Attend Harvard for Free

Tuition this year (2008) at Harvard University is about $16,500 per semester. If you want to avoid tuition increases in the future, you have the option of paying ahead the entire four years (eight semesters) of tuition. They call this the Tuition Prepayment Option, and the cost for entering freshmen in 2007 was $131,528. Of course, that's only tuition. It doesn't include room and board, books, or other miscellaneous fees.

Wait a minute, you may be saying. Where's that "attend for free" thing you mentioned?

It turns out that the administrators at Harvard realize that 131 grand is a bit pricey for many American families. "We want to make Harvard affordable for talented students from all financial backgrounds," says Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael Smith. And it looks like the school is putting its endowment money where Dean Smith's mouth is.

Harvard has long held a sliding scale payment plan, in which tuition is based upon the family's ability to pay. The year 2007 brought a change to that scale, which brings tuition costs down even more. Now, if your family makes less than $180,000 per year, then your tuition is set at 10 percent of the family's income. Only $18,000 per year!

But wait. If your family makes even less, that percentage comes down. In fact, if your family makes less than $60,000, your student can attend the school at no charge! (No tuition charge, that is. Don't forget room and board for $12,737. Still an excellent deal for a Harvard education.)

What does it take to get into Harvard?

You can expect, of course, that Harvard sets its requirements high. Excellent SAT/ACT scores. Rigorous coursework in high school. Where most colleges do not require SAT II subject tests which assess a student's currently ability in specific subject areas, Harvard requires a minimum of three SAT IIs.

But at least you don't have to be rich as well. Looks like an ivy league education may indeed be available to all who wish to pursue it.

Do plan to get to work early in the high school years!

Set your sights high.

Pursue your dream.