Harvard University

In 2022, tuition for full-time Harvard students was $54,269 a year.

Tuition increased 3.06% in 2023–from $52,659 the prior year. On average, college tuition goes up about 3% every year.

If this makes attending the college of your dreams seem daunting, remember, the advertized cost of tuition doesn't give you enough information to determine the actual cost of attending any given college. Many students pay a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts kick in. And, student loans can make thecost of college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

Harvard University meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at Harvard University is around $67,898 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2023 had an average of $13,683 in student loans per borrower.

Does Harvard University Offer In-State and Out-of-State Tuition?

Harvard University is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for students who live in other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer reduced tuition for students who are residents of that state.

Attending a college where you qualify for the reduced tuition offered to state residentscan drastically reduce the total cost of attending college. Be sure to verify your state's criteria for as an in-state resident. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. The most common requirement is that students must have lived in the state for a full year before starting school. There may be additional requirements too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Harvard University International Student Tuition

Tuition at Harvard University is the same for each student.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but may qualify for private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Harvard University:

•On-campus jobs •Harvard University-specific loans •Harvard University-specific scholarships

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Harvard University Housing Expenses, Fees, and More

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In addition to the cost of tuition, room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Harvard University.

Room and Board Costs at Harvard University

Housing and campus dining at Harvard University is $20,374 a year. This covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a dining plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the Harvard University's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who do not live on-campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $12,424.

Meal-plan costs can depend on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at Harvard University

The cost of books often surprises first-year college students. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the textbooks, computer programs, or other materials are required.. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools have resources so that those with demonstrated need to get help covering these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Harvard University

The total cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these factors can drastically impact your transportation budget. At Harvard University, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

The location of a college or university can also have a big effect on the amount you'll have to spend just to get around. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in an urban area is often costly, but cities may offer more trains, busses or low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Harvard Universityis in a city in Massachusetts, near Boston.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.

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The Full Cost of Attending Harvard University

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Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of how much students can expect to shell out for Harvard University.

How Much Does Harvard University Cost?

What will the cost of attending Harvard University be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$54,269
Room and Board	$20,374
Board Only	$7,950
Other expenses	$2,500

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$81,950
Off-Campus	$69,526

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

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Financial Aid at Harvard University

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The majority of Harvard University undergrads use financial aid to to cover the cost of tuition. In 2023, 3,943 of the 7,240 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Harvard University meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $67,898 a year. Around 15% of Harvard University undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Harvard University graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $13,683 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$11,581
Harvard University-Specific Loans	$8,149
Private Loans	$30,199

Most Common Loans for Harvard University Students
Federal Loans	6%
Institutional Loans	13%
Private loans	1%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Harvard University financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Harvard University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, Harvard University awarded 3,943 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $243 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $12.63 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Harvard University

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Harvard University students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Harvard University was $67,898 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Harvard University seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$14,052
Off-Campus	$1,628

What will attending Harvard University really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Harvard University's net cost calculator on their website.

Harvard University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Harvard University offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does Harvard University Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to make attending more affordable. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Harvard has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

Harvard University's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

For more information about Harvard University's endowment, check with the school directly.

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Learn More About Harvard University

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To learn more about Harvard University, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

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