Tuition Free Online Colleges and Universities

College tuition rates have increased dramatically in recent decades. For 2021-22, CollegeBoard reports that tuition at a four-year public school averages $10,740 for in-state students and $27,560 for out-of-state students. However, qualified learners could lower their education costs by enrolling at tuition free online colleges.

Tuition free colleges serve all types of students based on different qualifications. Some require applicants to show significant financial need or academic achievement. Others serve students of certain backgrounds. This guide highlights tuition free online colleges, including common application requirements and other ways to lower education costs.

Online Colleges With Free Tuition

1. Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, KY
2. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
3. Brown University, Providence, RI
4. City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
5. College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, MO

What Is 'Free College'?

While some institutions run specifically as tuition free online colleges, most schools provide free tuition through financial aid programs. These schools offer tuition reductions or benefits for specific types of applicants, like low-income or military students.

Students can also benefit from specialized tuition support programs, such as grants and scholarships. Even with free tuition, students may still need to pay administrative expenses like registration or graduation fees.

Many colleges let students attend without paying tuition, but these schools do not exist in all states. Students seeking free online college should research where they can take free online college courses.

Who Is Eligible for Free Tuition?

Many types of students take advantage of free online college. Students who might qualify for free or greatly reduced tuition should ask desired schools about their financial aid programs.

Colleges with Free Tuition

This section highlights several well-known colleges with free tuition programs. These schools maintain different education philosophies, providing free tuition in varying ways. Some schools require military service, while others only require applicants to meet certain income requirements.

These colleges also vary in their admission requirements. Top schools such as Harvard and MIT typically offer free tuition only to students with outstanding academic records. However, many community colleges offer tuition assistance with less consideration given to grades.

• City College of San Francisco
• City University of New York – Macaulay Honors College
• College of the Ozarks
• Community College of Rhode Island
• Curtis Institute of Music
• Deep Springs College
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Oregon Community Colleges
• South Dakota Technical Schools
• SUNY and CUNY Institutions
• Tennessee Community and Technical Colleges
• United States Air Force Academy
• United States Coast Guard Academy
• United States Merchant Marine Academy
• United States Military Academy
• United States Naval Academy
• Webb Institute
• Williamson College of the Trades

How to Get Reduced or Cheap College Tuition

Other institutions besides just tuition free online colleges let students save on education. Savvy students find many ways to reduce their overall tuition rate at all types of schools. This list highlights three possible ways to lower higher education costs.

From the Expert

Q. In your experience, is there a specific population of students that may not know about free college options available to them?

I work with prospective college students who have physical and mental disabilities. Not many students pursue medical-based financial aid, despite numerous benefits. This program will pay for tuition, fees, books, some school supplies, and many other items. Students often overlook the program because they mistakenly believe their medical condition is not serious enough to qualify.

Q. What types of medical conditions qualify for free tuition?

Many common medical conditions qualify for medical-based financial aid, including asthma, allergies, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Not many students with these conditions would consider them to be disabilities in the traditional sense of the word. In fact, I typically refrain from using that word in my discussions with students because I find it has a certain stigma that can impact their decision to apply for medical-based financial aid.

Approximately 20% of students aged 18-24 suffer from one or more significant medical conditions that would potentially qualify for medical-based financial aid. This equates to approximately two million college students in the United States each year. However, out of those two million students, only about 100,000 ever find out that their medical condition can potentially be a source of free money for college.

Q. Where can students who might qualify for medical-based financial aid find more information?

My book, "The Medical Loophole: The Ultimate Guide to Medical-Based Financial Aid," teaches students how to apply for medical-based financial aid. This information is crucial to securing medical-based financial aid because completing the FAFSA does not inform students of their potential eligibility. There is a separate application process to apply for medical-based financial aid, and most students never find out about it.