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Top universities abroad including Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Texas (UT) System have announced expanded financial aid programs, offering free tuition to students from middle-income families.
These initiatives aim to ease the financial burden on students by significantly increasing the income thresholds for eligibility.
At MIT, families earning under $200,000 annually will now qualify for tuition-free education, while the UT System will waive tuition and fees for students from families earning $100,000 or less.
Meanwhile, Harvard will provide full financial aid to families earning below a certain threshold.
With rising college costs, these programmes ensure that more students can access a world-class education without the stress of tuition fees.
Students from families with incomes of $100,000 or less will receive a completely free education, covering all costs. It will make approximately 86 per cent of US families eligible for assistance.
Harvard College will cover all billed expenses — including tuition, housing, food, health insurance, and travel — for students from families earning $100,000 or less.
These students will also receive a $2,000 start-up grant in their first year and another $2,000 launch grant in their junior year to help with post-graduation transitions.
Students from families earning $200,000 or less will qualify for free tuition, along with additional aid to cover other expenses based on individual financial needs.
Even families earning above $200,000 may be eligible for financial aid, depending on their circumstances. Harvard’s financial aid staff will work closely with students and families to support their specific financial situations.
Since the launch of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, the University has provided over $3.6 billion in undergraduate financial assistance. For the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard College has allocated $275 million for financial aid.
Currently, 55 per cent of UG students receive financial support, with their families contributing an average of $15,700 for the 2023-24 academic year.
The enhanced financial aid programme aims to ease the financial burden on middle-income families and reinforce Harvard’s commitment to educational equity, as mentioned in the Harvard Gazette.