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30+ Tuition-Free Colleges To Avoid Student Loans

30+ Tuition-Free Colleges To Avoid Student Loans

At the end of the day, Universities are a business, and they thrive based on the exclusivity of attending their campus. If you’re worried about accumulating student debt or if you just want to be financially savvy about investing in your education, we have some options for you.

Free Tuition for Low-Income Students

Most ivy league colleges have programs that help students that are going through financial hardships. They will do everything in their power to get the brightest students, and that includes paying for tuition for those who fall under a specific economic bracket. However, it does come with a cost. Getting into an ivy league university is no walk in the park. With less than 10 percent of applicants admitted, it is highly competitive. If you’re up for the challenge, here are a few ivy leagues colleges that offer free tuition:

1- Stanford

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Stanford is highly competitive and sought after by tech enthusiasts because the university is located in Silicon Valley. It attempts to attract the brightest students regardless of economic status. Tuition is free for all students whose families make under $125,000. For families making less than $65,000, they are granted tuition, living expenses, and medical expenses. Keep in mind that Stanford has a “student” contribution which is expected from all students no matter family income-- usually $5,000, which is based on work-study program and summer incomes.

Learn more here.

2- Harvard

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If Havard is at the top of your list, you’re in luck! Harvard is committed to ensuring aspiring students feel that their university is within reach. They do this by offering American and international students scholarships, grants, and work-study programs; Families making less than $65,000 pay nothing at all.

Learn more here.

3- Yale

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Like Harvard, a large portion of Yale graduates starts their professional life with no debt because families making less than $65,000 annually will get their needs covered through scholarships.

Learn more here.

4- Princeton

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Princeton University is a private Ivy League university and is considered the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the Unites States. Every student whose family makes less than $65,000 has 100% of their need met with grants, which never need to be repaid.

Learn more here.

5-Columbia

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Right after Princeton, Columbia University is the fifth oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. This private Ivy League is a research university located in New York City. Students whose families make less than $60,000 never pay at all.

Learn more here.

6-Cornell

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Students whose families make less than $75,000 annually have all of their demonstrated need met with scholarships and grants – there is no need to take out student loans at all.

Learn more here.

7-University of Pennsylvania

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Penn is able to attract many of the strongest students in the world, from all classes and backgrounds, thanks to its need-blind admissions policy (refusing to take income into account) and its need-based financial aid.

Learn more here.

8- Duke University

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Duke University offers the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program to a few people whose mission is to create societal transformation. Each recipient receives a four-year scholarship, which includes full undergraduate tuition, room and board, as well as coverage of additional required expenses.

Learn more here.

9-Dartmouth

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Although Dartmouth has not eliminated student loans entirely, they make sure every student accepted have their financial needs met without the need for student loans. Their low and middle-income students whose family makes less than $100,000 a year has to pay anything for their education.

Learn more here.

10-Brown University

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In 2017, Brown announced that loans would be removed from financial aid packages altogether. After calculating family contribution, all of a student’s remaining costs would be paid through scholarships and campus employment.

Learn more here.

Tuition-Free State and City Colleges

11- City College of San Francisco

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In 2017, San Francisco became the first community college to offer free tuition to its residents. This initiative has helped San Francisco residents pursue higher education to increase their quality of life.

Learn more here.

12- Antioch College

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Located in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Antioch College is known for its progressive politics and learning approaches. They do this by offering full tuition to all students who are eligible for the federal pell grant.

Learn more here.

13- Webb Institute

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Webb Institute is located in New York, one of the most expensive places in the world. However, they provide students with opportunities to get educated in the most challenging fields of study by offering free tuition.

Learn more here.

14- College of the Ozarks

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One of the things that make the College of the Ozarks special is their commitment to “no tuition.” What this means is that including their comprehensive work program coupled with federal and state grants, plus The College of the Ozarks scholarship, students have no out-of-pocket expenses to achieve an undergraduate education.

Learn more here.

15- Alice Lloyd college

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Alice Lloyd College offers students who are from the region free tuition.

Learn more here.

16- Berea College

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Accepted students pay close to $1,000 per year for their housing, food and fees, and have access to financial assistance for books. To make the free tuition possible, each student is required to work 10 hours of work-study per week, which can be applied to working in service jobs on or around campus or to sell their crafts in college-sponsored craft venues.

Learn more here.

17- Blackburn College

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Blackburn College is a private four-year liberal arts college in Carlinville, Illinois offering free tuition for students from the state of Illinois.

Learn more here.

18- Warren Wilson College

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Warren Wilson College schools only 753 students in the undergraduate program and offers 45 programs of study that can be tailored by students based on what is already being offered.

Most students receive some form of financial aid. The free tuition opportunity comes from the NC Free Tuition Plan, and the Milepost One Scholarship. All students also meet the eligibility requirements for the Merit Scholarships, which can add up to over $18,000, while also having access to work-grants

Learn more here.

19- Haskel Indian Nations University

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Haskell Indian Nations University offers a unique structure that enables access to their students and the tribes to which they belong. It is made clear that both the students and the tribe have significant benefits from students’ attendance, as each tribe that sends a student is saved near $20,000 annually in tuition and fees, enabling the tribe to spend the money on other community needs and resources/ programs.

Learn more here.

20- Barclay University

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Supporters of Barclay College believe students should be entitled to a comprehensive, high-quality Christian education, and ensure that qualified students have such access. Many students, therefore, receive an immediate $15,000 full tuition scholarship upon acceptance.

Learn more here.

21- Central Christian College of the Bible

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Each semester the college offers 100 full tuition scholarships to both new students and transfer students. This opportunity to receive a full tuition award covers up to 17 hours per semester for students who are residential or commuters. Each student must achieve high standards as far as both grades and a commitment to Christian service to maintain the award.

Learn more here.

22- Curtis Institute of Music

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The Curtis Institute of Music is a renowned institution that trains some of the most gifted young musicians. There is no financial aid application requirement for any students.

Learn more here.

23- Deep Springs College

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Deep Springs College offers a full scholarship, which includes room, board, and tuition to every student admitted into this unique school. This scholarship opportunity is awarded regardless of the students’ financial need.

Learn more here.

24- Ecclesia College

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Ecclesia College is an institution that is structured around building leadership in society, specifically to support Christ-centered values. Students are given the opportunity to learn valuable workforce training skills while completing their education.

This option significantly reduces tuition and all resident students, regardless of economic status, are given the opportunity to participate in this program. It is a point of pride that the average Ecclesia College student graduates with less than $10,000 in college debt because of this program.

Learn more here.

25- University of The People

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The most important value that University of the People holds, says founder Shai Reshef, is that it remains tuition-free for all students

World Champion gymnast, Simone Biles is a former student of UoPeople and is employed as spokesperson and ambassador of the university model. As a former foster child, she encourages all people who come from struggle to find and create accessible university programming like this one.

Learn more here.

26- Williamson College of the Trades

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Williamson College of the Trades is a men’s junior vocational college campus is located on 220 acres of land in Middletown, Pennsylvania, near the town Media, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Williamson College of the Trades offers each student full scholarships that include tuition, room, textbooks, board, among other costs. Students, however, are required to cover the costs of their own health insurance, as well as various tools and personal items required to be successful in the program.

Learn more here.

27- United States Airforce Academy

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The United States Air Force Academy is a U.S. military service college, serving students who are officers in training in the U.S. Air Force. As with each of the military service academies, the USAFA offers officer cadets free tuition, and room and board, in exchange for their service in the United States military.

Learn more here.

28- United States Coastguard Academy

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The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is a U.S. military service university, serving students who are officers in training in the U.S. Coast Guard. As with each of the military service academies, the USCGA offers cadets tuition and room and board at no cost. All cadets also receive what is essentially a stipend of approximately $12 thousand per year to cover the cost of uniforms, military equipment, academic supplies including textbooks, and personal expenses.

Learn more here.

29- United States Military Academy at West Point

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While this program offers free tuition, it is extremely competitive. Candidates must receive a nomination, usually from a member of Congress or the U.S. President or Vice President to enter.

Tuition is fully funded by the Army in exchange for an active duty service obligation upon graduation. They receive a stipend of around one thousand dollars per month to pay for uniforms, books, and other requirements for their education. However, officers entering military service upon graduation are expected to serve a total of 8 years’ military service obligation.

Learn more here.

30- United States Naval Academy

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The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland is the undergraduate college of the U.S. Navy. The Navy pays for tuition, room, and board, medical and dental care costs. Midshipmen are also paid $1,087.80 monthly, with which they are expected to pay for laundry, barber, cobbler, activities fees, yearbook, and other services during their education at the USNA.

Learn more here.

31- Sterling College

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Sterling College, located in Vermont, is a four-year post-secondary institution with an environmental focus. They offer a significant amount of need-based grants for students, so they can focus on the mission of environmental education, and not be forced to work in other disciplines while completing their education.

They support the sharing of textbooks to cut down on costs and are transparent about any additional expenses like health insurance that students will be responsible for.

Learn more here.

32- United States Marine Merchant Academy

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The Merchant Marine is a 4-year tuition-free program. It is a branch of the military whose duties include shipping and receiving cargo across the waterways of the world, as well as transporting members of the U.S. military during wartime.

Learn more here.

Free Tuition States

If you are a first-generation college student, you have an incentive to attend community college for your first two years because many states ensure free tuition for those who are the first to attend university. Here is the breakdown:

California

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California provides free tuition for the first two years of community college for first-generation students who attend full-time. This program has helped cover 33,000 more students for their second year of tuition-free college.

New York

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New York became the first state through the Excelsior Scholarship to make tuition free for both in-state two-year and four-year colleges for undergraduates who meet specific requirements.

Oregon

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If you are considering attending community college, it might be in your best interest to start while you’re in high school. While it might be a lot on your plate, Oregon offers free community college to qualified high school graduates and those who completed a GED.

What can you do if you already have student loans? Sign up for a free Snowball Wealth account to get a personalized repayment plan!

Source: College Census

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