A record 22,717 students have applied for admission to Harvard College for the upcoming fall semester. This significant increase is attributed largely to the introduction of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI), announced by President Lawrence H. Summers during his keynote address to the American Council on Education. According to William R. Fitzsimmons, the dean of admissions and financial aid, the new initiative emphasizes that Harvard is accessible to all students, irrespective of their family financial backgrounds.

Sarah C. Donahue, the director of financial aid, highlighted that many applicants are likely to qualify for the HFAI, which does not require any parental contribution for families earning $40,000 or less, and significantly reduces contributions for those earning between $40,000 and $60,000. Fitzsimmons noted that the initiative also sparked interest among students whose families earn between $60,000 and $160,000, as well as those not seeking financial assistance at all.

The number of applications has increased by 15% compared to last year’s 19,752. The increase in applications seeking financial aid was 16.7%, and there was a 45% rise in applications for fee waivers due to financial hardship. Fee waivers are often indicative of eligibility for the HFAI.

Despite a slight rise in SAT scores, which are within a few points of last year’s, nearly 11,000 applicants have SAT verbal scores of 700 or above, and over 12,000 have SAT math scores at that level. About 2,100 applicants have an SAT verbal score of 800, while nearly 3,100 have an 800 in their SAT math test. The proposed academic plans and geographical distribution remain consistent with last year’s applicant pool.

There has been a notable 28.3% increase in applications from African Americans, and a 15.5% rise in applications from Hispanic Americans. Roger Banks, the director of undergraduate recruitment, expects that the pools of Asian-American, Native American, and Puerto Rican students will be similar to or exceed last year’s levels. The success in attracting minority students is attributed to the efforts of the Undergraduate Minority Recruitment Program, which has been bolstered by the HFAI.

Harvard’s financial aid program supports 70% of its undergraduate students with some form of financial aid, and nearly 50% receive grant assistance averaging over $26,000 annually. The average family income of grant recipients is $90,000, with 1,300 families earning over $100,000 receiving grants, including 274 with incomes above $160,000. The total financial aid distributed to undergraduates this year is nearly $105 million.

Marlyn McGrath Lewis, the director of admissions, expressed gratitude towards the 7,000 alumni, faculty, and staff who contributed to achieving these results. She acknowledged the significant role played by the team of 17 undergraduates who reached out to nearly 12,000 high school students since the beginning of the summer and throughout the school year. These undergraduates also engaged with visiting middle and high school groups and traveled across the country to recruit talented students eligible for the HFAI.

Admissions selection meetings will take place from January 28 to March 22. Applications are reviewed by multiple admissions officers and faculty members, with deliberations lasting up to an hour before a majority vote is taken. In early March, the full committee of 35 members makes the final decision on each applicant, ensuring a thorough review process.

Notification letters will be mailed at 12:01 a.m. on March 31, and electronic notifications will occur at 5 p.m. the same day. Admitted students must reply by May 1.

At a Faculty of Arts and Sciences meeting on October 6, 2026, a tribute was paid to the late John E. Malmstad. The memorial minute highlighted his contributions to the institution.

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