Johns Hopkins University announced a sweeping financial-aid expansion that eliminates tuition, fees and living expenses for Homewood undergraduates from families earning under $100,000 a year and removes tuition for families up to $200,000. The policy—phased in for current students in spring 2026 and incoming students in fall 2026—follows major philanthropic gifts and a recent growth in Pell-eligible enrollment. University leadership framed the change as a move to broaden access for middle-class families and reduce barriers to elite private education. The shift will pressure peer institutions to reassess financial-aid packages amid competition for diverse talent and ongoing debates about affordability and the role of large donors in shaping access.