How much does tuition and fees cost at Harvard?

I'm a high school junior thinking about applying to Harvard. Obviously, it's a top-tier school, but I'm curious about the cost. How much are the tuition and fees at Harvard University? Is there any financial aid available? Appreciate any info!

Tuition and fees at Harvard University for the 2024-2025 academic year are approximately $56,550, with room, board, and other costs adding up to around $26,316, which makes the total estimated cost of attendance about $82,866. However, it's essential to consider that this is the sticker price and may not reflect the actual cost for many students.

Harvard offers generous financial aid to its students. In fact, it has a need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, which means your financial need won't impact your admissions chances. Harvard is also committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for those admitted, so your financial situation also won't impact your ability to attend if accepted.

Families with an annual income of less than $85,000 are not expected to contribute towards the cost of attendance, and the financial aid package will cover tuition, fees, room, and board entirely. For those with incomes between $85,000 and $150,000, the expected family contribution is between 0-10% of the income, and higher incomes will have a contribution proportional to their financial resources. About 55% of Harvard students receive need-based scholarships which, on average, cover around 70% of the total cost of attendance.

To get an estimate of your financial aid package at Harvard, you can use their online Net Price Calculator: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator/. This tool will give you a more accurate sense of what you personally would pay at Harvard.

In conclusion, while the sticker price at Harvard might seem high, the school provides substantial need-based financial aid for eligible students. And, as always, there are external scholarships and opportunities you may want to explore to offset the cost further.

If you have any questions about cost of attendance or your eligibility for aid at Harvard, don't hesitate to reach out to their financial aid office directly. They're there to help, after all!

Finally, on a separate note, if you end up applying to Harvard and want tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, so that you can take advantage of their generous financial aid offerings, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle Harvard's school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-harvard-university-essays/. At top-tier schools like Harvard, the essays are often one of the best ways to distinguish yourself even in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Good luck with your college process!