List Of Colleges With Free Tuition Or Income-Based Tuition Waivers
Below is a non-exhaustive list of colleges that publicly advertise that they will cover tuition for undergraduates under certain household-income thresholds. You might notice that many of these schools are also some of the most expensive colleges in America. Readers should confirm current eligibility directly with each institution Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
Federal Work Colleges
Federally recognised work colleges require all students who live on campus to work as part of the college learning experience, regardless of financial need. Six of these colleges provide students with free tuition
There are also several colleges that aren’t federally recognised work colleges, but where students are required to work and receive free tuition:
- Curtis Institute of Music (PA)
- Deep Springs College (CA)
- Webb Institute (NY)
Deep Springs College provides free room and board in addition to free tuition.
There are several trade schools which provide free tuition.
- The Apprentice School (VA)
- Williamson College of the Trades (PA)
The U.S. military academies provide free tuition, lodging, and board. The students are required to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces after graduation. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
- U.S. Air Force Academy (CO)
- U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CT)
- U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (NY)
- U.S. Military Academy (NY)
- U.S. Naval Academy (MD)
Related: Military And VA Education Benefits To Pay For College
No-Loan Financial Aid Policies
In addition to these colleges, there are dozens of colleges with “no loans” financial aid policies that provide free tuition to low-income students. These colleges include Ivy League institutions, MIT and Stanford University. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
Other colleges that provide free tuition to all or some of their students include:
- Antioch College (OH)
- Arizona State University (AZ) – ASU College Attainment Grant
- Barclay College (KS)
- Haskell Indian National University (KS)
- Keene State College (NH) – Granite Guarantee
- Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York (NY)
- Plymouth State University (NH) – Granite Guarantee
- Sterling College (VT) – Wendell Berry Farming Program
- University of New Hampshire (NH) – Granite Guarantee
- Vanderbilt University (TN) – Ingram Scholars Program
(NY) previously provided free tuition for over a century but had to start charging tuition in 2012 due to financial challenges. The college is raising money to enable a return to free tuition in the future. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
Medical Schools
Several medical schools provide free tuition to all students, regardless of financial need. These include the Cleveland Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, and New York University. Other medical schools provide free tuition based on financial need. These colleges include Columbia University, Cornell University and Washington University in St. Louis. UCLA provides free tuition based on academic merit. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
Community Colleges
Some community colleges do not charge tuition. For example, the California College Promise Program, previously known as the BOG Fee Waiver, provides free tuition at community colleges in the state. Students whose family income is less than about 150% of the poverty line are eligible for the tuition and fee waiver.
At other community colleges, the combination of federal and state grants may be enough to cover the cost of tuition for some low-income students, such as students who are eligible for the maximum Federal Pell Grant. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
Several states offer college promise programs that cover tuition at an in-state public college for students who graduate from a public high school. These programs include the New York Excelsior Scholarship, the Oregon Promise, the Rhode Island Promise, and the Tennessee Promise. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
There are also hundreds of college promise programmes offered by specific cities, such as the Kalamazoo Promise, Seattle Promise and Pittsburgh Promise. Most are last-dollar financial aid programmes, where all other sources of financial aid are assumed to be applied to tuition before the remaining tuition is covered by the promise programme. Full tuition is often limited to students who attended a public elementary and secondary school for 12 years, not just those who graduated from a public high school. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
University of the People is an accredited online college that does not charge tuition, although it does charge course assessment fees.
The Campaign for Free College Tuition advocates in favour of free public college tuition programmes.
Which Foreign Colleges Have Free Tuition?
Two dozen countries provide free public college tuition for their citizens. A few also provide free tuition to international students. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
The following countries provide free tuition to international students, including U.S. students. However, some of these colleges teach classes in the local language, not English.
- Brazil (Classes taught in Portuguese)
- Czech Republic (Classes taught in the Czech language)
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece (Classes taught in Greek)
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Norway
- Panama
Free tuition does not include living expenses. In some of these countries, such as Norway, living expenses are high. U.S. student aid can be used at about 400 foreign universities to pay for housing, meals, and other college costs, but the funding is limited to federal student loans, not grants. 529 college savings plans can be used to pay for living expenses at these colleges abroad, but not transportation.)
Other countries, such as France, Slovenia and Sweden, are open to European Union (EU) citizens but not U.S. students. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
A dozen countries provide free tuition only to their citizens. These countries include Argentina, Austria, Denmark, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay.
Limitations On Free Tuition Programs
Although free tuition programs make college more affordable, families should be aware of several limitations.
- Free tuition does not mean free college. Most free tuition programs cover the cost of tuition and fees but not room and board, books and supplies, or other college costs. Some do not cover fees, which can be significant at some colleges. At a community college, the textbooks can be a significant portion of college costs. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
- Many free-tuition programs are last-dollar, meaning that all other sources of financial aid must be applied to tuition first before the program covers the remaining tuition costs. This may prevent a student from using the Federal Pell Grant and state grants to cover living expenses and other college costs. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
- The student may need to be a resident of a particular city or state. The student may need to have attended and graduated from particular public schools in the city. The student may have to agree to continue living in the city or state for a number of years after college graduation.
- Some free-tuition programmes require the student to enrol in college immediately after graduation from high school.
- Many free-tuition programmes require the students to enrol in college full-time. The student may also be required to reside on campus.
- Some free-tuition programs are limited to students with demonstrated financial needs or Pell Grant recipients.
- Some free tuition programs require all students to work part-time jobs on campus. Others require the student to participate in community service during the academic year and summer. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
- Some free-tuition programs require the student to maintain at least a minimum GPA, such as 2.0, 2.5, or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Certain educational tax benefits, such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), the Lifetime Learning Tax Credit (LLTC), and tax-free scholarships, are based on amounts spent on tuition, fees, and course materials (e.g., textbooks, supplies, and equipment). If tuition is paid for by a free-tuition program, it may reduce or eliminate eligibility for these tax breaks. Which Colleges Offer Free Tuition
