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-Editorial
Harvard University announced on March 17, 2025, a significant expansion of its financial aid program, making Harvard College free for students from families earning $100,000 or less annually and tuition-free for those with family incomes of up to $200,000.
Harvard President Alan M. Garber and Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi Hoekstra outlined the new policy, which will take effect in the 2025-26 academic year. The initiative aims to make Harvard more accessible to middle-income families, reaffirming the university’s longstanding commitment to financial aid.
“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,” Garber said. “By bringing people of outstanding promise together to learn with and from one another, we truly realize the tremendous potential of the University.”
The new financial aid structure at Harvard College will provide full financial support for students from families earning $100,000 or less annually, covering all billed expenses, including tuition, fees, food, housing, travel, health insurance (if needed), winter gear, event fees, and additional grants. Students from families with annual incomes up to $200,000 will receive free tuition, with additional aid available to help cover other expenses based on individual financial circumstances. For families earning above $200,000, financial aid will still be available, with Harvard’s financial aid staff working closely with students and families to determine eligibility based on their specific financial situations.
Harvard’s financial aid packages are awarded solely on demonstrated financial need and do not include loans. The university also excludes home equity and retirement assets from its financial aid calculations, ensuring that families’ long-term financial security is not impacted when determining eligibility.
The expanded aid program will enable approximately 86 percent of U.S. families to qualify for financial assistance, significantly increasing access to a Harvard education.
“Harvard has long sought to open our doors to the most talented students, no matter their financial circumstances,” Hoekstra said. “This investment in financial aid aims to make a Harvard College education possible for every admitted student, so they can pursue their academic passions and positively impact our future.”
Harvard’s financial aid initiative began in 2004 when the university covered all tuition, fees, food, and housing for students from families earning $40,000 or less annually. Over the past two decades, this threshold has steadily increased, most recently reaching $85,000 in 2023. In 2007, Harvard eliminated loans from financial aid packages, replacing them entirely with grants.
Currently, 55 percent of Harvard undergraduates receive financial aid, with an average family contribution of $15,700 for the 2023-24 academic year. Since 2004, Harvard has awarded more than $3.6 billion in undergraduate financial aid, with a financial aid budget of $275 million for 2025.
Harvard College Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons emphasized the broader impact of the initiative.
“We know the most talented students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences, from every state and around the globe,” Fitzsimmons said. “Our financial aid is critical to ensuring that these students know Harvard College is a place where they can be part of a vibrant learning community strengthened by their presence and participation.”