Harvard University offers free tuition to students from families earning Rs 1.73 crore or less

Harvard President Alan Garber framed the move as a way to expand access and diversity. “Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all of our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth,” he said, as quoted by BBC.

Currently, the university fully covers tuition, housing, and food costs for students from families earning $85,000 or less annually.

However, according to US census, real median household income was $80,610 in 2023.

The announcement comes as the Trump administration ramps up scrutiny of university funding, targeting institutions over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The Department of Education is investigating 52 universities for alleged “racial preferences” in education, and Trump has already pulled $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University over accusations it failed to curb antisemitism on campus.

With the cost of private universities averaging $58,000 per year, according to the Education Data Initiative, Harvard’s move aligns with similar tuition-free policies at the University of Pennsylvania and MIT. It also follows last year’s Supreme Court ruling that overturned affirmative action, leading to a decline in racial diversity at universities nationwide.