Harvard Offers Free Tuition for Families Earning Under $200K

Harvard University has announced that undergraduate tuition will be free for students from families earning $200,000 or less per year, starting in the fall semester.

This initiative aims to make higher education more accessible to students facing financial difficulties.

Students from families earning $100,000 or less will receive full financial coverage, including tuition, housing, health insurance, and travel expenses between home and campus.

Currently, tuition at Harvard College—the university’s undergraduate school—exceeds $56,000 annually, with total costs reaching approximately $83,000, according to Harvard’s financial aid website.

This policy builds on Harvard’s financial aid program, which was launched in 2004 to make the university more accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.

Over the years, Harvard has increased the income threshold for aid multiple times, and currently, students from families earning less than $85,000 attend for free.

Harvard joins several other top universities expanding financial aid for middle- and lower-income families.

In November, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) announced a similar program, offering free tuition for families earning under $200,000 and full coverage for those earning under $100,000.

The University of Pennsylvania also pledged to cover tuition for students from families earning up to $200,000 per year, while the University of Texas will provide free tuition for those earning less than $100,000, starting in the fall.

Harvard emphasized that this initiative is particularly aimed at middle-income families. While the university has not disclosed specific funding sources for this program, it benefits from a substantial $53.2 billion endowment for the 2024 fiscal year.

According to Harvard President Alan M. Garber, making the university financially accessible to more students enhances the diversity of perspectives and experiences on campus, fostering intellectual and personal growth.

Currently, 55% of Harvard undergraduates receive financial aid, with the average family contribution amounting to $15,700 for the 2023-2024 academic year.