Harvard announced Monday it plans to offer free tuition for students whose families earn $200,000 and below, making it the latest elite school to expand financial aid after the Supreme Court banned the use of racial preferences in college admissions.
The plan with the new income cap will take effect starting this fall. Previously at Harvard, only families with incomes under $85,000 were offered free tuition. The median household income in the US is about $80,000. In addition to boosting diversity, the move could serve to improve the school’s image as higher education is under assault by the Trump administration and growing unpopular with Americans who have lost confidence in education.
The University of Pennsylvania announced last November that it would offer free tuition for students from families making under $200,000. Other universities have also increased their financial aid limits in the past year. The annual cost of attending Harvard, including tuition and housing, was almost $83,000 this school year.
In addition to offering free tuition to students with family incomes up to $200,000, Harvard said for those from families making under $100,000, it will cover tuition, fees, food, housing, travel costs between campus and home, event fees and activities, and health insurance, if needed.