In the space of just a few days this week, four highly regarded universities have introduced free tuition programs for undergraduates meeting certain income requirements.

While the eligibility thresholds differ from institution to institution, the plans all extend the four schools’ existing financial aid programs dramatically, and they suggest that the upcoming admission cycle may be a particularly competitive one as universities push to make higher education more affordable for an increasing number of students.

Here is a summary of the four programs.

University of Texas

The University of Texas System will expand its free tuition program so that undergraduate students from families making $100,000 or less will receive free tuition and fees starting next fall at any of the system’s nine institutions. To qualify, students must be Texas residents enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program. They must also apply for state and financial aid to qualify.

The UT Board of Regents approved the expansion of UT’s Promise Plus Program on Thursday after a committee had given preliminary approval to the plan the day before.

The system will provide a total of $35 million directly to the campuses to pay for the tuition waiver. In 2019, the Regents established a $167 million endowment at UT Austin to cover tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students from families with adjusted gross incomes of up to $65,000.

In 2022, the Regents used an additional endowment of almost $300 million – called “Promise Plus” – to extend the program to all UT academic institutions. The Promise Plus endowment supplemented the universities’ existing financial aid programs to reach more need-based qualified students, with eligibility thresholds at $65,000 and above.

“What is particularly gratifying to me, and to UT presidents, is that the Regents are not only addressing immediate needs of our current students, but they are taking the long view, ensuring that future generations will continue to benefit from this remarkable program,” said UT System Chancellor James B. Milliken, in a news release. “Across UT institutions, enrollment is growing, and student debt is declining, indicating success in both access and affordability. That’s a rare trend in American higher education, and I’m proud the UT System is in a position to be a leader,” he added.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

On November 20, MIT announced that beginning with the fall 2025, undergraduates from families with income less than $200,000 will be able to attend MIT tuition-free, and that those from families with income below $100,000 will be required to pay nothing at all toward the full cost of their MIT education, including housing, dining, fees, and an allowance for books and personal expenses.

This $100,000 threshold is an increase from $75,000 this year, while next year’s $200,000 threshold for tuition-free attendance is an increase from the current level of $140,000. Students from families with annual incomes exceeding $200,000 will still be eligible for some financial aid from the institution. MIT said it was spending $167.3 million in need-based financial aid for undergraduate students this year, up 70% from a decade earlier.

“MIT’s distinctive model of education — intense, demanding, and rooted in science and engineering — has profound practical value to our students and to society,” MIT President Sally Kornbluth said in its announcement. “As the Wall Street Journal recently reported, MIT is better at improving the financial futures of its graduates than any other U.S. college, and the Institute also ranks number one in the world for the employability of its graduates.”

“The cost of college is a real concern for families across the board,” Kornbluth added, “and we’re determined to make this transformative educational experience available to the most talented students, whatever their financial circumstances. So, to every student out there who dreams of coming to MIT: Don’t let concerns about cost stand in your way.”

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University announced the launch of the CMU Pathway Program for the 2025-26 academic year. Under that initiative, students from families earning less than $75,000 annually will be able to attend CMU tuition-free.

In addition, students from families with less than $100,000 in annual income will receive enough financial aid that they will be able to attend CMU without taking out federal student loans. This program is designed for both new and returning students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and whose families have typical assets for their income.

“Our aspiration for Carnegie Mellon University is simple. We want every student who has earned a spot at CMU to be able to join us and thrive regardless of their family's financial resources or socioeconomic status,” said CMU President Farnam Jahanian. "The CMU Pathway Program represents our greatest investment so far in realizing this powerful vision."

Brandeis University

Also this week, Brandeis University unveiled The Brandeis Commitment, a financial aid package that will cover all tuition costs for students from families with household incomes of less than $75,000 and half the costs for families who make between $75,001 and $200,000.

The program will begin with the class of students entering the university in fall 2025.

“The Brandeis Commitment aligns with what Brandeis has been about since its founding - enabling talented students from all backgrounds to obtain a top-tier education,” said Interim Brandeis President Arthur Levine in the university’s announcement. “We are encouraging more students to aim high and apply to Brandeis by removing uncertainty about the cost of attendance for their families.”

The decision by Brandeis to offer the new tuition plan comes at a time when it’s struggling with a budget deficit. Last summer then President Ron Liebowitz informed the campus community that the university would need to eliminate 60 positions to reduce a projected $2 million budget deficit for the coming academic year. Brandeis, which has been faced with an unbalanced budget for several years, has seen its total enrollment slide approximately 9% in the past five years.

Liebowitz stepped down as president in September, following a vote of no confidence in him by the Brandeis faculty.