The Bryn Mawr Beacon Initiative
Bryn Mawr will be tuition-free for U.S. undergraduate families with annual incomes up to $175,000.
Full tuition coverage.
Beginning in fall 2026, U.S. applicants from families earning under $175,000 with typical assets will qualify for free undergraduate tuition. Additional aid is available for housing, food, and other costs based on your demonstrated need.
Peace of mind for all four years.
If the price of tuition increases after the first year, eligible students still pay nothing in tuition – Bryn Mawr covers the difference.
What is the Beacon Initiative?
Our Commitment to Affordability and Equity
The Bryn Mawr Beacon is an expression of the College’s commitment to providing broad access to a top-tier liberal arts education. U.S. families with incomes up to $175,000 and who have typical assets will pay no tuition to attend Bryn Mawr College. Additional costs not covered by the Bryn Mawr Beacon such as housing, food, books, supplies and personal expenses will still be included in determining a family’s total financial aid award. This means that those who qualify for the Bryn Mawr Beacon may also receive additional aid to help cover non-tuition expenses.
A bright, simple start
No fee to apply and no extra steps required. Just indicate your interest in financial aid on your admissions application and submit your FAFSA and CSS Profile. We'll handle it from there.
Questions? Contact the admissions counselor who represents your region.
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.
Beyond the Beacon: Helping Every Student Afford Bryn Mawr
We're committed to making a top-tier education accessible for all families.
- We meet 100% of your demonstrated need.
- We don't have an application fee.
- We'll consider number of children in college in our aid analysis.
- Currently, 78% of Bryn Mawr students receive some form of financial aid, with an average award of more than $67,000 for need-eligible students.
- More than $46 million in financial aid was awarded by the College last year.
Frequently Asked Questions
We take a thoughtful approach to how home equity and other assets are considered in our process. Since home equity is not an easily liquidated resource, we place limits on how much it can influence your expected contribution. For families with incomes up to $175,000, we apply a cap in our need analysis review to ensure home equity plays only a limited role. Retirement assets are also not included in the valuation of your asset base. Our goal is to keep your contribution fair, reasonable, and aligned with what families can realistically manage.
The Bryn Mawr Beacon applies to U.S. first-year, transfer, and McBride undergraduate students who meet our financial eligibility criteria and enter in or after Fall 2026.
The Bryn Mawr Beacon is a new financial aid commitment beginning Fall 2026. For our current students, this program is not retroactively applied to current awards, however, we remain fully committed to meeting 100% of your demonstrated need just as we always have.
Domestic undergraduate students are required to reapply for aid each year. If you continue to meet the income and asset eligibility guidelines, remain enrolled full-time, and maintain satisfactory academic progress, your tuition-free benefit will be applied to your aid package each year. That means that if the College’s tuition costs go up, there is no additional cost to you – the Bryn Mawr Beacon will always cover the full cost of tuition.
Bryn Mawr reviews each family’s unique financial profile and is proud to meet the full demonstrated need of all admitted students – we're one of fewer than 100 institutions of higher education to do so. Your financial aid award is determined through a consideration of a number of factors, including total family income, assets, family size and number of children in college. Should your family’s financial circumstances change after receiving your aid package, you can request a review of your financial aid award. Please review our Change in Circumstances policy for more details.
The institutional portion of your full tuition award and any need-based aid may be adjusted for families receiving an outside tuition benefit, other outside scholarships, state grant aid, or federal grant aid including veteran tuition benefits.
Why Choose Bryn Mawr?
Since its founding in 1885, Bryn Mawr College has been the preeminent college for women interested in the pursuit of wisdom necessary to challenge the world's expectations. Our community has repeatedly broken barriers to achieve greater equity through exceptional academics and a deep dedication to learning. Our more than 35 undergraduate majors span the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and arts. 98% of students report a positive career outcome one year after graduating.
Questions?
Office of Undergraduate Admissions