Emory to become tuition-free for families earning under $200,000 annually

Interim University President Leah Ward Sears (80L) announced on Sept. 17 that Emory University will expand its financial aid program to be “one of the five most generous financial assistance programs in the nation.” 

The University will expand the current Emory Advantage program to offer tuition-free education to undergraduate students whose families earn $200,000 or less. Currently, about 1860 students receive scholarships equal to or higher than the cost of tuition, which is about 22% of Emory undergraduate students. With the implementation of the new   Emory Advantage Plus program, about 2500 students will have access to full-tuition scholarships next year, which is about 30% of Emory undergraduate students. 

Emory’s decision follows that of other higher education institutions, like Harvard University (Mass.), Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, which have removed tuition costs for undergraduate students whose families make less than $200,000 annually. 

In an Emory News Center article, Sears emphasized the importance of making an Emory education accessible to more students. Sears announced the new program in a video emailed to members of the Emory community.

“Offering free tuition to every student whose family income is $200,000 or less is about leadership,” Sears wrote. “We want great students to come here without regard to the cost. And we will do everything in our power to give them a great education without the burden of crushing debt.”

Emory began the Advantage program in 2007 to make education more accessible to qualified students by providing students access to financial aid packages and institutional grants. Most of the funding for financial aid comes from Emory’s $11 billion endowment, donations from alumni and other sponsors. 

Undergraduate students and their families still must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the College Scholarship Service Profile for the University to consider students for the new Emory Advantage Plus program. 

In her video address, Sears highlighted the importance of the new Advantage Plus program in opening doors for new students at Emory. 

“Emory Advantage Plus is more than just an expansion of a financial aid plan — it’s an expansion of opportunity, of dreams and what’s possible at Emory,” Sears said. “Together, we are opening doors wider than ever before so that brilliant, deserving students can call Emory and Georgia their home. The future has never looked brighter, and this is only just the beginning.”