MIT Announces Free Tuition for All Middle-Class Undergraduates Beginning in 2025

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has exciting news for prospective students: beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, undergraduates from middle-class families earning less than $200,000 a year will benefit from free tuition.

For families with an annual income of less than $100,000, MIT will also cover additional costs such as housing, dining, fees, and allowances for books and personal expenses.

“The cost of college is a real concern for families across the board,” said MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “We’re determined to make this transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances. So, to every student out there who dreams of coming to MIT: Don’t let concerns about cost stand in your way.”

Currently, tuition for a full-time student at MIT is $61,990 for the 2024-25 academic year. This amount doesn't include other expenses; housing costs approximately $13,060 and meal plans are around $7,220. Overall, the full estimated cost of attendance reaches about $85,960. Fortunately, many students receive substantial financial aid.

According to MIT data, the median annual cost paid by undergraduates receiving financial aid was just $12,938. In fact, about 87% of graduates from the class of 2024 completed their degrees without debt.

Graduating from MIT carries significant advantages as well. The average starting salary for graduates entering the workforce is reported to be $126,438. For context, the median earnings for full-time workers in the U.S. was $61,440 in 2023 according to U.S. Census Bureau data; typical earnings for bachelor’s degree holders were around $77,600 that same year.

“We believe MIT should be the preeminent destination for the most talented students in the country interested in an education centered on science and technology and accessible to the best students regardless of their financial circumstances,” stated Stu Schmill, MIT’s dean of admissions and student financial services.

As it stands now, roughly 38% of MIT's nearly 12,000 students are undergraduates.