Harvard College Admission with Need-Based Financial Aid

Harvard College is need-blind and meets 100 percent of demonstrated need for all admitted students, with identical treatment for international and US applicants.

The headline numbers are striking: starting from the 2025/26 academic year, attendance is completely free (tuition, housing, food, and fees) for students from families with incomes of USD 100,000 or less, and tuition-free for family incomes up to USD 200,000, with need-based support extending well above that. About a quarter of undergraduates attend entirely free.

For autumn 2027 entry, Restrictive Early Action is due around 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision around 1 January 2027, with financial aid documents submitted alongside the application.

• Open to applicants of all nationalities; need-blind admission for everyone
• Outstanding academic record in a rigorous curriculum
• Standardized testing per the current policy
• No separate scholarship application; aid is determined from financial documents

• Full demonstrated need met for four years
• Free attendance (tuition, housing, food, fees) below USD 100,000 family income
• Tuition-free below USD 200,000 family income
• No loans in aid packages; family contribution replaced by grants and term-time work options

• Common Application or Coalition Application
• School transcripts and counselor materials
• Teacher recommendations
• Test scores per current policy
• CSS Profile and financial documents (international students can submit equivalents)

• Apply via the Common App by the Early or Regular deadline
• Submit financial aid documents at the same time
• Interviews are offered where available
• Aid offers arrive with admission decisions in December (REA) or late March (RD)