Top Universities Expand Financial Aid, Offering Free Tuition to Mid-Income Families

Leading international universities such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of Texas (UT) System have revealed enhanced financial aid initiatives, providing free tuition to students belonging to middle-income households. These efforts aims to ease the economic strain on students by greatly raising the income limits for qualification.

At MIT, families with annual incomes below $200,000 will now be eligible for tuition-free education, whereas the UT System will eliminate tuition and fees for students whose families earn $100,000 or less. In the meantime, Harvard will offer complete financial assistance to families making under a specific limit.

As college expenses continue to increase, these programs guarantee that more students can attain a high level education without the burden of tuition costs.

Students from households earning $100,000 or less will obtain a fully free education, encompassing all expenses. This will render about 86 percent of families in the US qualified for assistance. Harvard College will pay for all incurred costs — such as tuition, housing, meals, health insurance, and travel — for students whose families earn $100,000 or less. These students will additionally receive a $2,000 initial grant in their first year and an extra $2,000 launch grant in their junior year to assist with transitions after graduation

Students from households with incomes below $200,000 each year are eligible for free tuition at MIT. It has now increased from the prior $140,000 limit.

Families with incomes under $100,000 will get complete coverage for tuition, housing, books, and personal costs, essentially rendering MIT free of charge. At present, 35% of MIT undergraduates do not pay tuition, and this increase will assist even more students.

Starting in the fall of 2025, the University of Texas (UT) System will eliminate tuition and compulsory fees for students whose families earn $100,000 or less each year. This updated policy will be implemented at all nine UT academic institutions, consolidating the diverse financial aid programs that were previously established throughout the system.