The University of Texas and MIT Will Be Free For Families Making Under $100k

This week, two major universities unveiled groundbreaking plans to make college affordable for middle- and low-income families.

Starting next fall, the University of Texas System’s nine undergraduate institutions will offer free tuition to students from families making $100,000 or less annually.

“For us, it’s about ensuring students can pursue their education without the burden of mounting debt,” said Kevin P. Eltife, chairman of the UT System Board of Regents.

Meanwhile, MIT plans to waive tuition for students from families earning less than $200,000. And for families making under $100,000, MIT will waive housing, dining and fees, and provide a living stipend, starting in fall 2025.

“College affordability is a pressing concern, and we’re determined to make our transformative education accessible to the most talented students, regardless of their financial situation,” said MIT President Sally Kornbluth.

Currently, MIT waives tuition for families earning less than $140,000 and covers fees for those under $75,000. With tuition alone at $62,000, the expanded aid could ease significant financial pressure on middle-income families.

These programs come as colleges face mounting pressure to address declining enrollment and skyrocketing tuition costs. Tuition and fees at four-year institutions have risen by 141% over the last 20 years, far outpacing inflation. Meanwhile, undergraduate enrollment dropped from 18.1 million in 2010 to 15.4 million in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this trend, but even before that, shifts in the economy and immigration policies were already taking a toll. While enrollment began to increase again in 2023, experts anticipate that there’s a demographic cliff on the horizon. Beginning in 2025, the number of traditional college-age students is expected to plummet, a consequence of a 23% drop in the US birth rate between 2007 and 2022.

Universities are scrambling to adapt, introducing incentives like tuition-free programs to attract students. For families already grappling with college affordability, initiatives like those at UT and MIT offer a glimmer of hope—and perhaps a pathway to higher education that doesn’t come with a lifetime of debt.