Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $85,540. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | All students |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $61,676 |
| Housing & meals | $20,374 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 |
| Personal & travel | $6,255 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,765 |
| Total cost of attendance | $85,540 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
College Scorecard
Need-based and merit aid at Harvard University
What Harvard University reported for full-time first-year students in fall 2025. Merit aid is the money net price averages miss for families who don't qualify for need-based aid.
If you qualify for need-based aid
If you don't qualify for need-based aid
Items H2-H2A. Common Data Set 2025-26 (fall 2025 first-year students), published by the college.
Harvard University net price compared with other Massachusetts colleges
Harvard University has the 15th-lowest average net price of 67 Massachusetts colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $17,163 | 65% | $64,874 |
| 12 | College of Our Lady of the Elms | $17,545 | 68% | $51,540 |
| 13 | University of Massachusetts-Boston | $17,707 | 49% | $65,865 |
| 14 | Williams College | $17,716 | 94% | $88,665 |
| 15 | Harvard University | $19,066 | 98% | $101,817 |
| 16 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $20,111 | 96% | $143,372 |
| 17 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | $20,927 | 52% | $68,804 |
| 18 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy | $21,582 | 74% | $82,392 |
| 19 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $22,383 | 83% | $71,631 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All Massachusetts colleges →
Why Harvard University costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | 4% | $19,066 | 98% | $101,817 | This school |
| Tufts University | 11% | $39,998 | 94% | $83,214 | |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 5% | $20,111 | 96% | $143,372 | |
| Boston College | 16% | $41,704 | 91% | $103,937 | |
| Williams College | 8% | $17,716 | 94% | $88,665 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
Harvard University would cost you $20,932 less per year than Tufts University, on average.
- Lower sticker price at Harvard University, mostly from lower tuition & fees (−$9,028).
- Harvard University gives aided families $18,172 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, Massachusetts resident | Harvard University | Tufts University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $61,676 | $70,704 | −$9,028 |
| Books & supplies | $1,000 | $1,000 | $0 |
| Housing & meals | $20,374 | $17,660 | +$2,714 |
| Personal & travel | $6,255 | $1,796 | +$4,459 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$3,765 | −$2,860 | −$905 |
| Sticker price | $85,540 | $88,300 | −$2,760 |
| Average grants | −$66,474 | −$48,302 | −$18,172 |
| You pay | $19,066 | $39,998 | −$20,932 |
“+” means Harvard University costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Harvard University cost questions
How much is tuition at Harvard University?
Tuition and fees are $61,676 a year.
What is the total cost of attending Harvard University?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $85,540 a year.
What do families actually pay at Harvard University?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $19,066 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $8,697; $48–75k pay $2,091; $110k+ pay $53,337.
Does Harvard University give merit scholarships?
For fall 2025, 4 full-time first-year students with no financial need received merit scholarships or grants from Harvard University, averaging $4,728 (Common Data Set 2025-26, excluding athletic awards). Students with need had 100% of it met on average.
How much debt do Harvard University graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $12,500, and 0.9% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to Harvard University overview