Harvard University prides itself on a richly diverse student body. This diversity isn’t limited to academics or geographic locations; it extends to economic backgrounds too. The generous financial aid packages offered by Harvard provide deserving students and their families with the opportunity to experience world-class education, irrespective of their financial standings. Let’s debunk some common queries about financial aid at Harvard and provide a clearer understanding of how it works.
The Need-blind Admissions Process at Harvard
At Harvard, your family’s ability to pay does not influence the admissions decision. This principle, known as a need-blind admissions process, makes Harvard accessible to students from all economic backgrounds. Once admitted, the university commits to meeting 100% of your demonstrated need. This funding comes through scholarships (grant funding) and student term time work that helps you pay for personal expenses. Unlike many other institutions, Harvard’s financial aid program does not necessitate loans.
Is Harvard Affordable For You?
Harvard’s financial aid program is designed to make the university affordable for all families. If your family earns less than $75,000 per year, Harvard becomes tuition-free for you. And if your family’s annual income lies between $75,000 and $150,000, the expected parental contribution ranges from 0% to 10% of their income. This is why, for over 90% of American families, attending Harvard is more affordable than attending their local state university.
Even families with an income exceeding $150,000 annually can qualify for financial aid. If paying for a year at Harvard poses a challenge, you should definitely apply for financial aid. Be sure to provide all relevant information, such as any siblings in school or any family members (like grandparents) that you might be supporting. These factors, along with your family’s income and assets, are taken into account when determining your eligibility for financial aid.
Harvard’s Commitment to Need-blind Admissions
One common misconception is that applying for financial aid can negatively impact the admissions process. However, at Harvard, this is not the case. The university follows need-blind admissions, meaning your financial aid requirements will not disadvantage your application. In fact, the admissions committee often views applicants who have overcome obstacles, including financial ones, favorably.
This need-blind policy is applicable to applicants regardless of their citizenship status, the passports they hold, or where they attended high school. Every student, irrespective of their circumstances, can get financial aid from Harvard.
No Merit or Athletic Scholarships: Strictly Need-based Aid at Harvard
At Harvard, the only factor determining your financial aid is your need. The university does not offer merit or athletic scholarships. The philosophy is simple: you have worked hard to get in; Harvard wants to ensure you can afford to attend.
A team of counselors works with students and families to calculate the need-based award. They carefully evaluate each family’s financial scenario, considering any unexpected circumstances that might have occurred after you completed the financial applications. This thorough approach ensures that the financial aid package accurately matches you and your family’s ability to pay for school.
Estimating Your Financial Aid Package
Harvard provides a useful tool for estimating your financial aid package even before you apply: the net price calculator. By inputting some data points about you and your family into this calculator, you can get an immediate estimate of what your financial aid package might look like.
The Harvard admissions application comes with a fee of $85. However, if you or your family are unable to afford this fee, Harvard offers a fee waiver. Thousands of students apply for, and receive, these fee waivers each year, enabling them to complete their admissions applications.
Financial Aid for International Students at Harvard
International students often wonder if financial aid opportunities differ for them. At Harvard, the answer is no. Financial aid is the same for international students as it is for domestic ones.
Regardless of where a student went to high school or what passport they hold, Harvard commits to meeting 100% of every admitted student’s demonstrated financial need. It is one of the few schools worldwide practicing need-blind admissions for international students and meeting 100% of every international student’s demonstrated financial need.
Aid for Undocumented Students
Harvard’s financial aid policy is also inclusive of undocumented students. The university provides financial aid based on every student’s need, regardless of their citizenship or citizenship status. So, all admitted students, irrespective of their documentation, can be eligible to receive financial aid.
How to Apply for Financial Aid at Harvard
Applying for financial aid at Harvard involves several crucial steps. You’ll need to submit the CSS profile, which asks for information about your parents’ income, assets, and costs. It also provides space for you to upload documentation, typically tax forms, to give Harvard an understanding of your family’s financial standing.
For U.S. citizens or permanent residents, there’s also the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid). This helps determine eligibility for federal sources of funding. Both of these forms must be submitted annually as part of the financial aid process.
Annual submissions allow for updates in family financial situations, such as loss of income, another sibling enrolling in college, or additional costs the family now needs to handle. If there’s extra information you believe would be useful to the review, you’re always welcome to submit a letter of special circumstances or any documentation of additional costs.
Conclusion
Harvard’s financial aid programs are comprehensive, providing assistance based on each student’s specific need. They aim to make the university affordable for everyone and maintain a diverse student body. So, if you’ve been wondering whether Harvard is affordable for you, the answer is almost certainly yes.