Attending Harvard Just Got Easier

Many students dream of going to Harvard University. After all, this ivy league university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of the most prestigious in the world and the oldest institution in the US. Founded in 1636, the university has produced countless graduates who excel in their fields including Noble laureates, Rhodes Scholars, Pulitzer Prize recipients, and eight US presidents.

It’s no wonder that Harvard is extremely difficult to get into. You must have excellent grades and the ability to pay the costs of attending, which includes tuition of $56,500 in the current academic year and adding in room, board and other expenses adds up to $82,866, reported AP News. But going to Harvard just got a lot easier. The University announced on Monday March 17 that families making up to 200,000 a year will not pay tuition.

“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,” Harvard University president Alan M. Garber told The Harvard Gazette. “By bringing people of outstanding promise together to learn with and from one another, we truly realize the tremendous potential of the university.”

The New Financial Aid Plan
Harvard is calling this tuition-free plan expanded financial aid , according to The Harvard Gazette, and 86 percent of US families qualify. Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, students whose families earn $200,000 or less will receive free tuition and additional financial aid to cover other expenses depending on financial circumstances.

But students whose families have incomes of $100,000 or less will get a free ride that includes all billed expenses including tuition, room, board, health insurance, and travel costs. These students will also receive grants of $2,000 in their freshman and junior years.

“We know the most talented students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences, from every state and around the globe,” said William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard College’s dean of admissions and financial aid. “Our financial aid is critical to ensuring that these students know Harvard College is a place where they can be part of a vibrant learning community strengthened by their presence and participation.”

Students welcome the change, reported AP. “It’s really great what they are doing — making college more accessible to everyone especially those who may not think about Harvard as an option,” Skye Lam, a 20-year-old undergraduate from NYC told AP. “A lot has changed since I applied. A lot of these universities are upping their financial aid.”

Harvard is Not Alone
Harvard is not the only higher education institution offering free tuition. In November 2024, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced that students whose families make less than $200,000 will be able to attend tuition-free this fall.

UMass announced in October 2024 that Massachusetts students whose families make up to $75,000 will be able to attend all undergraduate campuses without paying tuition.

Other universities including Vanderbilt and Dartmouth expanded financial aid and other top schools introduced “no-loan” policies, reported CNBC. With Americans questioning the cost of higher education and fewer high school graduates going to college, these are welcome changes that will allow student’s dreams to come true.