Harvard University Fees & Scholarships for Non-U.S. Students (2025–26)

Harvard University, nestled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stands as a global icon of academic excellence, attracting students from across the world. For non-U.S. students, the opportunity to study at Harvard is thrilling—but comes with serious financial considerations. This article explores the estimated costs of attendance, financial aid policies, and scholarship prospects available to international students for the 2025–26 academic year.

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Cost of Attendance: Total Estimated Expenses

Harvard typically publishes a comprehensive breakdown of costs, including tuition, fees, housing, and living expenses:

• Tuition and Billed Charges: For Harvard College (undergraduate), the tuition amounts to around $59,320, with additional fees of approximately $5,476 (including student services and health services) degreesuccesstips.comWikipedia.

• Housing & Meals: On-campus housing and meal plans are estimated at about $22,130 combined—with housing around $13,532 and food about $8,598 degreesuccesstips.com.

• Unbilled Expenses: These include books and supplies ($1,000), personal expenses ($2,500), and transportation ($0–$5,000 depending on location) degreesuccesstips.comGateway International.

• Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): Required unless waived, SHIP costs about $4,308 degreesuccesstips.comGateway International.

Putting it all together, the total estimated cost of attendance ranges between roughly $90,400 and $99,700, depending on insurance waiver and travel expenses degreesuccesstips.com.

Other sources estimate the total cost for undergrads to be around $82,866, which may exclude some allowances or reflect differing assumptions Legacy Online School. Regional estimates—such as for a computer science degree—suggest total costs of about $82,000/year The Times of India.

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Financial Aid for International Students

Need-Blind Admission & Full Need Support

• Harvard College offers need-blind admission for international students and commits to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need LodgeXpressWikipedia+1.

• Around 55% of Harvard undergraduates receive financial aid, with many families earning below $85,000/year paying nothing, and families up to $150,000 paying no more than 10% of income WikipediaLodgeXpress.

Graduate Student Aid Varies by School

• Financial aid for graduate students is school-specific. Examples include fellowships and need-based grants at Harvard Business School, the Graduate School of Education (HGSE), Law School, Kennedy School, and Medical School LodgeXpressiSchoolConnect.

• Documentation of financial need is critical, and some schools—such as HGSE—note that aid may not cover the full cost of attendance; substantial personal resources are often required Harvard Graduate School of Education+1.

• At Harvard Kennedy School, aid applications for 2025–26 opened and were due in early 2025. International students are eligible for both institutional scholarships and private loans (federal loans are not available to them) Harvard Kennedy School.

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Notable Scholarships & Funding Opportunities

Institutional Aid (Undergraduate)

• Undergraduate aid is fully need-based, not merit-based. Families with financial need can receive significant support; no separate application is required—aid is considered automatically LodgeXpressiSchoolConnect.

Graduate & External Scholarships

Several specialized awards are available:

• Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships: Full tuition and living expenses for Master’s students from developing countries; partial for PhD students iSchoolConnect.

• Special Fellowships at HBS, HLS, HKS, HGSE, including Boustany MBA Scholarship, Kaplan Life Sciences Fellowship, and others iSchoolConnectHarvard Kennedy School.

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Offers graduate grants for non-U.S. students to study in the U.S., including at Harvard Wikipedia.

• Henry Fellowships and Frank Knox Fellowships: Prestigious postgraduate scholarships for UK/US and Commonwealth students, respectively, covering tuition, living costs, and travel Wikipedia+1.

• Kennedy Scholarships: For British postgraduates studying at Harvard or MIT, providing full funding Wikipedia.

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Student Insights & Practical Challenges

While Harvard’s aid is generous, international students may still face hurdles:

An example from Reddit highlights the financial stress:

“Got into MUP at Harvard GSD with a 25k grant. However, being an international student, I simply won’t be able to afford the rest.” Reddit

This illustrates that some grants don’t fully cover costs, and students may avoid loans due to visa or return uncertainties—especially given fluctuating immigration landscapes.

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Summary Table: Costs & Aid At a Glance

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Concluding Thoughts & Recommendations

1. Leverage Need-Based Aid: If attending Harvard College as an undergraduate, submit financial forms promptly—aid is generous even for international applicants.

2. Explore School-Specific Funds: Graduate applicants should consult the financial aid offices of their intended schools. Many fellowships don’t require separate forms but may need early financial aid applications.

3. Seek External Support: Apply for funding through Aga Khan, Fulbright, and similar programs early to supplement institutional aid.

4. Plan Carefully for Living Expenses & Insurance: Accurately budget for books, housing, meals, SHIP, and transportation—these can add up significantly.

5. Be Aware of Visa and Loan Risks: Some students prefer not to take loans due to concerns about post-study work rights—a pattern revealed in student experiences.

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Harvard University remains a top choice for global learners due to its unmatched academic excellence and fair financial aid policies. For the 2025–26 academic year, international students face total costs in the ballpark of $90,000–100,000 per year—but need-based aid and scholarships can substantially reduce this burden, especially for highly qualified and financially needy students.