Harvard Merit Aid

Families who need clarity that Harvard is not a merit-optimization target. A perfect 4.0 and 1600 SAT will not earn a merit scholarship here — those credentials are table stakes for admission, and all financial aid is determined by what the family can afford to pay. If your household income is under $200,000, Harvard may be more affordable than your state flagship. If you do not qualify for need-based aid, you will pay full price (~$87,000/year in direct costs for 2025-2026).

Tuition / cost of attendance: Approximately $86,926 for 2025-2026. Tuition $59,320, required fees $5,476, room $13,532, board $8,598. Does not include books (~$800), personal expenses (~$2,800), or travel. 2026-2027 COA not yet published. Source

Outside scholarships first replace the student work expectation (~$3,500/year). Any excess reduces the Harvard scholarship dollar-for-dollar. Outside awards cannot reduce the parent contribution.

Harvard aid packages include a student work expectation of approximately $3,500 per year. Outside scholarships first replace this work expectation. Any amount exceeding the work expectation reduces the Harvard scholarship dollar-for-dollar. The parent contribution is not affected by outside scholarships. Outside awards primarily reduce the hours a student works, not what the family pays out of pocket.

Source

From the Harvard Common Data Set 2024-2025:

Source: Common Data Set

1. Assuming a 4.0 GPA and 1600 SAT will earn a merit scholarship at Harvard.+

   Harvard awards zero merit scholarships. The financial aid FAQ explicitly states: 'There are no merit-based awards.' All Harvard-administered aid is based solely on financial need, regardless of academic achievement, athletic talent, or extracurricular accomplishments.

2. Self-selecting out of applying for financial aid because the family earns over $100,000.+

   Harvard's income thresholds are among the most generous in the country. Families earning up to $200,000 (with typical assets) pay no tuition. Families earning $100,000-$200,000 contribute 0-10% of income. Not filing FAFSA and the CSS Profile guarantees you pay full price.

• Does Harvard offer merit scholarships?

  No. Harvard explicitly states: 'There are no merit-based awards, and we have no preferential policies that give some students more attractive awards than others.' All Harvard-administered aid is based solely on financial need. There is no way to earn a merit scholarship at Harvard regardless of academic profile.

• What does Harvard actually cost for families earning under $200,000?

  Families with income below $100,000 (typical assets) have zero expected parent contribution — Harvard covers tuition, room, board, and fees. Families earning up to $200,000 pay no tuition. Between $100,000-$200,000, the expected parent contribution scales from 0% to approximately 10% of income. Over 55% of Harvard students receive financial aid, with an average grant exceeding $76,000 per year.

• How does Harvard handle outside scholarships my student wins?

  Outside scholarships first replace the student work expectation (~$3,500/year). Any amount beyond that reduces the Harvard grant dollar-for-dollar. Outside scholarships cannot reduce the parent contribution. This means outside awards primarily reduce the hours a student works on campus, not what the family pays.