How much does it cost to attend Harvard, including tuition and other fees?
I’m starting to really look at my college options and Harvard has always been on my dream list, but I keep hearing different things about how expensive it is. Can anyone tell me exactly how much the tuition is there right now, and what other costs (like room, board, etc.) I’d have to expect?
Also, if anyone has experience with financial aid at Harvard, I’d love to hear about that too. I want to try to figure out if it’s even possible for my family, since my parents are both teachers and we don’t have a ton of savings. I’m just trying not to get my hopes up if it’s completely out of reach financially, but I want to get all the facts first.
Also, if anyone has experience with financial aid at Harvard, I’d love to hear about that too. I want to try to figure out if it’s even possible for my family, since my parents are both teachers and we don’t have a ton of savings. I’m just trying not to get my hopes up if it’s completely out of reach financially, but I want to get all the facts first.
5 months ago
•
102 views
Luis Nario-Malberg
• 5 months ago
Advisor
Harvard College’s full cost for the 2024-2025 academic year is estimated at around $82,000 per year if you’re paying the full sticker price. This includes:
- Tuition: $59,000
- Room: about $12,600
- Board (meal plan): about $8,300
- Student fees and other estimated personal expenses: about $2,100-$2,300
Keep in mind these numbers can fluctuate slightly each year, and actual personal expenses vary by student.
Most students don’t pay the full amount, thanks to Harvard’s financial aid. Harvard is known for offering generous, need-based aid packages. Families with incomes under $85,000 a year typically pay nothing for tuition, room, or board. If your family earns more, Harvard uses a sliding scale: roughly 15-20% of income is expected for most families earning up to $150,000, with adjustments for other factors (siblings in college, assets, medical expenses, etc.).
For example, if both your parents are teachers with a combined household income of $90,000, it’s very likely you’d qualify for significant financial aid and might pay much less than listed. Some students come from families who pay under $5,000 for the entire year.
You can get an estimate of your cost by using Harvard’s Net Price Calculator on their website. It asks details about your family income, savings, and other factors, and provides a personalized estimate. Many students are surprised at how affordable Harvard can be, especially for families without high incomes or large savings.
As an example, a friend from my high school whose parents were both public school teachers paid less out of pocket to attend Harvard than some people paid at our in-state public university, once financial aid was factored in.
Bottom line: the sticker price is high, but strong aid means Harvard can actually be one of the cheapest options for many middle- and lower-income families. Definitely don’t rule it out before seeing what their aid calculator says for your situation!
- Tuition: $59,000
- Room: about $12,600
- Board (meal plan): about $8,300
- Student fees and other estimated personal expenses: about $2,100-$2,300
Keep in mind these numbers can fluctuate slightly each year, and actual personal expenses vary by student.
Most students don’t pay the full amount, thanks to Harvard’s financial aid. Harvard is known for offering generous, need-based aid packages. Families with incomes under $85,000 a year typically pay nothing for tuition, room, or board. If your family earns more, Harvard uses a sliding scale: roughly 15-20% of income is expected for most families earning up to $150,000, with adjustments for other factors (siblings in college, assets, medical expenses, etc.).
For example, if both your parents are teachers with a combined household income of $90,000, it’s very likely you’d qualify for significant financial aid and might pay much less than listed. Some students come from families who pay under $5,000 for the entire year.
You can get an estimate of your cost by using Harvard’s Net Price Calculator on their website. It asks details about your family income, savings, and other factors, and provides a personalized estimate. Many students are surprised at how affordable Harvard can be, especially for families without high incomes or large savings.
As an example, a friend from my high school whose parents were both public school teachers paid less out of pocket to attend Harvard than some people paid at our in-state public university, once financial aid was factored in.
Bottom line: the sticker price is high, but strong aid means Harvard can actually be one of the cheapest options for many middle- and lower-income families. Definitely don’t rule it out before seeing what their aid calculator says for your situation!
Luis Nario-Malberg
Mooresville, North Carolina
Harvard College, Class of 2018, A.B. in Philosophy
Experience
5 years