Tufts to cover full tuition for students from households making less than $150,000

Add Tufts University to the growing number of selective institutions in Massachusetts waiving the cost of tuition for eligible U.S. undergraduate students. The school announced Tuesday it will cover the cost of tuition for students from households making less than $150,000 annually, starting in fall 2026.

The step follows similar moves announced by Harvard and MIT last year, and is part of a growing effort by university leaders to address concerns over the sticker price of college.

“The cost of higher education continues to be a major concern for families across the country,” Tufts University president Sunil Kumar said in a statement. Under this new initiative, he added, "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.”

This marks the first time the Medford-based university is designating a particular income level for tuition-free eligibility, according to spokesman Patrick Collins.

Tuition at Tufts for the 2025-26 academic year is $71,982. Add housing and food costs to that figure and the total price of attendance for a first-year undergrad student can top $93,000, according to a university breakdown of costs.

Students from families making up to $150,000 would be eligible for additional grants, loans and work study to cover non-tuition costs, Collins said. For families making less than $60,000 a year, "their [financial aid] package will not include any loans," he said in an email.

Average student loan debt for a Tufts graduate is $14,300, according to the university, compared to average student loan debt nationally that tops roughly $40,000. The school said the tuition-free initiative, part of what it is calling the "Tufts Tuition Pact," is possible due to "the generosity of generations of donors, many of whom have earmarked their gifts to help meet student financial need.”

In the 2026 fiscal year, Tufts said it set aside $143 million for undergraduate financial aid. Both Harvard and MIT last year said they would cover tuition, housing and food costs for students from households earning up to $100,000 a year, starting this fall.