THE BEST COLLEGES PROVIDING FREE TUITION

Looking for a free college or at least free tuition? A free college education isn’t the norm in the United States; however, many colleges, including some prestigious ones, provide free tuition and other financial assistance.

College Student Debt

In 2011, due to the high cost of attending college, the total amount of American student loan debt was more than $1 trillion.

About 25% of borrowers are behind on their loans. University of Wisconsin demographer Jason Houle finds students from middle-class families pile up more student loan debt on average than other students.

According to a Harvard University study, due to the high cost of a college education and other factors, American college students are leaving college without a degree at higher rates than in other developed countries.

In addition, the National Center for Education Statistics finds that the average total cost of attending college in 2010–11 for first-time, full-time students living on-campus and paying in-state tuition at public, four-year schools, was $20,100. The average cost at private, nonprofit, four-year schools was $39,800. The total cost includes tuition, required fees, books and supplies, and the average for room and board and other expenses. At the campus level, the average student debt numbers collected for the report vary widely, ranging from $3,000 to $55,250.

Moreover, according to the Project on Student Debt, provided by the Institute for College Access & Success, students who borrowed money to obtain a bachelor’s degree in 2011 graduated with an average student loan debt of $26,600. The report also shows that about two-thirds of students in the class of 2011 had loans. Approximately one-fifth of all student loans are private, with the rest supplied by the U.S. government, in one form or another.

Thus, many college students begin their careers with significant debt. Many of them can’t afford to take an unpaid internship, which could help put their career on an upward trajectory.

The College Board reports the following average 2012–13 tuition and fees:

• Public, four-year, in-state students: $8,654
• Public, four-year, out-of-state students: $21,706
• Private, nonprofit, four-year: $29,056
• For-profit schools: $15,172

Public schools are often recognized as less expensive than private colleges; however, many students at private schools don’t pay the full cost of their education. For example, at Yale, in 2011, the average financial aid for the 57% of students who qualified was $38,900.

Check out the Ivy League Schools

The Ivy League schools are some of the most expensive schools in the nation. On the other hand, most Ivy League schools provide free tuition and other financial assistance for students from families with an income below a specific threshold, such as $60,000. All of the Ivy League schools have a “no-loans” policy; they provides grants instead of loans.

Top colleges have become more generous with grants. A major reason for this is that they don’t want to pass up on exceptional students who may go on to have notable careers.

College Selection Guidelines

We selected the best colleges providing free tuition, based on financial aid packages, quality of degree programs, types of courses offered, faculty prestige, rankings, awards, and overall school reputation.

We provide two lists: Colleges offering free tuition to most students, and colleges offering free college tuition to students from families with an income below a specific income ceiling.

Best Colleges Providing Free Tuition

1Deep Springs College

Deep Springs College, located on a cattle-ranch and alfalfa farm in Inyo County, California, educates students of exceptional ability. Many of the students have turned down offers from some of the most highly esteemed colleges in the United States.

The college provides a unique alternative to the first two years of a traditional four-year education program. Most of the students complete their degree at the most prestigious four-year institutions in the world. Over two-thirds of graduates of Deep Springs College have a graduate degree.

Deep Springs College, established on the pillars of academics, labor, and self-governance, prepares students for lives of service to humanity. Students have the dominate decision-making authority regarding admissions, curriculum, and hiring of faculty members.

During the admissions process, the college emphasizes academic ability, leadership potential, and a desire to assume active and practical responsibility for the ongoing life of the Deep Springs community.

Admissions rate selectivity varies from 6% to 15%, year-to-year. Accepted students’ SAT scores generally average 700 for math and in the upper 700 range for verbal.

However, Deep Springs College regards essays and the interview as more important factors in the admission process. Females can apply to enroll in the class of 2013.

Each of its 26 students receives a full-scholarship valued at over $50,000 per year. Students work, at a minimum, 20 hours per week on the ranch or farm, or in positions related to the college or community.

2Cooper Union

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to as Cooper Union, is located in New York City. It consists of the School of Art, the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, and the Albert Nerken School of Engineering.

The schools are connected by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Each school provides undergraduate degrees and specialized programs. Cooper Union has highly regarded engineering, art, and architecture programs.

Cooper Union hosts a number of research institutes, such as the C.V. Starr Research Foundation and the Institute for Sustainable Design. The college provides degree programs in the fields of fine arts, architecture, and several engineering areas, and also offers a wide range of continuing education and professional certification programs.

Cooper Union was ranked #1 in the 2013 edition of the Best Colleges in Regional Colleges (North) by U.S. News & World Report. It has also been named #1 Desirable Small School and the 7th most desirable school by Newsweek magazine. Based on a 2012 peer assessment survey, the school was ranked #6 best undergraduate engineering program whose highest engineering degree is a bachelor’s or a master’s degree.

Copper Union has a 9-to-1 student/faculty ratio and a 94.2% freshman retention rate. The institution has 988 students, of which 927 are undergraduates. It accepts about 7% of applicants.

SAT test scores (25th/75th percentile) are as follows: Critical reading: 610/720; math: 650/780; writing: 620/730.

Every registered undergraduate and graduate student receives a free tuition scholarship. Undergraduate and graduate tuition is a little over $19,000 per semester. Every student enrolled in a degree program pays a $775 fee every semester. Students living in student residence pay the regular housing fee of $9,700 for a double, and $10,800 for a single, per academic year.

3Curtis Institute of Music

Curtis Institute of Music, one of the leading conservatories in the world, provides training and education to exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists at the highest professional level. The institute provides complete musical training, as well as liberal arts courses.

Curtis Institute provides a performance Diploma, a Bachelor of Music degree, a Master of Music in Opera degree, and a Professional Studies Certificate in Opera.

The institute has 165 students. Students of elementary-school and high-school age receive training from the same instructors at the same intensive levels as do older students. Curtis does not have teaching assistants.

The school’s trained instrumentalists hold 16% of the principal chairs of the top 25 U.S. orchestras. More than 60 graduates have performed at the Metropolitan Opera. Two music directors of the New York Philharmonic have come from Curtis Institute.