Harvaard University Scholarships for International Students in USA

Harvard University offers financial aid and scholarship opportunities for international students pursuing undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in the United States. However, the funding available depends on the Harvard school, degree program and applicant’s financial circumstances.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Harvard College publishes undergraduate tuition of $62,226 and a combined tuition, housing, food and listed fee total of $91,634. These are published charges before financial aid, not the amount every student must pay.

Harvard College provides need-based financial aid to eligible international undergraduates on the same basis as U.S. students. Its current affordability policy generally provides tuition-free attendance for students from families earning $200,000 or less annually with typical assets. Students from families earning $100,000 or less with typical assets generally have no expected parent contribution.

Graduate funding follows different rules. Harvard’s Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers comprehensive funding packages to incoming PhD students, while master’s students must investigate the financial assistance available for their particular program.

Harvard Business School also offers need-based MBA scholarships to domestic and international students. Its financial aid policy is separate from Harvard College’s undergraduate aid guarantee.

This guide explains Harvard scholarships for international students, tuition fees, financial aid eligibility, master’s and PhD funding, MBA scholarships, application requirements and the costs students should consider before accepting admission.

Harvard University Tuition Fees for International Students

Harvard University consists of several schools with different tuition and financial aid policies. Students should not use Harvard College’s undergraduate tuition or scholarship rules to estimate the cost of a graduate or professional degree.

Harvard College Undergraduate Tuition Fees

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences publishes the following standard undergraduate charges.

The listed total does not represent every student’s complete personal budget. Additional expenses may include books, transportation, personal costs and applicable health insurance charges.

International students should use Harvard’s financial aid assessment to understand their expected contribution rather than assume they must pay the full published price.

Harvard Master’s Degree Tuition Fees

Harvard’s graduate tuition varies by school and program.

At the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the published full tuition rate for 2026–2027 is $59,048 for the first two years of study under the standard tuition schedule.

The school publishes reduced tuition of $15,352 for the third and fourth years and a continuation fee of $3,906 after the fourth year, where applicable.

These rates are not universal across every Harvard master’s degree. Certain programs, including specified computational science and data science master’s degrees, have separate tuition structures.

Applicants should check the tuition schedule for the exact program and academic year.

Harvard PhD Tuition Fees

PhD students at Harvard Griffin GSAS may receive tuition grants as part of their individualized financial support packages.

The university provides incoming PhD students with a Notice of Financial Support explaining the funding available through their program.

Applicants should review that notice to determine the tuition coverage, stipend arrangements, health insurance support and conditions for continued funding.

Harvard Business School MBA Tuition Fees

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Harvard Business School publishes MBA tuition of $84,760.

Its estimated nine-month cost of attendance for a single MBA student is $130,318, including tuition, health-related charges, housing, food, transportation and other living expenses.

The published MBA budget is based on a moderate student lifestyle. Actual costs vary according to individual circumstances, housing choices and family situation.

Tuition and Cost Comparison

Scholarships and financial aid may substantially reduce these costs. Applicants should compare the published budget with their confirmed award rather than relying on tuition figures alone.

Harvard Financial Aid for International Undergraduate Students

Harvard College’s undergraduate financial aid program is based on demonstrated financial need. International students are eligible for the same amount of institutional financial aid as U.S. students.

Harvard does not award undergraduate institutional scholarships based on academic, athletic or artistic merit. Instead, the university evaluates each family’s financial circumstances and determines the assistance needed under its financial aid policy.

Is Harvard Need-Blind for International Students?

Harvard College uses need-blind undergraduate admissions for international applicants. This means an applicant’s ability to pay is not considered in the undergraduate admission decision.

The university also commits to meeting the demonstrated financial need of admitted undergraduate students who apply for aid.

This policy is specific to Harvard College and should not be assumed to apply to every graduate or professional school at Harvard.

Harvard Scholarships for Families Earning Less Than $100,000

Under Harvard College’s current affordability policy, students from families earning less than $100,000 annually with typical assets generally have no expected parent contribution.

The university determines financial need through an individualized review of family income, assets and other circumstances.

Students may still have an expected contribution toward personal expenses, which Harvard indicates is generally $3,500 per academic year and can usually be met through work-study.

A zero parent contribution does not mean that every possible personal expense is automatically paid without conditions.

Harvard Scholarships for Families Earning Up to $200,000

For eligible students from families earning up to $200,000 annually with typical assets, Harvard College financial aid generally covers at least the full cost of tuition.

Students may qualify for additional assistance with fees, housing and food based on their individual financial circumstances.

The university also provides financial aid to some families earning more than $200,000, depending on their financial situation.

These income thresholds assume typical assets and are not a substitute for an individual financial aid assessment.

What Does Harvard Undergraduate Financial Aid Cover?

Harvard College calculates financial aid using the student’s demonstrated need and the university’s educational budget.

Depending on the assessment, aid may help cover tuition, mandatory fees, housing and food.

Students should also account for books, travel, personal expenses and applicable insurance costs when planning their budget.

A tuition-free financial aid offer and a full-cost financial aid offer are not necessarily the same.

Financial Aid Documents for International Students

International undergraduate applicants generally complete the CSS Profile and provide supporting financial documents according to Harvard’s instructions.

Harvard explains that international applicants whose parents file income tax documents in their home country should submit those documents with an English translation.

If parents do not file income tax documents, applicants may submit alternative income evidence, such as wage statements, pay slips or employer letters.

Students should follow the documentation requirements for their particular application cycle.

Harvard Master’s Scholarships for International Students

Harvard master’s funding depends on the school and academic program.

Unlike Harvard College’s undergraduate financial aid policy, there is no university-wide guarantee that every admitted international master’s student will receive full funding.

At Harvard Griffin GSAS, students are encouraged to investigate available fellowships, external scholarships and other funding resources.

Harvard Griffin GSAS Master’s Funding

Harvard Griffin GSAS provides information and resources to help master’s students develop a financial plan for their graduate education.

Funding opportunities may include fellowships, external awards and other assistance available through the student’s program or funding provider.

Applicants should review the financial aid policy for their intended degree before accepting admission.

External Scholarships and Fellowships

Harvard Griffin GSAS identifies several resources for researching external funding, including fellowship databases and opportunities administered through Harvard’s Committee on General Scholarships.

Awards differ in amount, duration and eligibility.

Some scholarships are restricted by nationality, academic field or degree level.

Submitting an application does not guarantee that a fellowship will be awarded.

Are Harvard Master’s Degrees Fully Funded?

Some master’s students may receive substantial financial support, but full funding should not be assumed.

Applicants should distinguish between a tuition scholarship, a stipend, an assistantship and a comprehensive funding package.

The official admission and financial aid offer should specify what the student will receive and whether the award can be renewed.

Harvard Fully Funded PhD Scholarships

Harvard Griffin GSAS provides incoming PhD students with comprehensive financial support packages that include tuition, health insurance fees and basic living expenses.

Funding may be delivered through tuition grants, stipends, traineeships, teaching fellowships, research assistantships and other academic appointments.

The exact arrangements vary by program.

PhD Tuition Coverage

Incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD students receive a Notice of Financial Support when admitted.

This document explains the financial assistance offered by the student’s program, including applicable tuition support.

Applicants should review the notice carefully rather than assume that every doctoral department uses identical funding arrangements.

PhD Living Stipends

PhD financial support includes assistance with basic living expenses under the applicable program’s funding policy.

The stipend amount and payment structure depend on the student’s program and appointment.

Applicants should verify whether support is provided during the summer and whether additional academic duties are required.

Health Insurance and Additional Benefits

Harvard Griffin GSAS identifies health insurance fees as part of the comprehensive support provided to incoming PhD students.

Students should confirm the specific health-related benefits and any expenses that remain their responsibility.

PhD Funding Renewal Requirements

Continued financial support is subject to the conditions of the student’s funding package.

Harvard Griffin GSAS requires continued full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress for continued eligibility under its financial aid arrangements.

Students should also review any program-specific requirements attached to teaching, research or fellowship appointments.