3 Unique Colleges That Offer Free Tuition

admin | September 22, 2012

Every year, thousands of college students are able to significantly decrease their tuition responsibilities by earning scholarships and federal grants, but wouldn’t it be nice if they could find a way to reduce their responsibility to zero? Although it would be impossible to give everyone a free college education, there are some who truly deserve the opportunity to attend school free of financial responsibility.

In the United States, a few higher education institutions understand this need, and by offering their students a full ride, they are able to facilitate the realization of goals of students who might have otherwise never attended college. In addition to free tuition, most of these schools are also highly unique in their curriculum, available degrees, location and commitment to community service. Take a look at the three examples below to learn more about why and how these colleges are able to do what they do.

Berea College

Located in Berea, Kentucky, Berea College is set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the state. In 2011, the school was ranked as the #1 liberal arts college in America by Washington Monthly. It has also been included on several “best colleges” lists by both the Princeton Review and Newsweek. Berea College is also a member of the President’s Higher Education Community Services Honor Roll. Although Berea does not charge an application fee, this should not fool you into thinking the application process is easy. Only those students who showcase strong academic ability, character recommendations and financial need will be considered for admittance. Because the school is so small, every class is taught by a college professor (that’s right, no TAs). Every student is also given a laptop computer for school use, and they get to keep it after graduation. The school offers a wide range of liberal arts degrees and many minors, as well as pre-professional programs. Berea College provides all students with a 4-year tuition scholarship that is paid for through several means, including a work program that requires students to work 10 to 15 hours per week in one of the 140 labor departments across campus.

College of the Ozarks

As stated on its official webpage, College of the Ozarks is “committed to its founding mission of providing a quality, Christian education to those who are found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to obtain such training.” Ranked as the #9 best regional college in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report, College of the Ozarks is located in Point Lookout, Missouri, near Branson. The admission process is quite similar to other colleges. However, the school does require every candidate to participate in a face-to-face interview with a staff member. Various liberal arts degrees, minors and pre-professional programs are offered at the College of the Ozarks, as well as pre-degree certificates. The college is able to offer free tuition through a combination of federal and state grants, a college scholarship and the student work program. The work program requires students to work 15 hours per week on campus, as well as two forty-hour works weeks.

Alice Lloyd College

Alice Lloyd College is a private institution located in Pippa Passes, Kentucky that provides higher education to students in the Appalachian region who exhibit the greatest potential and financial need. U.S. News and World Report has ranked this school many times as one of the top colleges for students with the least amount of debt at graduation. The admissions process is one of the most selective in the nation. Out of all applications submitted every year, only 7.3% are accepted. Various liberal arts degrees are offered, along with minors and pre-professional programs. Free tuition is guaranteed to all full-time students residing in Alice Lloyd College’s 108-county central Appalachian service area. The college teaches what it calls a “character-based education,” which integrates Christian principles with a strong work ethic. All full-time students are required to work from 10 to 20 hours per week in a variety of work areas on and off campus.

For more detailed information about each college mentioned above, visit each school’s respective website.

Mariana Ashley is freelance writer who focuses much of her attention on the topic of education. As a current resident of the last frontier, Mariana understands just how important online colleges in Alaska are for students in rural areas interested in getting their degree. Consequently, many of her articles are about e-learning and career development for rural peoples. Feel free to reach out to her via email at mariana.ashley031@gmail.com.