Please complete your profile to unlock commenting and other important features.

Please select your date of birth for special perks on your birthday. Your username will be your unique profile link and will be publicly used in comments.
Narcity Pro

This is a Pro feature.

Time to level up your local game with Narcity Pro.

Pro

$5/month

$40/year

  • Everything in the Free plan
  • Ad-free reading and browsing
  • Unlimited access to all content including AI summaries
  • Directly support our local and national reporting and become a Patron
  • Cancel anytime.
For Pro members only Pro
Summary

These 6 US Colleges Offer Free Tuition So Students Don't Have To Pay To Study

There are some catches to be aware of though.

Senior Writer

It's no secret that going to post-secondary school can be quite expensive, but there are some U.S. colleges that offer free tuition so students don't have to pay a bunch of money to study.

U.S. News, which famously ranks the best post-secondary schools in America and around the world, dropped a list on September 13 of tuition-free colleges. There are some catches, though, some of which include having to work on campus or be from a certain state, region or background.

Not all of the schools are completely free — students might have to pay for residence or books, for example — but students don't have to pay tuition fees. Here are six schools to check out!

The Apprentice School

Location: Newport News, Virginia

Details: The Apprentice School offers students classes and full-time employment in different shipbuilding trades. There is no tuition at the school. Instead, students earn just over $18 an hour in the first term of the program and then up to $29.73 an hour when they complete their final term.

Berea College

Location: Berea, Kentucky

Details: At this school, no student pays tuition thanks to the Tuition Promise Scholarship that pays off costs for every admitted student that remain after other state, federal and institutional aid is used. The scholarship amounts to nearly $200,000 over four years. Students have to work at least 10 hours a week on campus and they earn about $5.60 to $6.80 an hour but higher wages are available for different jobs. The money earned can be put towards room, board and book costs.

Curtis Institute of Music

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Details: Full-tuition scholarships have been offered at this school to all undergraduate and graduate students since 1928. There's no financial aid application that needs to be completed to get tuition costs waived. However, the school does have annual fees that can be more than $1,000.

Haskell Indian Nations University

Location: Lawrence, Kansas

Details: Haskell Indian Nations University is a tribal university that provides education to Native American students. The school offers free tuition to students from federally recognized tribes but there are additional fees including housing, athletics and activities.

University of New Hampshire

Price: Durham, New Hampshire

Details: The Granite Guarantee program at the school provides full tuition to qualified state residents for up to four years. However this is limited to full-time, first-year students who are eligible for the federal Pell Grant that gets awarded to students who have an exceptional financial need.

Webb Institute

Location: Glen Cove, New York

Details: This small engineering school offers full-tuition scholarships to all students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. While there are other fees, students can apply for federal loans and grants to cover the cost of their room, board and other school expenses.

  • Senior Writer

    Lisa Belmonte (she/her) is a Senior Writer with Narcity Media. After graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), she joined the Narcity team. Lisa covers news and notices from across the country from a Canada-wide perspective. Her early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic earned Narcity its first-ever national journalism award nomination.
Advertisement Content

TD has financial support for Canada's medical, dental and vet students

Depending on your program, you could get up to $100,000 upfront in your first year.

11 cozy places in Canada that'll transport you to a European fairytale during fall

Skip the transatlantic flight and discover Europe's magic right here at home. 🍂

This charming spot near Vancouver is ranked one of the 'coziest cities' to visit this fall

This cozy fall paradise is just a short drive from the city! 🍂🍁

Toronto is about to get speed cameras in 49 new spots, despite Ford's plans to ban them

Ford's ban might not come quick enough for drivers in these Toronto spots.

Canada's cheapest grocery stores were revealed and these discount chains came out on top

Costco made the ranking even though you have to pay for a membership! 👀