Harvard enhances financial support

On Monday, Harvard University President Alan M. Garber, along with Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi Hoekstra, declared that Harvard College will be tuition-free for students whose families earn $100,000 or less annually and will have no tuition costs for students from families that earn up to $200,000. This noteworthy increase in financial assistance, set to commence in the academic year 2025-26, aims to make Harvard accessible to a larger student population, particularly those from middle-income backgrounds.

“Making Harvard financially attainable for a broader range of individuals enlarges the diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints that our students will be exposed to, promoting their intellectual and personal development,” Garber stated. “By gathering individuals of remarkable potential to learn together and share insights, we genuinely harness the incredible promise of the University.”

This enhancement will allow around 86 percent of U.S. households to qualify for financial aid at Harvard College, reinforcing the University’s dedication to supplying all undergraduates with the necessary resources to enroll and graduate.

“Harvard has consistently aimed to welcome the most gifted students, irrespective of their financial situations,” Hoekstra remarked. “This commitment to financial assistance intends to render a Harvard College education achievable for every accepted student, empowering them to pursue their academic interests and make a positive difference in our future.”

Beginning in the academic year 2025-26, Harvard College will be tuition-free for those students whose family income does not exceed $100,000. This initiative encompasses all billed costs such as tuition, meals, accommodation, health insurance, and commuting expenses. Additionally, these students will receive a $2,000 initial grant in their first year and a $2,000 transition grant during their junior year to assist in their post-Harvard journey.

Students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less will receive free tuition as well as additional financial assistance to cover billed costs, based on their financial circumstances. Moreover, numerous students from families earning above $200,000 may also qualify for financial aid, contingent on their individual situations. Harvard’s financial aid personnel engage directly with students and families to address each family’s unique context.

“We understand that the most capable students emerge from varied socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences from every state and all around the world,” remarked William R. Fitzsimmons, the dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard College. “Our financial assistance is vital to assuring these students recognize that Harvard College is an environment where they can partake in a dynamic learning community enriched by their involvement.”

This expansion is an extension of over twenty years of investment in undergraduate financial support at Harvard, starting in 2004 with the introduction of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, which fully covered tuition, food, and housing expenses for students from families with an annual income of $40,000 or less. This figure has quadrupled since then—from $60,000 in 2006 to $85,000 in 2023.

In 2007, Harvard abolished loans, providing all assistance solely in the form of grants. They also excluded home equity when assessing a family’s capacity to cover College expenses.

Since the inception of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, the institution has awarded over $3.6 billion in financial support to undergraduates. For the academic year 2025-26, Harvard College’s annual financial aid budget stands at $275 million. Currently, 55 percent of undergraduates benefit from financial aid, with their families contributing an average of $15,700 during the 2023-24 academic year.

“Our team collaborates closely with each student to guarantee complete inclusion in the Harvard experience,” stated Griffin Director of Financial Aid Jake Kaufmann. “The financial aid program is structured to facilitate that Harvard students can study, develop, research, create, and engage fully in the Harvard journey with minimal limitations.”