Campus community reacts to Princeton’s decision to expand financial aid

Last Thursday, the University announced a new expansion of the financial aid program, set to begin in Fall 2023. Under this program, most families making up to a total of $100,000 will be eligible to receive assistance covering the entire cost of a student’s expenses at Princeton. The University will also eliminate the student contribution — $3,500 that aid-receiving students are currently expected to contribute themselves.

Under this program, Princeton will have the highest family income limit for full financial assistance in the Ivy League. Before 2019, all Ivy League schools had family income limits in the $60,000–$66,000 per year range. In 2019, Yale raised its income limit from $65,000 to $75,000, which took effect beginning in the 2020–2021 school year. Harvard made the same change in March 2022, and this change now applies to Harvard’s Class of 2026.

Almost a year prior to Princeton’s change in policy, in October 2021, Yale eliminated the student contribution for students “at the highest level of financial need.” In 2019, Princeton reduced the expected student contribution from $5,500 down to the current $3,500, which marked the last change to the requirement prior to the decision last week to eliminate it entirely.

“We are thrilled that Princeton continues to leverage its resources to be a leader in college access and are excited that a broader…

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