For most people, attending college is incredibly expensive. The College Board reports that tuition at public universities has risen every year for the past decade. While financial aid is an option for many, it hasn’t kept up with increased tuition fees, which are rising faster than inflation. Financial aid can also leave students with mountains of debt that can take decades to pay off.
If you’re looking online for a college with no tuition or free college choices, you’ll quickly find your options are limited. Most offer free (or reduced) tuition, or scholarships to pay for tuition, for low-income students.
Many community colleges provide tuition-free learning opportunities for in-state residents, but not all of them will offer a degree program that can be completed this way. If you can find a tuition-free college, it will likely be online and there will still be some fees assessed for distance education.
Eligibility for Free Tuition
Eligibility for low-cost or free tuition will vary by institution. You may be eligible if you meet these criteria.
Military Members
Veterans and active-duty military personnel may qualify for funding through the G.I. bill. In some cases, you may need to commit to remaining on active duty for a period to receive funding. Many online programs also offer discounted tuition for military members.
Low-Income Students
Scholarships and grants are available to low-income students, especially those that meet certain academic criteria. Many of these scholarships and grants provide full funding or cover most of the cost of attendance with no repayment.
Employer-Funded Programs
Some companies offer tuition benefits or tuition reimbursement for employees. UPS, Publix, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, Verizon, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s Disney, Verizon, Walmart, and Target are just a few of the major employers that will help with tuition costs.
Children of University Employees
If a parent works for a college, you may also be eligible for free or reduced tuition.
Foster Children
Several states have special programs in place to fund tuition costs for foster children or those who have been adopted. There are also federal programs that provide educational assistance and tuition waivers.
What If I Don’t Quality for Any of These Programs?
If you don’t qualify for any of these programs for free or reduced tuition, there are other options. The biggest one is student loans.
Student Loans
More than half of all college students have taken out loans, either private or government-funded, to finance their education. Graduates owe an average of $28,000.
Federal student loans are managed by the US Department of Education. Several different programs are available for students, including those with demonstrated financial need (subsidized). There are also loans available for those that do not have a financial need (unsubsidized) and Direct PLUS loans for graduate students to help pay for expenses not covered by other financial aid.
Work-Study Jobs
Federal work-study jobs provide part-time employment for students to pay for tuition or expenses related to education. Jobs may be at school or off-campus and are typically at nonprofit organizations or public agencies.
Many colleges also offer work-study programs that help defray college costs and provide real-world experience to help students achieve their career goals post-graduation.
A University with Free Tuition
University of the People is different from the others. They are the first US-accredited and non-profit university that charges no tuition. While there are fees for registration and class completion, fees are less than what most colleges charge for books. The university offers degrees in business, health science, computer science, and education, including associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees. The University of the People also offers certificate programs.
Programs are all offered online and there are also scholarships available for students unable to pay the fees.
Non-Degree Programs with Free Tuition
If you are interested in online learning to improve your professional skills and not worried about earning a degree, there are many online options available at Coursera. More than 200 universities offer free online courses, such as those from Yale, University of Michigan, University of Colorado, University of Virginia, and the University of London.
Companies also provide free online training courses, including those offered by IBM, Google, or Intel.
The Importance of a College Degree
A college degree is one of the best ways to improve your career situation. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree earn, on average, 66% more than those with just a high school diploma and are less likely to be laid off or unemployed.
According to the US Department of Education, the average worker with a college degree will earn about $1 million more than someone without a degree.
While tuition expenses continue to rise, there are multiple options available to help pay for your college education.
