Harvard Offers Free Tuition for Families Earning Up to $200K

Karmactive Staff

Harvard's new financial aid program offers free tuition for families earning under $200,000 annually, starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

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Students from families making less than $100,000 will receive completely free attendance, covering tuition, housing, food, health insurance, and travel costs.

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The expanded program will make Harvard accessible to approximately 86% of U.S. families, dramatically broadening the university's reach.

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Each eligible student from lower-income families will receive additional $2,000 grants in their freshman and junior years to ease transitions.

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Harvard's annual cost without aid reaches a staggering $83,000, more than the U.S. median household income of $80,000.

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The expansion builds on Harvard's 20-year commitment to financial accessibility, which began in 2004 with aid for families earning under $40,000.

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Other elite schools like MIT and UPenn have rolled out similar tuition-free policies for families making under $200,000.

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The move comes during a hiring freeze at Harvard and amid threats of funding cuts from the Trump administration over DEI initiatives

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Harvard's financial aid budget for 2025-26 will be $275 million, with the university having awarded over $3.6 billion in aid since 2004.

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