to families making less than $200,000.
Previously, Harvard had provided full coverage for all university costs, including housing and medical care, for families earning under $85,000. The latest adjustments to their financial aid policy come amid national debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
These discussions have been fueled by actions from the Trump administration, which has threatened to cut funding to universities that support certain diversity initiatives.
This includes withdrawing $400 million in grants from Columbia University for allegedly failing to prevent antisemitism during protests over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The expansion of financial aid also comes in the context of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling to overturn affirmative action, which previously allowed colleges to consider race as a factor in admissions to promote diversity.
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