Tufts University announced that U.S. undergraduate students from families earning less than $150,000 a year with typical assets will attend tuition-free, beginning in the fall of 2026. The new policy, referred to as the Tufts Tuition Pact, intends to make the university’s commitment to affordability more transparent and accessible.
Under the Tufts Tuition Pact, students from families earning less than $60,000 per year will receive financial aid with no loans. For families earning up to $150,000, Tufts will cover the full cost of tuition, and often other expenses, based on a sliding scale.
While expenses such as on-campus housing, meals, books and supplies may not be fully covered for students from families earning more than $60,000 annually, these costs are still taken into account when determining need-based financial aid eligibility, according to Meaghan Hardy Smith, associate dean of financial aid.
Additionally, any families with incomes up to $200,000 may also receive scholarships and grants that cover the cost of tuition, depending upon their individual circumstances.