Tufts University has joined a growing list of prestigious institutions in Massachusetts that have eliminated tuition fees for eligible U.S. undergraduate students. This announcement, made on September 9, 2025, by President Sunil Kumar, reveals that beginning in the fall of 2026, the university will waive tuition costs for families earning less than 0,000 per year. This initiative seeks to alleviate the financial burden often associated with higher education and is part of a broader movement among elite universities to make college more accessible to a wider range of students.
This policy shift comes in the wake of similar actions taken by renowned institutions such as Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both of which announced their own measures to eliminate tuition for families earning up to 0,000 annually. These decisions underscore a collective effort among universities to respond to the mounting concerns regarding the affordability of higher education in the United States.
In making this announcement, President Kumar emphasized the university’s commitment to supporting students financially. “The cost of higher education continues to be a major concern for families across the country,” Kumar stated. “We’re not only easing that burden — we’re sending a clear message that Tufts is committed to meeting the full need of all its students.”
For the academic year 2025-26, Tufts’ tuition is projected at ,982. When taking into account additional living expenses such as housing and food, the total cost of attendance for a first-year undergraduate can exceed ,000, according to the university’s cost breakdown. With the new initiative, students from families with incomes up to 0,000 will also have access to supplementary grants, loans, and work-study opportunities aimed at covering non-tuition expenses.
Notably, families with incomes below ,000 will receive financial aid packages that include no loans, thereby minimizing student debt. Currently, the average student loan debt for a Tufts graduate is approximately ,300, a stark contrast to the national average, which exceeds ,000.
The “Tufts Tuition Pact” initiative has been made feasible through the contributions of numerous donors over generations, many of whom have specifically designated their gifts to bolster student financial assistance. For the fiscal year 2026, Tufts has allocated 3 million towards undergraduate financial aid, reinforcing its commitment to affordability and access.
As universities like Tufts, Harvard, and MIT adopt policies aimed at removing financial barriers, they contribute to an evolving landscape of higher education in the United States, where the focus increasingly centers on making college more attainable for diverse student populations. This trend reflects not only a response to economic pressures faced by families but also a broader recognition of the imperative to invest in education as a means to secure a more equitable future.
