Policy on Outside Funding
Outside awards are used first to reduce or replace the term-time work portion of your award. Outside awards that exceed the term-time work expectation will reduce Harvard Scholarship dollar for dollar. If your grant funds are reduced because you have excess outside awards, you may petition for a one-time exception to apply up to an additional $1,500 of your outside awards toward the purchase of a computer before your Harvard Scholarship is adjusted.
Policy on Health Insurance
All Harvard students are automatically enrolled in the Harvard University Student Health Insurance Program and may apply for a waiver if they have adequate coverage. If you don’t have health insurance coverage that allows you to waive the health insurance fee, financial aid is available to cover the cost.
Policy on Travel Allowance
Estimated transportation costs vary depending on the student’s location and will be determined by Harvard. These typically range from $0-$5,000.
Policy on Student Contribution
As the primary beneficiary of a Harvard education, all students are expected to contribute to their college expenses. Your award will include a standard expected contribution from your own term-time work earnings. We do not have a summer earnings expectation.
If you have savings or other assets, you will also be expected to contribute a small portion toward college expenses. This determination will be included with your financial aid award.
Most students work to meet their student contribution, and jobs on campus are plentiful and varied. Some students use outside awards or loans to replace their expected contribution. If you can't save up enough for your student contribution, the Harvard Loan program may be able to help.
Requirements Associated with Maintaining this Award
In order to remain enrolled, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students are required to submit financial aid application materials annually.
Harvard College Financial Aid Overview
Harvard College's goal is to bring the most promising students to Harvard. They created and repeatedly expanded a financial aid program to help ensure that admitted students can afford their Harvard education. Harvard College's financial aid officers will work closely with your family to understand your financial situation, then create a comprehensive financial aid package that accounts for the full cost of attendance.
Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, Harvard College will be free for students whose family income is $100,000 and below. This covers all billed expenses including tuition, food, housing, health insurance, and travel costs. Additionally, each of these students will receive a $2,000 start-up grant in their first year for move-in expenses and a $2,000 launch grant during their junior year to help support the transition beyond Harvard.
Students with family incomes of $200,000 or less and typical assets will receive free tuition and may qualify for aid to cover additional billed expenses, depending on their financial circumstances. And many students with family incomes above $200,000 will also receive aid, depending on their circumstances.
