Harvard University has just issued a very exciting invitation! Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, all undergraduate tuition will be free for students whose families make $200,000 or less. This announcement emphasizes Harvard’s intentions to be more accessible and affordable with higher education. The policy move puts Harvard in step with nearly every other Ivy League school in the ongoing “affordability arms race,” as experts are dubbing it.
As a result, Harvard joined other universities, such as Duke, Princeton, Yale and Northwestern, in having a no-loan policy. These policies remove student loans from financial aid packages, offering students grants and work-study options to pay for their education.
At present, the tuition at Harvard’s undergraduate school is more than $56,000 per year. With room and board included, that cost of attendance is over $83,000. The university’s recent actions are part of a more extensive effort by the institution to reduce the cost to families, especially those who earn the least.
The new threshold increases the burden substantially from Harvard’s former policy. Today, students from families making $85,000 or less continue to receive free tuition. Since summer 2023, this policy has paid for in-state tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel expenses to eligible students.
Harvard’s announcement, if replicated far and wide, would be much needed progress in answering long-held concerns about soaring tuition costs and student debt. The university of 29,000 students is one of a handful of universities in the US to guarantee free tuition for all students, regardless of family income.
Bravo to Harvard and other colleges offering free tuition to qualified applicants, as well as to all schools working to increase their financial aid awards. - Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's editor in chief.
According to Lakhani Coaching's founder and president, Hafeez Lakhani, Harvard's announcement represents "another step forward in the affordability arms race." He called the move a “powerful” statement.
Harvard's announcement is long overdue given Princeton increased its threshold for 100% aid, including tuition, room and board, to families who earn less than $100,000 in 2023. - Hafeez Lakhani, founder and president of Lakhani Coaching in New York.
Harvard would be required to offer comparable packages, covering tuition with grants and work-study funds. Currently, this benefit extends to students from families with incomes as high as $200,000. This program was specifically created to make sure that gifted students from every socioeconomic background could one day attend Harvard.
Given the current climate — including Columbia losing $400 million in federal funding and Harvard being on the 'watch list' for similar cuts — it's an incredibly generous move by Harvard to increase the student population who is eligible for 100% aid. - Lakhani
Harvard is indeed increasing their tuition-free provision. This decision comes in direct response to universities’ growing pressure to lessen the burden of higher education costs. The university’s gigantic endowment gives it the ability to make those kinds of commitments.
No doubt they are willing to dip into their endowment for this commitment to socioeconomic diversity. - Lakhani
