<p>America is all about equal opportunity. Right?
Roughly about 3rd of those family income above $180k goes to tax (federal, state, etc.). Part of these taxes goes to federal and/or state education fund. These family already made significant contribution to the common finantial pool through tax (the higher you earn the more % tax rate you got). If for some reason kids from those family opted out of state university's free ride program base on their merit achivements (I believe if a kid could get acceptted by any ivy, he/she is usually qualify for a free ride program from state flafship.), I think its only fair those families get their fair share of finantial reward/break.
'Equal Opportunity' Americ spirit!</p>
<p>Economists of education have shown that taxpayer support of higher education results in money flowing from lower-income families to subsidize the schooling of higher-income families. Mark Blaug is one very readable economist who writes about issues like that.</p>
<p>"2008 is a bad year for students hoping to get in to HYP."</p>
<p>Um... when was the last time there was a good year?</p>
<p>I'm curious how many readers here were NOT going to submit a Harvard application before this welcome announcement but now are.</p>
<p>ABC...I understand how you feel. When my first child went to college I was very upset when I saw how many self-employed folks were gaming the system and, even though they owned more than their primary residence, because the asset was listed under their business, they qualified for aid...then, of course, they tell everyone that their child received a scholarship! Meanwhile, we are paying full freight at private. We will receive aid when we have 2 in college and, although I am grateful, I am still not sure how I feel about the whole thing. For every other expense in my entire life, we either had to pay for it or go without...it does seem to penalize those folks who have earned it. I could not buy a $1M house for $500,000 because I make less. Rich or poor you pay the same thing. If you can't afford it, then oh well....I guess that the ivies have the money and don't want to deny admission to someone who has earned the right to be there. They want the best and the brightest and are willing to help them get there. That part I agree with...it is just such a tough pill to swallow when you are paying full freight.</p>
<p>Penn just made an announcement regarding financial aid today as well. While this is a great move for Penn, unfortunately the financial aid program at Penn still won't be nearly as generous as Harvard's (or, presumably, Yale's to-be-announced) program. </p>
<p>Penn's aid budget will be about $110,000,000, spread over about 10,000 undergraduates. </p>
<p>Harvard's aid budget will be about $120,000,000, but spread over only 6,500 undergraduates.</p>
<p>Is there any chance Yale might eliminate tuition for all undergrads? I must imagine they feel a bit tired of playing second fiddle when it comes to finaid announcements.</p>
<p>(back of the envelope math tells me this isn't too likely... harvard would have to double their newly-expanded finaid budget if they were to eliminate tuition + fees)</p>
<p>Yes, there is a chance of that, although it might be combined with some kind of special loan that you slowly pay back after you graduate only if you make a lot of money (and if you make less than $100K per year, you don't have to pay any of it back). Yale Law School and a couple other elite graduate institutions already do something like this, as well as many other countries.</p>
<p>I see the Yale troll Poster X is still stalking the Harvard forums! Please ignore anything he says....</p>
<p>I wonder how long it will take for Harvard to be free for all students.</p>
<p>Props to Harvard for making a bold move to make clear its affordability for middle-income and lower-income students. Good luck to this year's applicants.</p>
<p>Posted by another CC participant on the Parents Forum, a link to a New York Times article </p>
<p>following up on the Harvard announcement. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Harvard's move might not look so bold after this one:</p>
<p>posterX - Let's wait and see what Yale announces... but this will definitely be interesting.</p>
<p>I hope this motivates Harvard to be a bit more aggressive with its endowment spend rate.</p>
<p>This is the kind of friendly rivalry I like to see among great colleges.</p>
<p>Hi, xjayz (or anyone else who is familiar with this news), </p>
<p>A question came up on the Parents Forum about this announcement. As I read the Harvard Gazette posting about the new Harvard financial aid initiative, </p>
<p>Harvard</a> announces sweeping middle-income initiative — The Harvard University Gazette </p>
<p>I take it to mean that Harvard's aid applies to the total cost of attendance at Harvard: tuition, room, and board. At least one participant on the Parents Forum takes the announcement to mean that only tuition is covered by the new initiative (which I think is contrary to how Harvard usually reports its financial aid policies, e.g., for the earlier Harvard Financial Aid Initiative). </p>
<p>Harvard</a> College Admissions Office: Prospective Students </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Of course there is a big difference between The “Zero to 10 Percent Standard” applying only to tuition and it applying to the total cost of attendance at Harvard. I read the announcement as saying that the new initiative applies to total cost of attendance. Is this the correct reading?</p>
<p>The cost of attending Harvard is > 45k not 30k which is just the tuition. The article states the 30k number. It is totally irrelevant however because depending on each individual financial situation, you will get aid to cover $0 to >$45k. The 120 - 180k income range is mentioned only because a large number of student's families fall within this income range. It is not meant to be all inclusive. If your family income is $250k and you have ten kids in college, perhaps aid will be granted in your case. There isn't any hard and fast rule. They make financial aid decisions based on each individual case. I know this because I talked to the financial aid people at Harvard yesterday. By the way, they admit that the newspaper articles are not particularly clear.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The article states the 30k number.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Could you quote the relevant context, and make the case for the interpretation you think is most plausible? </p>
<p>Agreeing with you that the Harvard Gazette article has been confusing to a lot of its readers, I note that </p>
<p>says "Beginning in 2006, parents in families with incomes of less than $60,000 will no longer be expected to contribute to the cost of attending Harvard for their children including room and board," when describing the earlier Harvard Financial Aid Initiative. I would expect the currently announced middle income initiative </p>
<p>Harvard</a> announces sweeping middle-income initiative — The Harvard University Gazette </p>
<p>to have the same characteristic of applying to the total cost of attendance. But if Harvard has made a clear statement on the matter, I will read that and then tell other parents exactly what Harvard says.</p>
<p>That was quoted for the < 60k initiative not the 120 to 180k. As I mentioned it doesn't make any difference - you need to file for financial aid in February to find out what you will get - there isn't any hard and fast rule, it depends on individual circumstances.</p>
<p>DocT is right, as financial aid at Harvard is dependent on individual circumstances. However, in terms of the new initiative, they would be considering the total cost of attendance -- not just tuition!</p>