Campus and Community
New efforts will ensure that there will be more undergraduate students, especially from middle-income families.
File photos by Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff photographers
Harvard University President Alan M. Gerber and Dean of Edgeley Family Arts and Sciences Hopi Hextra announced Monday that Harvard University is free for students in families with annual incomes under $100,000 and no tuition fees. With this significant expansion of financial aid, which will begin in 2025-26, Harvard is more affordable than ever before for more students, especially middle-income families.
“When Harvard University is financially reached for more individuals, it broadens the array of background, experiences and perspectives that all students encounter, driving intellectual and personal growth,” Gerber said. “By learning from one another and learning from one another together with outstanding promises, we truly realize the incredible potential of university.”
This expansion will allow approximately 86% of US families to qualify for Harvard financial aid and expand the university’s commitment to providing all undergraduate students with the resources they need to enroll and graduate.
“Harvard has long been asking us to open our doors to the most talented students, regardless of their financial situation,” Hoekstra said. “This investment in financial aid aims to enable Harvard education for all hospitalized students, so we can pursue academic passions and have a positive impact on our future.”
From the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard University is free for students with family incomes under $100,000. This covers all expenses charged, including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, travel expenses. Additionally, each of these students will receive an emerging grant of $2,000 in their first year and a $2,000 launch grant for third graders, helping them move beyond Harvard.
Students with family incomes under $200,000 will receive free tuition and additional financial assistance to cover the costs charged, depending on their financial situation. Many students whose family income exceeds $200,000 will also receive assistance depending on the situation. Harvard Financial Aid Staff works with students and families personally and individually to suit each family’s specific circumstances.
“We know that the most talented students come from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences in every state and around the world,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, dean of admissions and financial aid at Harvard University. “Our financial aid is important to ensure that these students are a place where Harvard University can become part of a vibrant learning community that has been enhanced by their presence and participation.”
The expansion is based on more than 20 years of investment in Harvard’s undergraduate financial aid, with the launch of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, which fully covers tuition, food and housing costs for families with incomes of less than $40,000 per year. This threshold has since increased quadruple. It went from $60,000 in 2006 to $85,000 in 2023.
In 2007, Harvard eliminated loans and provided all the support in the form of grants. They also eliminated home equity when determining their ability to pay the university.
Since launching the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, Harvard has awarded more than $3.6 billion in undergraduate financial aid. Harvard University’s annual Financial Aid Award budget is $275 million for 2025-26. 55% of undergraduate students are currently receiving financial assistance. Their family paid an average of $15,700 between 2023 and 24.
“Our team works closely with each student to ensure that it is fully included in the Harvard experience,” said Griffin Director, Jake Kaufman, Financial Aid. “The Financial Aid Program is designed to allow Harvard students to study, train, research, create and fully engage with the Harvard Experience with minimal constraints.”
