Harvard University has announced an expansion of its financial aid program, offering free tuition to undergraduate students from families earning $200,000 or less.
Coming into effect in the 2025-26 academic year, the move significantly increases the number of students eligible for full tuition coverage at the Ivy League school.
Previously, Harvard covered tuition for students from families earning under $85,000 per year.
Under the new policy, those earning up to $100,000 will have all billed expenses covered, including tuition, housing, meals, health insurance, and travel.
Additionally, eligible students will receive a $2,000 startup grant in their first year and a $2,000 launch grant in their junior year.
Harvard President Alan Garber said that expanding financial aid will allow students to learn in a diverse academic environment. “We want to ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent talented students from pursuing a Harvard education,” he explained in a statement.
Harvard’s financial aid for students
Harvard started covering tuition fees in 2004 when the university introduced full coverage for lower-income students. Over the years, the income threshold for full financial aid has gradually increased, likely due to inflation.
Harvard estimates that under the expanded policy, around 86% of U.S. families will be eligible for some level of financial assistance.
Harvard is not the only elite university to offer such initiatives either – In 2024, both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Pennsylvania announced similar tuition-free programs for families earning up to $200,000.
Students who qualify for full tuition under the new policy will still be responsible for expenses such as books and supplies. However, Harvard’s financial aid office stated that additional funding may be available to cover those costs, too.
According to data from Harvard, approximately 55% of undergraduate students already receive some form of financial aid. With this expansion, the number of students qualifying for full tuition coverage is expected to increase, making Harvard more accessible to middle-class families.
The new financial aid policy will take effect for students enrolling in the fall of 2025.