Harvard announces free tuition for students from families earning up to $200,000

Harvard will provide free tuition for students from families earning $200k or less, expanding financial aid in 2025.

Harvard University has announced a major expansion of its financial aid program, offering free tuition to students from families earning $200,000 or less annually.

The policy, set to take effect in fall 2025, is part of a broader initiative to improve college affordability and diversity at the Ivy League institution.

Previously, only students from families earning under $85,000 qualified for free tuition at Harvard. The move follows similar announcements from the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, and Caltech, all of which have expanded financial aid in response to growing concerns over accessibility in higher education.

Harvard’s new policy will also provide full coverage—including tuition, housing, food, travel, and additional expenses—for students from families earning under $100,000. Eligible students will also receive a $2,000 start-up grant and funding for winter clothing.

The decision comes amid increased scrutiny of elite universities following the Supreme Court's ban on affirmative action. Data from Harvard shows a decline in Black student enrollment, dropping from 18% to 14% in the past year. Expanding financial aid is seen as a strategy to increase socioeconomic and racial diversity.

Harvard, which has an endowment of over $53 billion, spent $275 million on financial aid this year. University President Alan M. Garber emphasized that widening financial access fosters a more diverse and dynamic student body.

This announcement arrives as higher education faces challenges, including proposed tax increases on university endowments and funding cuts under the Trump administration. Despite these hurdles, Harvard remains committed to making its education accessible to more students.