Prime Highlights:

• Yale University will waive tuition for students from families earning under $100,000 and expand aid for those earning up to $200,000.
• The move significantly improves college affordability, allowing nearly half of American families to access fully funded education, including housing and meals.

Key Facts:

• Yale’s tuition exceeds $67,000 per year, with total attendance costs above $90,000, but the new policy covers 80% of US households for tuition.
• The expansion aligns with similar measures by other elite universities following the 2023 Supreme Court ruling on admissions, emphasizing income-based aid.

Background

Yale University has announced that it will waive tuition for many new undergraduate students starting this fall, expanding its financial aid program in a major step to improve college affordability. The Ivy League institution said students from families earning under $100,000 a year will pay no tuition, while those from households earning up to $200,000 will also qualify for tuition-free education.

The policy applies to students enrolling in the upcoming fall semester and marks a significant expansion of Yale’s existing aid program. Earlier, the university offered free attendance only to students from families earning up to $75,000 annually.

Yale’s tuition alone now exceeds $67,000 per year. When housing, meals, and other expenses are added, the total cost of attendance rises above $90,000. Under the new plan, Yale said students from about 80% of US households will qualify for free tuition. Nearly half of American families will qualify for a fully funded education that includes housing, meals, and additional support.

Jeremiah Quinlan, Yale’s dean of undergraduate admission and financial aid, said the change reflects the university’s long-term commitment to access. He said the policy ensures that financial barriers will not prevent qualified students from attending Yale College.

The decision places Yale alongside other elite universities that have recently expanded financial aid. Last year, Harvard University set similar income limits, and Princeton University offered more help to families earning up to $250,000. The University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have also strengthened aid programs.

Universities made these changes after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling limited using race in admissions. Many schools now give more aid based on income to help students from diverse backgrounds.

Yale said eligible students may also receive free housing, meals, travel support, health insurance and grants for books and supplies, allowing them to focus on academics rather than finances.