Harvard introduces free tuition for students whose family income does not exceed $200 thousand
Harvard University has announced that students whose families have an annual income of no more than $200,000 will be able to study for free. The decision to expand financial support will come into force already this autumn, informs The New York Times.
Previously, only students whose families earned less than $85,000 a year were eligible for free education. For comparison, the average income of American households is about 80 thousand dollars.
The university cited the desire to make the student environment more diverse as the reason for such a move. It was also influenced by a decision by the US Supreme Court, which prohibited the consideration of race in admissions.
Experts welcome this initiative and emphasize the importance of economic support to ensure equal access to higher education. According to Richard Kahlenberg, director of the American Identity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute, such a policy would help attract more students from low-income families, many of whom are minorities.
Harvard President Alan M. In his statement, Garber emphasized that increased financial access will create a more diverse academic environment. He noted that studying in a team with different experiences contributes to the personal and intellectual development of students.
According to the new rules, the university will cover not only the cost of tuition, but also the costs of housing, food, transportation, and health insurance for students who will be eligible for financial assistance. Additional grants are also provided, for example, for winter clothing or basic needs of students.
Harvard has already spent $275 million on student financial aid this year. At the same time, the exact amount of expenses for the new program has not yet been disclosed. The university also said that even students from families with an income of more than $200,000 can qualify for certain types of financial aid, depending on personal circumstances.
