Emory University to Offer Free Tuition for Families Earning $200,000 or Less

Emory University announced last week that beginning in fall 2026, undergraduate students from families earning $200,000 or less will not pay tuition.

“All new and returning students who are eligible for need-based aid will be considered for the Emory Advantage Plus program,” the university said in a news release.

The decision comes as Emory faces significantly higher taxes on its $11.5 billion endowment following President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to the AJC. Tuition at Emory currently costs $67,000 per year.

Expanding Emory Advantage

“Offering free tuition to every student whose family income is $200,000 or less is about leadership,” Interim President Leah Ward Sears said. “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.”

The Emory Advantage program was launched in 2007 to support lower-income students. In 2022, the university expanded the initiative by replacing need-based loans in undergraduate financial aid packages with grants and scholarships.

Currently, 40 percent of Emory undergraduates — about 3,100 students — receive Emory Advantage support, and 60 percent of those students have scholarships equal to or exceeding tuition costs. Under the new Emory Advantage Plus program, that number is expected to rise to 80 percent.

To qualify, families must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile). The university said it will also consider a family’s typical assets in determining eligibility.

Broader Context

The tuition-free announcement comes as Emory has drawn attention for discontinuing its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs earlier this year. President Trump issued an executive order in January eliminating DEI initiatives in federally supported education programs, calling them “illegal discrimination and wasteful spending.”

The U.S. Department of Education said the move was part of its plan to “prioritize meaningful learning ahead of divisive ideology.”

Emory said more details on the new full-tuition program will be provided by the Office of Financial Aid later this year.