Last year, Harvard University announced it would waive all tuition and associated costs, including meals, housing, health insurance, and travel expenses for students whose families earn less than 100,000 USD annually and own only "typical assets." Currently, the average annual income for an American worker is around 45,000 USD, according to the Census Bureau.

Additionally, each student receives a 2,000 USD startup grant in their first and third years.

This policy will apply starting from the 2025-2026 academic year. Tuition for this academic year is approximately 59,300 USD (about 1,5 ty dong). Including other fees such as health services, food, and housing, the total cost will approach 87,000 USD.

However, the unclear definition of "typical assets" has left many students feeling disappointed.

Anmol K. Grewal, a second-year student, stated that her family's income is "significantly lower" than 100,000 USD. Yet, the university's Admissions and Financial Aid Office informed her that she would not receive full aid because, in addition to their primary residence, her parents are still paying for her grandparents' home. The university categorized this as an additional asset, or an "atypical asset."

A view of Harvard University campus, US. Photo: Harvard University Fanpage

"Separating these factors from the real-world context creates significant challenges for those in a 'gray area' like me," the student shared. After an appeal, Grewal received an additional 5,000 USD but still had to borrow money, ask her parents, and seek other sources of assistance.

Many students found themselves in similar situations. Some families had their parents' retirement funds or relatives' social security benefits included in their total assets. Others were disqualified for owning a family business, even if their actual income remained below 100,000 USD.

"My family's income is close to the 100,000 USD threshold, but I still don't qualify," regretted Megha Khemka, a second-year student. She noted that losing the full support package also meant missing out on other benefits, such as event tickets or summer internship funds.

James M. Chisholm, spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, which manages Harvard's departments, affirmed that the financial aid program operates exactly as announced.

The university expects to allocate nearly 300 million USD for undergraduate financial aid this year, and most students receive some form of support. However, he declined to explain how the university classifies assets as "typical" or "atypical."

Furthermore, Harvard had previously promised to waive tuition (excluding incidental expenses) for children from families earning no more than 200,000 USD, depending on the case.

However, Adedoyin O. Adebayo, a final-year student, stated that she was not included in this category, even though her family did not possess any unusual assets.

"I'm not sure if it's because I'm about to graduate or if there's another reason," Adebayo said. She had to work multiple jobs simultaneously during her first two years to cover tuition fees.

For Grewal, the most frustrating aspect is the inequity in access to benefits.

"It's absurd that students lose the right to receive assistance for winter coats or startup grants just because of a few thousand USD difference. I was excluded from support programs for disadvantaged groups even though our circumstances are nearly identical," the student expressed.

Khanh Linh (According to The Harvard Crimson, The Harvard Gazette, Times of India)