Harvard University To Offer Free Tuition To Families Making Less Than $200,000

Harvard University has announced a major expansion of its financial aid program, committing to fully covering tuition for students from families earning less than $200,000 per year starting in the 2025-26 academic year.

In an even more significant move, students whose families make under $100,000 annually will receive full coverage of tuition, housing, food, and health services—essentially a full ride to one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Currently, attending Harvard costs $56,550 per year in tuition alone, with total expenses—including housing, food, and health services—rising to $82,866 annually.

For many families, these costs have long placed the Ivy League institution out of reach, despite existing financial aid programs. However, with this new policy, Harvard is dramatically widening access to middle- and lower-income students, a shift that could reshape the socioeconomic makeup of its student body.

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber framed the change as an effort to expand diversity of experience and thought among students, stating, “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.”

The initiative aligns with Harvard’s broader push to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent highly talented students from attending.

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons emphasized that attracting the best students—regardless of their financial background—is essential to maintaining Harvard’s academic excellence. He noted that roughly 55% of undergraduates currently receive some form of financial aid, and with this new plan, approximately 86% of U.S. families will qualify for assistance if their child gains admission.

This announcement comes as Harvard remains under scrutiny for its handling of various campus controversies. Recently, the university’s Republican Club has seen a surge in membership, quadrupling its numbers in the past year.

Club President Michael Oved noted a shift in the campus climate, saying, “We no longer hide our Republican views, we embrace them.” This increase in conservative activism on campus coincides with wider tensions surrounding Harvard’s response to political and global events, including backlash over the administration’s handling of reactions to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israeli civilians.