In a new policy known as the Beacon Initiative, Bryn Mawr College has announced that it will be eliminating tuition costs for all U.S families earning up to $175,000 annually. The initiative was announced to the Bryn Mawr Community on October 9 in the Lantern newsletter.
The Beacon is part of the College’s commitment to increase access to higher education and liberal arts colleges. The initiative, which is set to begin in fall 2026, will apply to U.S applicants only, excluding international students. Transfer and McBride students are also eligible for the initiative. The initiative also covers tuition increases, meaning that should the College’s tuition increase, eligible students will still be tuition free.
Speaking of the new policy, Cheryl Lynn Horsey, vice president for enrollment stated “we heard loud and clear from families that the complexity of financial aid is a major source of stress. We are committed to making the process simple and clear. Our goal is to reassure families that through this initiative, they will graduate with less debt. We’ve made access seamless so they can focus on what matters most: selecting the college that is the best fit for their future.”
Those who qualify for the new policy will also be able to request additional aid for housing, food and additional expenses based on demonstrated need. As Bryn Mawr is a need sensitive college, the amount of aid requested does impact the decision of the admissions committee. However, once admitted, Bryn Mawr meets all demonstrated need.
In a press release, President of Bryn Mawr, Wendy Cadge, said “we fundamentally believe in the transformative power of a Bryn Mawr College degree, and we are determined to make that value accessible to every qualified student. This initiative is more than a financial aid package; it is a declaration that access to our top-tier education has never been more attainable.”
The cost of tuition at Bryn Mawr for domestic students as of 2025 is $67,730. Currently, the average financial aid award provided at Bryn Mawr is $67,000 and 78% of students receive some form of aid. Last year, the College provided $14.2 million in financial aid to the class of 2028, bringing the total aid for all four class years to $43.6 million. The amount of aid provided has increased with each class year, almost $2 million from 2024 to 2025 and by $6.7 million over the last 5 years.
This new initiative follows a policy announced 2023 where in which the College eliminated federal loans, replacing them with grants, for families making under $110,000 annually, an increase from the previous $60,000 threshold.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the policy does not apply to transfer and McBride students. This error has been fixed.
