Ellison seemed skeptical about Princeton's motivations.

"It isn't that students are getting a better deal, it's that faculty grants will be reduced," he said.

Both Princeton and Harvard graduate students receive the same financial support, but much of Harvard's support for students tends to be internal. Princeton's changes reduce pressure on faculty to find research positions for doctoral candidates, especially in the sciences.

And in the wake of the Princeton announcement, Ellison said that GSAS has "to make choices about how to allocate our funds."

"We have some money from the capital campaign and the GSAS annual fund that isn't specifically earmarked for anything," Ellison said. "But decisions will have to be made carefully."

Whatever action Harvard finally takes will be carefully calculated.

"Harvard tends not to do things in response [to other schools]. We are concerned about what is going to be best for Harvard students," said University spokesperson