Harvard's Big Move: Free Tuition for Many

Harvard University has made a significant change. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, families earning less than $200, 000 per year will not pay tuition. This is a big deal. It means that about 86% of U. S. families could qualify for financial aid at Harvard. The median household income in the U. S. was $80, 000 in 2023. So, this change could help a lot of people. Why is Harvard doing this? The school wants to bring in students from different backgrounds. This can make the learning experience richer for everyone. It is also a response to the rising cost of college. The average price of a private university in the U. S. is now $58, 000 per year. This is more than double what it was in 2001. Harvard is not the only school doing this. Other elite universities, like the University of Pennsylvania and MIT, have similar policies. Harvard has been expanding its financial aid for a while. Before this, families earning less than $85, 000 got all their university costs covered. Now, families earning less than $100, 000 will also get help with things like housing and health insurance. This is all part of Harvard's effort to make college more affordable. There is another reason behind this move. The Trump administration has been cracking down on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. They have even threatened to pull funding from universities that have these programs. Harvard's move could be a way to keep supporting diversity, even with this pressure. The Supreme Court also recently ended affirmative action. This has led to a drop in racial diversity at many universities. Harvard's policy change might help keep diversity up. This is a big step for Harvard. It shows that the school is serious about making college affordable for more people. It also shows that Harvard values diversity and wants to bring in students from all kinds of backgrounds. This could lead to a more interesting and inclusive learning environment for everyone. However, it is important to note that this change does not cover all costs. Students will still need to find ways to pay for things like books and personal expenses. But it is a start. And it could make a big difference for many families.