Harvard University has one of the most generous undergraduate financial aid programs in the United States. International students are considered for assistance under the same need based policy used for American students, and requesting aid does not reduce an applicant’s chance of admission.
Harvard College does not award undergraduate scholarships because of academic grades, athletic ability or test scores. Its institutional assistance is based entirely on financial need.
An admitted student whose family cannot afford Harvard’s published cost may receive grants covering tuition, fees, housing, food, health insurance, travel and other approved expenses. Harvard also states that it meets each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need.
This guide focuses on undergraduate financial aid at Harvard College. Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School and the other graduate schools operate separate funding systems.
Does Harvard Offer Scholarships to International Students?
Yes. Harvard offers need based scholarships and grants to eligible international undergraduates.
The university uses the terms scholarship and grant for assistance that does not have to be repaid. This funding is different from a merit scholarship.
Harvard does not award undergraduate financial aid simply because a student has excellent examination results or an impressive extracurricular record. Academic strength may help the student gain admission, but the amount of aid is determined by the family’s financial situation.
International students have the same access to Harvard’s institutional financial aid funding as students from the United States. Although most foreign students cannot receive United States federal aid, Harvard uses its own scholarship funds and student employment resources to support eligible international students.
Is Harvard Need Blind for International Applicants?
Harvard follows a need blind admission policy for international undergraduate applicants.
This means the admission committee does not use the applicant’s ability to pay when deciding whether to offer admission. A student who requests a large amount of financial aid should not be disadvantaged simply because of that request.
Harvard also states that it meets the demonstrated financial need of every admitted student, regardless of nationality or citizenship.
Need blind admission should not be confused with guaranteed admission or an automatic full scholarship. Harvard must first admit the applicant. The financial aid office then reviews the family’s income, assets and circumstances to determine how much the family can reasonably contribute.
Harvard Study Costs for 2026/2027
Harvard has published the following undergraduate cost of attendance for the 2026/2027 academic year:
| Expense | Estimated amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $62,226 |
| Fees | $6,216 |
| Housing | $14,250 |
| Food | $8,942 |
| Estimated personal expenses | $2,500 |
| Estimated books | $1,000 |
| Transportation | $0 to $5,000 |
| Total before health insurance | $95,134 to $100,134 |
Harvard also requires student health insurance unless the student has another qualifying health plan. The 2026/2027 insurance charge is $4,954.
An international student who cannot waive the health insurance charge may therefore face a total estimated cost of approximately $100,088 to $105,088 before receiving financial aid.
Transportation varies because a student travelling from Nigeria, Ghana, India or another distant country may spend more than someone living close to Massachusetts.
The published cost is the amount used for planning before grants and scholarships are applied. Many students receiving financial aid pay substantially less.
How Harvard Calculates Financial Need
Harvard begins with the approved cost of attendance and subtracts the amount it believes the family and student can contribute.
The remaining amount is the student’s demonstrated financial need.
For example, suppose the complete approved budget is $102,000 and Harvard determines that the family can contribute $7,000. The student’s demonstrated need would be approximately $95,000.
Harvard may then use grant funds, student employment and outside scholarships to meet that need. Loans are available to families who choose to borrow, but they are not required as part of the standard aid package.
The financial review may consider:
- Parents’ income
- Family savings and investments
- Business ownership
- Property and other assets
- Household size
- Number of dependants
- Unusual medical or family expenses
- Outside scholarships
- Changes in employment or income
Students must reapply for aid each academic year. The amount may change if the family’s finances or Harvard’s cost of attendance changes.
Harvard’s Income Based Aid Policy
Beginning with the 2025/2026 academic year, Harvard expanded its undergraduate financial aid program.
Families with annual income of $100,000 or less and typical assets are generally expected to pay nothing toward the student’s education.
Families with income below $200,000 and typical assets are generally eligible for assistance covering at least the full cost of tuition. They may receive additional aid for housing, food, fees and other expenses depending on their financial circumstances.
Families earning more than $200,000 may also qualify when their circumstances demonstrate financial need.
These figures should be treated as planning benchmarks rather than automatic scholarship guarantees. Families with substantial assets may be expected to contribute more.
International families are assessed using the same need based principles, but Harvard reviews each family individually. Currency values, income documentation, assets and local financial circumstances may affect the final calculation.
What Can Harvard Financial Aid Cover?
A generous Harvard aid package can cover much more than tuition.
Depending on the student’s demonstrated need, assistance may include:
- Tuition
- Mandatory fees
- University housing
- Food
- Books
- Health insurance
- Personal expenses
- Transportation between home and Harvard
- Winter clothing
- Approved student activities
Students receiving financial aid have a travel allowance included in their award to help with transportation to and from Cambridge. The allowance is based on an estimated travel cost, so the actual ticket price may be higher or lower.
Students receiving Harvard’s highest level of aid may also qualify for additional support such as a first year start up grant and assistance with essential expenses.
Eligibility for International Students
An international student must first qualify for admission to Harvard College.
There is no separate nationality restriction for undergraduate institutional aid. Students from Nigeria and other countries may request financial aid.
A strong first year application generally includes:
- The Common Application
- Harvard specific questions
- Secondary school transcript
- School report and counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- SAT or ACT results
- Midyear academic report
- Application fee or approved fee waiver
Harvard currently requires first year applicants to submit the SAT or ACT. It does not publish a minimum qualifying score because test performance is considered alongside the student’s school, curriculum and other academic evidence.
Applicants whose first language is not English are not required to submit TOEFL, IELTS or another English proficiency examination for first year admission. They may submit a result voluntarily. Harvard still expects applicants to demonstrate strong English ability through their application and academic record.
How to Apply for Harvard Financial Aid
Complete the CSS Profile
Prospective students applying for 2026/2027 aid must complete the CSS Profile through the College Board.
Harvard’s CSS Profile code is 3434.
If the student’s parents are married or live together, they generally complete one profile. If they are separated or divorced, each parent may need to complete a separate profile.
The CSS Profile asks about income, assets, household expenses, businesses and other financial circumstances.
Submit documents through IDOC
After completing the CSS Profile, the family may be asked to submit supporting records through the College Board Institutional Documentation Service, known as IDOC.
International families may provide:
- Income tax documents from their country
- Wage statements
- Pay slips
- Employer letters
- Business accounts
- Other evidence of annual income
Documents should be translated into English. Harvard says an official professional translation is not usually required for financial aid documents, and families may provide a clear translation themselves.
Use the alternate application when necessary
Harvard provides an alternate financial aid process for international students who cannot use the usual online system because of exceptional circumstances.
Applicants should not choose the alternate process merely to avoid completing the CSS Profile. It is intended for students facing genuine access or payment difficulties.
Harvard Admission and Financial Aid Deadlines
The main deadlines are:
| Application route | Admission deadline | Financial aid deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Restrictive Early Action | November 1 | November 1 |
| Regular Decision | January 1 | February 1 |
| Transfer admission | March 1 | March 1 |
Harvard encourages applicants to submit financial aid materials on time so that admitted students can receive their aid decisions together with their admission results.
The Common Application normally opens on August 1.
Students applying after August 1, 2026 will generally be applying for entry in fall 2027. They should confirm the next academic year’s cost and financial aid instructions when Harvard publishes them.
Application Fee Waiver
The Harvard College application fee is $90.
Applicants who cannot afford the fee may request a waiver through the Common Application. Harvard states that financial hardship should not prevent a student from applying.
Requesting a legitimate fee waiver does not reduce the applicant’s chance of admission.
Financial Aid and the Student Visa
After accepting admission, an international student must complete Harvard’s immigration process and obtain the appropriate visa document.
Students normally need Form I 20 before applying for an F 1 student visa. The financial aid award can serve as evidence of Harvard funding, while the family may need to document any remaining contribution.
The visa process generally includes:
- Receiving Form I 20 from Harvard
- Paying the I 901 SEVIS fee
- Completing Form DS 160
- Scheduling a visa interview
- Presenting proof of funding and other required documents
Receiving Form I 20 does not guarantee visa approval. Applicants must still satisfy the requirements of the United States embassy or consulate handling the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harvard offer full scholarships to international students?
Harvard may provide grants covering the full approved cost for an admitted student with very high demonstrated financial need. There is no single automatic award called the Harvard Full Scholarship.
Does Harvard offer merit scholarships?
No. Harvard College’s institutional financial aid is entirely need based.
Can Nigerian students receive Harvard financial aid?
Yes. Nigerian applicants are eligible for the same need based institutional aid available to other admitted undergraduates.
Is the CSS Profile required?
Most prospective international students requesting Harvard aid must complete the CSS Profile and submit supporting documents through IDOC.
Must international students complete the FAFSA?
Most international students are not eligible for United States federal financial aid. They should follow Harvard’s international financial aid instructions and complete the CSS Profile and requested supporting documents.
Does Harvard financial aid cover flights?
Students receiving aid have a transportation allowance included in their financial aid calculation. The allowance helps with travel between home and Harvard.
Final Thoughts
Harvard University’s published undergraduate cost for 2026/2027 can exceed $100,000 when health insurance and international transportation are included.
That figure should not automatically discourage a qualified student from applying.
Harvard considers international applicants without regard to their ability to pay and provides need based grants to meet demonstrated financial need. Families earning below $100,000 with typical assets may pay nothing, while families earning below $200,000 may receive assistance covering at least tuition and possibly additional expenses.
Applicants should remember that funding depends on admission and a detailed financial review. Harvard does not offer undergraduate merit scholarships based only on grades or examination scores.
International students should complete the Common Application, submit the CSS Profile, provide accurate income records through IDOC and meet every admission and financial aid deadline.
