: Expanding Access to Higher Education for Middle-Income Families
Harvard University has made a groundbreaking announcement that will significantly increase accessibility to its world-class education for middle-income families. This initiative comes amid similar programs at other prestigious universities and ongoing concerns about the persistent achievement gap between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Harvard’s New Financial Aid Program
On March 17, 2025, Harvard University announced a major expansion of its financial aid program starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Under this new initiative, Harvard College will be completely free for students from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less, and tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less.
For students from families earning $100,000 or less, the financial aid package will cover all billed expenses including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs. Additionally, these students will receive a $2,000 start-up grant in their first year and a $2,000 launch grant during their junior year to help support their transition to and beyond Harvard.
Students from families with incomes of $200,000 or less will receive free tuition and additional financial aid to cover other expenses depending on their financial circumstances. This represents a significant increase from Harvard’s previous threshold, which offered free attendance to students from families with incomes under $85,000.
Harvard University President Alan M. Garber emphasized that this expansion will enable approximately 86% of U.S. families to qualify for Harvard College’s financial aid. “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,” Garber stated.
Other Universities Following Similar Paths
Harvard is not alone in expanding financial accessibility to higher education. Several other prestigious institutions have announced similar initiatives:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
In November 2024, MIT announced that starting in fall 2025, undergraduate students with family incomes below $200,000 can attend MIT tuition-free. For families with incomes below $100,000, MIT will cover the full cost including tuition, housing, dining, fees, and allowances for books and personal expenses. This represents an increase from MIT’s previous thresholds of $140,000 for tuition-free attendance and $75,000 for full coverage.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth emphasized the importance of making their “transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances”.
University of Pennsylvania
Penn announced the Quaker Commitment program in November 2024, raising the annual income threshold to qualify for free tuition from $140,000 to $200,000.