Harvard University just made a major move that will benefit many of its lower-income students and prospects.

According to the Ivy League institution’s newsletter The Gazette, starting in the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard will be tuition-free for students from families earning $200,000 or less annually, with all expenses covered for students from families making $100,000 or less. This major expansion of financial aid will make Harvard more accessible than ever, particularly for middle-income families.

Harvard’s President Alan M. Garber made it clear that this move isn’t just about money, but it’s about making sure that students from all financial backgrounds have access to a world-class education. “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. He added that the university truly realizes its “tremendous potential” when diverse, talented students come together to learn.

People gather outside Widener Library on Harvard University’s campus on March 17, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Hopi Hoekstra, also shared the institution’s commitment to broadening its access. “Harvard has long sought to open our doors to the most talented students, no matter their financial circumstances,” Hoekstra stated. “This investment in financial aid aims to make a Harvard College education possible for every admitted student, so they can pursue their academic passions and positively impact our future.”

Reportedly, this expansion means about 86 percent of U.S. families will now qualify for Harvard’s financial aid. The initiative builds on Harvard’s long-standing history of increasing access, dating back to 2004 when the university first launched the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative. Back then, the income limit for full coverage was $40,000, which gradually increased to $85,000 by 2023. Now, Harvard is taking it even further, making sure students don’t just get in, but have the financial support to thrive.

For students whose family income is $100,000 and below, all of their school expenses will be taken care of including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs. Additionally, each of 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 the transition beyond Harvard. Students with family incomes of $200,000 or less will receive free tuition and additional financial aid to cover billed expenses, “depending on their financial circumstances.” And many students with family incomes above $200,000 will also receive aid.

The John Harvard Statue in Harvard Yard during a campus tour on March 17, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard University announced free tuition for students from families that make under $200K a year.

William R. Fitzsimmons, Harvard College’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, noted, “We know the most talented students come from different socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences, from every state and around the globe.”

Harvard’s commitment to increasing access is a big win for students from all walks of life, with 55 percent of undergraduates already receiving financial aid. The university’s financial aid budget for the 2025-26 academic year is expected to be $275,000,000, making it clear that they are investing in the future of tomorrow’s leaders.

This shift will be a game changer for students who may have assumed Ivy League education was out of reach. With tuition-free policies expanding, the landscape of higher education is slowly but surely changing, making access to world-class institutions a reality for more students.

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