Harvard offers free tuition for some students

Harvard University has announced a significant expansion of its financial aid, making it completely free for students from families with incomes under $100,000. This change will take effect starting with the 2025-26 school year. About 86% of US families will qualify for Harvard's financial aid, which will cover tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs for families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less. For families with annual incomes under $200,000, attendance will be tuition-free. This move is part of a trend among elite schools to expand financial aid since the Supreme Court overturned affirmative action in 2023. Harvard's decision comes as the university faces financial uncertainties, including a hiring freeze and potential funding cuts due to a federal investigation into alleged antisemitism. The university's president, Alan Garber, stated that this move will allow more students to attend, regardless of their financial circumstances, and foster their intellectual and personal growth. Harvard's tuition and fees, including housing, cost nearly $83,000 in the 2024-25 school year for undergraduate students. The announcement is seen as a way to increase diversity and make the university more accessible to students from different backgrounds. This move is also part of a broader trend in higher education, as Americans' confidence in higher education has fallen significantly over the past decade, and schools prepare for a looming decline in enrollment.