Harvard University

Need-blind admission regardless of citizenship, with financial aid decisions made the same way for every applicant. Families with income of $100,000/year or less (with typical assets) pay nothing — aid covers all billed expenses plus a $2,000 start-up grant. Families up to $200,000/year get full tuition covered under 'Free Tuition Plus', with further aid toward fees, food and housing assessed individually.

Families above $200,000/year still often receive aid, assessed case-by-case ('Tailored Financial Aid'). These thresholds assume typical assets (excluding home equity and retirement) and average U.S. cost of living — actual awards are individualized. Students on aid are expected to contribute roughly $3,500/year, typically through work-study. Officially: 24% of students pay nothing, 55% receive Harvard scholarship aid, and the average parent contribution is about $13,000/year.

Full billed cost (tuition, fees, food, housing) runs well into six figures before aid — check college.harvard.edu for the current year's exact published rate.

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