Financial Aid
Harvard Financial Aid Initiative
In 2004, Harvard launched the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, a commitment to expanding financial aid further to those who need it most. Today, families earning less than $85,000 USD a year pay nothing towards the cost of their son or daughter’s education. These students also receive a $2,000 start-up grant that helps support move-in costs and other expenses incurred in making the transition to college. In addition, higher income families earning up to $150,000 a year with typical assets will expect to pay anything from 0-10% of their income towards university costs. Those with incomes above $150,000 will be asked to pay proportionately more than 10% based on their circumstances (Retirement funds and house equity are not counted as assets for this purpose).
International students have the same access to financial aid as US citizens, and admission to Harvard is ‘need-blind’ – there is no admissions disadvantage for applicants requiring financial aid. Harvard meets the demonstrated financial need of all students for all four years through grants, not loans, so you will not be required to pay them back.
How financial aid makes Harvard affordable
In 2024/25, the total cost per year of attending Harvard College for a UK student, including tuition, fees, housing & food, books, travel, and personal expenses is around $80,000 USD depending on the amount spent on non-fixed items such as travel. (For a detailed breakdown of the cost of attendance, click here).
But with financial aid, the actual cost is greatly reduced for many families, some of whom will not have to pay anything towards their child’s Harvard education: the average parental contribution is around $13,000, and 25% of families pay nothing. For an estimate of how much aid you might receive, enter your family’s income and assets into Harvard’s net price calculator.
Applying for Financial Aid
Prospective students can find details of how to apply for financial aid on the main Harvard College website.
Deadlines:
For Early Action applicants: Submit your financial aid forms by 1st November. If you are admitted, you will receive a financial aid offer in mid-December. For an explanation of the meaning of Early Action, or ‘Restrictive Early Action’ as it is called at Harvard, go to the First-Year Applicants page of the main Harvard website.
For Regular Action applicants: Submit your financial aid forms by 1st February. If you are admitted, you will receive a financial aid offer around 1st April.