Harvard University

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Harvard University was $52,659 a year.

Tuition increased 2.96% in 2022–from $51,143 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 total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students owe far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. Additionally, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you're done with college.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Harvard University

Harvard University is a private, nonprofit institution, so it has the same tuition for residents of Massachusetts as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public insitutions often offer a lower cost of attendance for students who are residents of that state.

Choosing a college where you are eligible for in-state tuition can drastically reduce the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Don't forget to verify your state's guidelines for how to qualify for as an in-state resident. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. Most states require students to have resided in the state for a certain period of time before qualifying. There may be other criteria too, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Tuition for International Students at Harvard University

Harvard has the same tuition for international students as for those from out of state.

International students are not eligible for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or Harvard-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities.. International students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for the following types of financial support at Harvard:

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

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Harvard University Room, Board, Fees, and More

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

Room and Board Costs at Harvard

Room and board at Harvard is $19,502 a year. This includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that allows you to eat all or some of your meals the school dining facilities. Students who live off campus but still want to use the dining facilities can opt-in for a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $12,056.

Meal-plan costs may vary depending on the numnber of meals you intend to eat on-campus

How Much Do Books Cost at Harvard?

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 used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

The majority of colleges charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

There may be optional 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 who may struggle to participate because of cost can get help covering these fees.

The Cost of Transportation at Harvard

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you take a subway, car or an airplane to get to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand getting around in a city may be costly, but cities may offer more buses, trains and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Harvard Universityis located in a urban setting in Massachusetts, near Boston.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, be sure to leave some room in your budget for personal expenses, like movies, takeouts, furniture or appliances for your dorm or housing, and essentials like laundry detergent, toothpaste and toilet paper.

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Financial Breakdown for Harvard University

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Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better estimate of how much students can expect to shell out for Harvard.

How Much Does Harvard Cost?

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

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition	$52,659
Room and Board	$19,502
Board Only	$7,446
Other expenses	$2,700

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

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus	$80,263
Off-Campus	$68,207

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 undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2022, 3,208 of the 5,222 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Harvard meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $62,252 a year. Around 21% of Harvard undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Harvard graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $16,366 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans	$10,811
State Loans	$2,506
Harvard-Specific Loans	$8,043
Private Loans	$53,510

Most Common Loans for Harvard Students
Federal Loans	7%
Institutional Loans	18%
Private loans	2%

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 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 2022, Harvard awarded 3,208 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $177.9 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $7.03 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Harvard University Net Cost

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 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 was $62,252 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Harvard seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus	$18,011
Off-Campus	$5,955

What will attending Harvard 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 get a better idea of the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Harvard'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 offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Harvard Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even if you qualify for a waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

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.

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