It can be difficult to afford tuition, especially if you are attending a private college. However, there are actually colleges that offer free tuition!
In this post:
- 24 Colleges That Offer Free Tuition
- 1. Alice Lloyd College
- 2. Amherst College
- 3. Barclay College
- 4. Bard College
- 5. Berea College
- 6. College of the Ozarks
- 7. Curtis Institute of Music
- 8. Deep Springs College
- 9. Haskell Indian Nations University
- 10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- 11. Princeton University
- 12. Stanford University
- 13. Swarthmore College
- 14. The Apprentice School
- 15. United States Air Force Academy
- 16. United States Coast Guard Academy
- 17. United States Merchant Marine Academy
- 18. United States Military Academy
- 19. United States Naval Academy
- 20. University of New Hampshire
- 21. Warren Wilson College
- 22. Webb Institute
- 23. Williamson College of the Trades
- 24. Yale University
- Free Tuition Colleges Conclusion
24 Colleges That Offer Free Tuition
Below is a list of tuition-free colleges. Yes, all of the colleges listed below offer free tuition! We will also provide information on how to apply to these schools. So, if you are looking for tuition-free education, read on.
1. Alice Lloyd College
Alice Lloyd College is a tuition-free college located in the Appalachian Mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The college provides free tuition and room and board to students from 108 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky. The college was founded in 1923 by Alice Lloyd, a journalist, and teacher from Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Lloyd believed that education should be free and accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.
The college is committed to providing quality education to its students. The college offers a variety of programs, including liberal arts, business, education, and nursing. Alice Lloyd College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
2. Amherst College
The first college on our list is Amherst College. Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts. Amherst is the only liberal arts college in the country with a need-blind admission policy for both international and domestic students, as well as a financial aid program that meets the full need and does not use loans in financial aid packaging. Effective the 2022-23 academic year, enrolled students from 80% of U.S. households will receive a scholarship that covers full tuition at Amherst.
3. Barclay College
Founded in 1917, Barclay College is a private, four-year institution of higher education affiliated with the Quaker Church (Religious Society of Friends). It is located on a 55-acre campus in Haviland, Kansas. The college offers degree programs in Bible and ministry, business and leadership, counseling, education, and intercultural studies. It also offers a master’s degree in ministry. Barclay College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association.
The college’s mission is “to prepare men and women to serve Jesus Christ through ministries characterized by transforming relationships with God, one another, and society.” The college seeks to accomplish this mission by providing an education that is:
- Christ-centered – focused on Jesus Christ as the source of truth and life
- Transformationally oriented – committed to personal transformation and transformation in society
- Academic excellence – offering programs of study that are rigorous and relevant
- Experiential learning – integrating academic learning with service and practical experience
- Cross-cultural – preparing students for effective ministry in a diverse world
- Quakerly – shaped by the values of the Religious Society of Friends: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality.
Barclay College is committed to providing an education that is accessible and affordable. All full-time students at Barclay College who live on campus qualify for a full-tuition scholarship, but they are responsible for the technology and general fees, and room and board.
4. Bard College
Located in New York, Bard College is a private liberal arts college that offers free tuition to students who are formerly incarcerated or directly impacted by the justice system and others who aspire to careers in advocacy, community building, or social justice.
5. Berea College
The first college on our list is Berea College. Berea College is a small, private liberal arts school located in Kentucky. The school has a long history of providing free education to its students. In fact, all students who attend Berea College receive a full-tuition scholarship!
Since its founding in 1855, Berea College’s mission has been to provide access to a quality liberal arts education to students who would not ordinarily be able to afford to go to college. Originally, students worked at campus jobs to support themselves and their families and paid modest tuition. But in 1892, the tuition requirement was removed entirely. And Berea College has not charged another student to attend!
6. College of the Ozarks
The College of the Ozarks, also known as “Hard Work U,” is a small private college in Point Lookout, Missouri. The school is notable for its unique approach to education, which includes a work-study program that requires students to work 15 hours per week in order to earn their tuition. The majority of students at the College of the Ozarks are from low-income families, and the school’s free tuition policy ensures that all students have access to quality education. In addition to its work-study program, the College of the Ozarks also offers a number of other unique opportunities for its students, including an on-campus farm and an outdoor leadership program. The College of the Ozarks is committed to providing quality education to all of its students, regardless of their financial background.
7. Curtis Institute of Music
The next college on our list is the Curtis Institute of Music. The Curtis Institute of Music is a private music conservatory located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school offers free tuition to all of its students. Curtis makes an investment in every student so that no tuition is charged for their studies. And as a result, the artistic promise is the only consideration for admission.
8. Deep Springs College
Deep Springs College is a tuition-free college located in Deep Springs, California. The college offers a two-year program that includes academic coursework and work experience on the college’s ranch and farm. Students at Deep Springs College are required to complete at least 30 hours of work per week, in addition to their academic coursework. The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Deep Springs College is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Deep Springs College has an enrollment of approximately 26 students. The student body is diverse, with students coming from all over the United States and several foreign countries. The college has a low student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1.
The college offers a challenging academic program that includes coursework in the liberal arts, sciences, and ranching. Students at Deep Springs College are required to complete a thesis in order to graduate. The college also offers a unique work experience program that allows students to gain real-world experience on the college’s ranch and farm.
9. Haskell Indian Nations University
Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) is a federally chartered university located in Lawrence, Kansas. Founded in 1884 as an Indian boarding school by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), it was the first institution of higher learning for Native Americans in the United States. The university is governed by Haskell’s Board of Regents, members of which are appointed by the President of the United States. Haskell is one of two tribal colleges in the state of Kansas.
HINU offers free tuition for American Indian and Alaska Native students through the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). HINU also provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native students through a variety of sources, including the Haskell Foundation, private donors, and tribal organizations.
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The third college on our list is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT is one of the top colleges in the United States. For most students with family incomes under $140,000 a year, they ensure that scholarship funding will allow them to attend MIT tuition-free. But keep in mind that MIT’s acceptance rate is 4.1% meaning that MIT is extremely competitive to get accepted. You will need excellent grades, test scores, essays, and letters of recommendation to even be considered.
11. Princeton University
The sixth college on our list is Princeton University. Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. Princeton is one of the top colleges in the United States. Students admitted to the Class of 2025 who applied for aid with family incomes up to $160,000 typically pay no tuition. Princeton University admissions are selective with an acceptance rate of 6% and an early acceptance rate of 14.7%. Half the applicants admitted to Princeton University have an SAT score between 1450 and 1570 or an ACT score of 32 and 35.
12. Stanford University
The fourth college on our list is Stanford University. Stanford University is a private research university located in Stanford, California. Stanford is one of the top colleges in the United States, and it offers free tuition. Stanford meets the full financial need of every admitted undergrad who qualifies for assistance. Tuition is covered for undergrads with family incomes under $150,000. Tuition, room, and board are covered for undergrads with family incomes below $75,000. Unfortunately, Stanford University is also one of the most difficult colleges to get into, with an acceptance rate of only 4%.
13. Swarthmore College
The ninth college on our list is Swarthmore College. Swarthmore College is a private liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Swarthmore meets 100% of your determined financial need by adding up the costs of attendance (tuition, fees, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses), determining what you and your family can reasonably pay (from $0 to the total cost of attendance), and then providing a financial aid award for the difference between the total cost of attendance and your family’s contribution.
14. The Apprentice School
Apprentices at The Apprentice School pay no tuition and only a nominal fee for their course materials. Apprenticeships are full-time, paid positions that last four years. Apprentices receive on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
Upon completion of the program, apprentices earn a journeyman’s certificate and are qualified to take the journeyman’s examination. A passing score on the examination leads to a journeyman’s card, which is proof of having completed an apprenticeship.
The Apprentice School is open to anyone 18 years of age or older who has a high school diploma or equivalent. There is no experience necessary and no entrance exam is required. All applicants must undergo an interview and a physical examination.
The physical examination is to ensure that applicants are physically able to perform the essential functions of the job. The interview assesses an applicant’s motivation, ability to follow instructions and aptitude for learning.
The Apprentice School is located in Newport News, Virginia, and is operated by Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries. Newport News Shipbuilding is the largest industrial employer in Virginia and one of the largest shipyards in the United States.
Apprenticeships are available in a variety of trades, including welders, machinists, pipefitters, electricians, and shipfitters. Apprentices learn their trade through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction.
The Apprentice School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the American Council on Education. The school is also registered with the Virginia Department of Education.
15. United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy is one of the most prestigious military academies in the United States. Located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USAFA offers a four-year undergraduate education with a focus on engineering, mathematics, and the sciences. Approximately 4,000 cadets are enrolled at USAFA, and the Academy graduates approximately 1,000 each year.
USAFA is a highly selective school; only about 10% of applicants are admitted each year. The admissions process is competitive, and interested students should begin preparing for the application process well in advance of their senior year of high school.
Tuition, as well as room and board, is free for USAFA cadets. But the caveat is that cadets are required to serve in the U.S. Air Force or U.S. Space Force for at least eight to ten years after graduation.
16. United States Coast Guard Academy
Similar to USAFA, the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard, founded in 1876 and located in New London, Connecticut. It is the smallest of the five U.S. service academies and provides education to future Coast Guard officers in one of eight major fields of study. USCGA cadets are charged with excellence in academics, physical fitness, character, and leadership.
Graduates of the Academy earn Bachelor of Science degrees and are commissioned as ensigns in the Coast Guard for at least five years. The Academy is also one of the few service academies to offer a cooperative education program, in which students can pursue their degree while also gaining paid, hands-on experience in their field of study.
17. United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) is one of the five United States service academies and is located in Kings Point, New York. It is charged with training officers for the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the military, and the transportation industry. civilian maritime industry. The academy offers a Bachelor of Science degree in marine engineering, maritime logistics and transportation, marine science, and nautical science.
The Merchant Marine Academy is extremely selective; in 2018, only 9% of applicants were accepted for admission. The academy is also one of the most physically demanding of all the service academies; students are required to participate in regular physical fitness tests and maintain a high level of physical fitness.
The academy’s campus is located on the former estate of millionaire businessman and philanthropist Frank C. Marshall. The campus includes several historic buildings, as well as a working shipyard where students gain hands-on experience in maritime trades.
18. United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known as West Point, is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in West Point, New York. The academy was established in 1802 as the United States Corps of Cadets and is the oldest of the five U.S. service academies.
USMA graduates are usually commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army and serve in various branches of the military. The academy has produced a number of famous alumni, including former U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as numerous astronauts and business leaders.
The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland, and is often referred to as “Annapolis”, while sports media refer to the Academy as “Navy” and the students as “Midshipmen”. It is the oldest of the five United States service academies, having been founded as a fort during the American Revolutionary War by order of the Continental Congress in 1775; it is also the second-oldest federal institution of higher education in the United States, after The College of William & Mary. Admission to the Academy is extremely competitive, with nominations from Members of Congress or the Vice President of the United States required for approximately 1/8 of 1% of candidates. Graduates are usually commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, but a handful can be cross-commissioned as officers in other U.S. services, and international students are commissioned as officers in their home countries’ militaries. The Academy’s four-year program combines academic, physical, and professional development.
20. University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire‘s Tuition-Free Program is a need-based program that provides free tuition to eligible NH residents. The program is available to full-time, undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need and meet the eligibility criteria.
To be considered for the Tuition-Free Program, students must:
- Be a resident of New Hampshire
- Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- Be enrolled full-time at the University of New Hampshire
- Demonstrate financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
21. Warren Wilson College
Warren Wilson College (WWC) is a small, private college located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The college was founded in 1894 as an alternative to the traditional college experience. Warren Wilson is known for its unique curriculum, which includes a mix of academic and experiential learning. The college also has a strong commitment to community service and sustainability. Warren Wilson students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of service-learning projects, including environmental conservation, urban gardening, and working with local non-profit organizations. The college is also home to a working farm and forest, which provide students with hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture. In addition to its academic and service programs, Warren Wilson College is also known for its beautiful campus and its close-knit community. Warren Wilson students are active in a variety of extracurricular activities, including student government, clubs and organizations, intramural sports, and outdoor recreation. The college also offers a wide range of cultural and recreational events, such as concerts, theatrical performances, and art exhibits.
is committed to making a high-quality education affordable for all students. To be considered for the Tuition-Free Program, students must:
- Be a resident of North Carolina
- File FAFSA form
- Be enrolled full time
- Live on campus and participate in WWC work program
22. Webb Institute
Webb Institute is a private engineering school in Glen Cove, New York, United States, specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering. Founded in 1889, Webb is one of the oldest institutions of its kind and the only one remaining that offers a full-tuition scholarship to all U.S. citizens or permanent residents (international students pay tuition and fees).
The institute’s curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts tradition and emphasizes the humanities, social sciences, and communication alongside the engineering disciplines of naval architecture and marine engineering. The core curriculum includes courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, thermodynamics, ship design and construction, marine propulsion and dynamics, and electrical and electronic systems. In addition to their regular coursework, students at Webb Institute also complete a two-semester senior thesis project.
Webb Institute is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The institute’s alumni include several notable figures in the fields of naval architecture and marine engineering, such as William Francis Gibbs, designer of the ocean liner SS United States.
23. Williamson College of the Trades
Williamson College of the Trades is a college located in Media, Pennsylvania. The school specializes in training students for careers in the skilled trades.
The college was founded in 1888 by Quaker industrialist John Williamson as the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades. It was the first trade school in the United States that did not charge tuition. The school initially offered two-year programs in carpentry, blacksmithing, and machine shop work.
In the early 20th century, the school began offering four-year programs leading to a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering. In recent years, the college has expanded its programs to include electrical engineering, welding, and HVAC.
The college is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). It enrolls about 400 students, most of whom are from Pennsylvania.
The college has a strong commitment to hands-on learning. Students spend a significant amount of time working in the school’s labs and shops, and they also have the opportunity to participate in internships and co-ops.
The college offers a number of extracurricular activities, including student clubs, sports teams, and service organizations. The college also has a marching band and an award-winning debate team.
24. Yale University
The last college on our list is Yale University. Yale University is a private Ivy League research university located in New Haven, Connecticut. Just this year, Yale Law School became the first and only law school in the country to make a law degree tuition-free for students with the greatest financial need. But Yale is extremely selective and accepts less than 6.5% of applicants every year. In order to be competitive as an applicant, you’ll need to have near-perfect grades, excellent test scores, and standout essays.
Free Tuition Colleges Conclusion
When it comes to finding affordable colleges, free tuition colleges are always a great option. Not only do they offer high-quality education, but they also allow students to save on the cost of tuition. If you are interested in attending any of these colleges, be sure to research the admissions process and requirements on their respective websites.
Are we missing any colleges that offer 100% free tuition? If so, please drop us a note to add them to our list.
