Harvard drops tuition for middle-class families earning below this amount¡ªIs this the future of Ivy League education?

Harvard: Harvard University has announced a major change in its tuition policy, making undergraduate education free for students from families earning $200,000 or less. Starting next fall, these students will not have to pay tuition, while those from families earning $100,000 or less will also receive full coverage for housing, health insurance, and travel costs.

This initiative plans to make Ivy League education more accessible to middle-class families. Harvard joins other top universities, like MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, in expanding financial aid to support students from various income backgrounds.

Harvard has announced free tuition for families earning less than $200K/year

They will provide free housing and health insurance for families earning less than $100K/year pic.twitter.com/91tuL1z9Dv

¡ª Dexerto (@Dexerto) March 17, 2025

Harvard tuition free for families earning $100K or less

Students from families earning $100,000 or less will not only get free tuition but also full coverage for housing, health insurance, and travel expenses. This will reduce the financial burden on lower-income students. So that they can focus on their studies without financial stress.

Harvard says tuition will be free for families making $200K or less. Attending Harvard will be completely free for students from families making $100,000 or less, with the university committing to cover housing, health insurance and travel costs between campus and home.? pic.twitter.com/wzA5kyVeRc

¡ª Sumner (@renmusb1) March 18, 2025

Who is eligible for this Harvard free education policy?

Below are the required eligibility criteria for this Harvard free education policy:

• Free Tuition for Families Earning Up to $200,000: Families earning $200,000 or less per year can get free tuition at Harvard College.
• Extra Help for Families Earning $100,000 or Less: Students from families earning $100,000 or less will get free tuition and a $2,000 grant in their first year. They also receive full coverage for housing, health insurance, and travel costs.
• More Students Can Afford Harvard: With these changes, around 86% of U.S. families will qualify for financial aid. And this will make Harvard more accessible to students from different backgrounds.

Currently, UG tuition fees at Harvard College are over $56,000 per year, while the total cost, including housing and other expenses, reaches nearly $83,000. With college tuition increasing by 169% from 1980 to 2020, many families find it difficult to afford top-tier education. Harvard¡¯s decision to expand its financial aid program could set a new example for other elite institutions.

?Harvard just made tuition free for families earning under $200,000 a year.
Which basically means 90% of Indian families can now send their kids to Harvard without paying tuition.
Money isn¡¯t the barrier anymore¡ªonly talent is.
Crazy times! pic.twitter.com/jVs6LrwjPN

¡ª Swapnil Srivastav (@theswapnilsri) March 18, 2025

Harvard financial aid initiative from 2004 to 2025

Harvard has been offering financial aid through the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) since 2004. This initially covered students from families earning below $85,000. With this latest education initiative 2025, thousands more middle-class families will now have access to Harvard without the burden of tuition fees.

Harvard is not the only top university making tuition-free education more accessible. In November, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania announced similar policies, offering free tuition for students from families earning below $200,000.

The University of Texas system has also pledged to provide tuition-free education for students from families earning under $100,000. This growing trend suggests that Ivy League and top-tier universities are recognising the need to support middle-income families.

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