University of Chicago expands free tuition to families earning under $250k
Free tuition at the University of Chicago will soon reach families earning up to $250,000 a year — a ceiling roughly two to three times higher than most peer programs. Starting in autumn 2027, qualifying students pay nothing toward tuition, and those from households under $125,000 also get room, board, and fees covered. The move directly addresses the middle-income squeeze, where families often earn too much for traditional aid but too little to absorb a tuition bill north of $65,000 without serious debt. UChicago says it will also simplify the aid process itself, which trips up many families. As elite universities face growing pressure on access, commitments like this one reshape what affordability can look like at the top of American higher education.
