Harvard University, one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S., has decided to provide virtually all financial support necessary for school life, including tuition, tuition and dormitory fees, to students from families with annual incomes of less than 100,000 dollars. Students from families with annual incomes of less than 200,000 dollars are also exempt from tuition fees. The Boston Globe and CNN reported on Monday that Harvard has decided to provide massive support to middle-class families, including tuition and tuition exemptions, from the fall semester. According to the Harvard Journal, Harvard President Alan Garber said, “By allowing more people to study at Harvard (without financial difficulties), students will be able to broaden their experiences and perspectives, and their intellectual and personal growth will be promoted.”
According to Harvard, students from families with an annual income of less than $100,000 will receive $2,000 in initial aid in their first year of admission and $2,000 in preparation for graduation in their third year. Students from families with annual incomes of less than $200,000 are also expected to receive additional support depending on the financial situation of each family. Harvard said, “This effort has ensured that students from middle-class families, especially those from middle-class families, can receive support.” In particular, the Boston Globe welcomed the decision, saying, “The top half of the middle-class income range in Boston, the capital and largest city of Massachusetts, where Harvard is located, is $15 to $200,000 a year.”
Regarding foreign students, Harvard said, “Foreign students can also receive financial support on the same basis as American students,” adding, “Foreign students are not eligible for federal government subsidies, but universities provide their own scholarships and in-school jobs for foreign students.”
Previously, Harvard has been increasing undergraduate financial aid over the past 20 years. Harvard launched the Harvard Financial Assistance Initiative in 2004 to provide full tuition and dormitory fees to students from families with an annual income of $40,000 or less. This standard has been increased four times, adjusted to $85,000 in 2023. Of these, Harvard has so far provided more than $3.6 billion in undergraduate financial aid.
Meanwhile, not only Harvard but also several prestigious U.S. universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have implemented a tuition exemption system based on annual income. At the end of last year, the prestigious University of Pennsylvania in the eastern part of the U.S. as well as MIT exempted tuition fees to students from families with annual income of 200,000 dollars or less. Dartmouth University, Virginia University and the University of North Carolina have also decided to provide financial support in a similar way.
Some analysts say Harvard’s move was influenced by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in 2023 that makes it unconstitutional to select college freshmen based on race. According to statistics released by Harvard University, the ratio of black students among first graders stood at 14 percent in last fall semester, down 4 percentage points from last year’s 18 percent. The New York Times said that Harvard’s move is a new measure to strengthen diversity.
SAM KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
