A Guide to States with Free Tuition and Tuition-Free Colleges

Everybody loves to score a deal, and it’s even more so true when paying for college. What better deal than going to college for free? While going to college for free is certainly “the dream,” it’s not a reality for very many students. However, there are a few states, as well as a number of colleges, who have programs to make it a possibility for qualifying students.

States with Free Tuition Programs

Today, there are currently four states that offer free tuition to qualifying students. Each state has their own stipulations for which students the free tuition program covers.

Indiana

Indiana offers its students free college tuition through the 21st Century Scholars program. To be eligible for this program, students must: • Be an Indiana resident. • Be automatically enrolled or apply in 7th or 8th grade. • Be a U.S. resident or eligible non-citizen. • Be a member of a family that meets income eligibility guidelines (typically a family that is at or below 370% of the Federal Poverty Level). As high school students, qualified recipients must also: • Have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA. • Complete the Scholar Success Program and keep the Scholar Pledge. • Earn a high school diploma. • Take at least 30 credits in college, file the FAFSA by April 15, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) each year.

New Mexico

New Mexican students can take advantage of the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees at 29 participating two- and four-year colleges. Students that wish to take advantage of this award do not need to fill out a separate application; it will automatically be applied to their financial aid package. To qualify, students must: • Be a New Mexico resident for the 12 months prior to the beginning of term (there are exceptions for tribal members, active members of the armed services, and others). • Maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout college. • Enroll in at least six credit hours per semester.

New York

Like Indiana, New York state has stipulations that students must meet to qualify for free tuition through The Excelsior Scholarship: • Be a New York state resident and have resided in New York for 12 months prior to the beginning of the term. • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. • Have graduated from a U.S. high school, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test. • Have a combined adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less. • Be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges as well as Cornell University and Alfred University. • Be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and at least 30 credits per year. • Work in the state of New York after graduation for the same amount of time that the Excelsior Scholarship was disbursed (i.e., Students receiving the scholarship for four years will need to live and work in the state of New York for four years after graduation).

Washington

Finally, the state of Washington offers a free college tuition program through the College Bound Scholarship. Students are automatically enrolled in College Bound in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades if they attend public school and qualify for the free-and-reduced lunch program, or if they are in foster care at any point between 7th grade and high school graduation. Students that attend private school or are homeschooled are also welcome to apply; however, they must reach out to the College Bound program directly. To receive the scholarship, students must: • Be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen, or undocumented state who has resided in the state of Washington for at least a year prior to enrolling in college (special exceptions are made for tribal members, military veterans, and military service members and their families). • Graduate from a Washington high school with at least a 2.0 GPA (students who plan to attend a community college or technical school do not need to meet the GPA minimum requirement). • Get accepted to one of the 65 participating colleges and universities. • Have no felony convictions. • Complete the FAFSA and meet income requirements.

States that Offer Free Community College

States around the country also offer free tuition at community colleges to qualifying students. Like the above programs, these opportunities have specific requirements students must meet to take advantage of free community college. Many of these programs are “last dollar” programs, which means that federal and state financial aid are applied toward a student’s tuition. Then, these programs close the gap between their financial aid package and what the school costs, enabling students to attend community college for free.

Arkansas

Arkansas offers students completing a certificate or associate’s degree in a STEM field free tuition. These grants are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

California

The state of California offers one year of free community college tuition to students who are enrolled full-time. Students must submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act to qualify.

Connecticut

In Connecticut, students attending CT State Community College have access to free tuition. Once federal and state grants have been applied to their financial aid package, the state will make up the remaining funds to allow students to attend for free. They will not have to use student loans from the financial aid package.

Delaware

Delaware provides free tuition for two-year programs at the University of Delaware as well as Delaware Technical Community College. Students must apply by April 1 of their senior year, be enrolled full-time, and fill out the FASFA to be eligible.

Georgia

The HOPE Career Grant enables Georgia residents studying within specific fields to attend any technical college within the Georgia Technical College (TCSG) for free.

Hawaii

Hawaii residents can qualify for free tuition at University of Hawaii Community Colleges. They must submit a FAFSA and be enrolled in at least six credits per semester.

Indiana

The Workforce Ready Grant allows Indiana residents majoring in specific fields to attend community college for free. Institutions that students can choose to attend are Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, and Indiana Institute of Technology.

Iowa

The Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship is a program that covers the remaining gap between a student’s financial aid package and community college costs, ensuring that no student attending community college in Iowa pays for their certificate, diploma, or associate degree.

Kansas

The Kansas Promise Scholarship will pay for Kansas residents to attend community college for free. Like other states, this program covers the gap between a student’s financial aid package and what the community college costs.

Kentucky

The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship is available to Kentucky residents who are planning to study at a community or four-year college. This is a scholarship program that requires an application in addition to FAFSA completion. Students must be studying a qualifying major to be eligible for free tuition.

Louisiana

Louisiana residents can utilize the M.J. Foster Promise Program to pay for a two-year degree at community colleges and universities with two-year degree programs. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, and mandatory books and supplies.

Maine

Maine offers free community college to its residents. Students interested in free tuition and fees will work with an advisor to fill out an application, complete the FAFSA, and choose a qualifying program to study.

Maryland

High school graduates or GED recipients are eligible to receive free tuition at vocational schools, community colleges, or apprenticeship programs. Students must complete the FAFSA and be eligible for in-state tuition.

Michigan

Michigan offers free tuition to community colleges for adults that are 25 and older. They cannot have obtained a bachelor’s or associate degree prior. To remain eligible, students must be enrolled in at least six credits per semester for two semesters and maintain a 2.0 GPA.

Missouri

Missouri students who meet GPA, attendance, volunteer, academic, and citizenship requirements can qualify for free community college or vocational school. To renew, students must have a 2.5 GPA, be enrolled full-time, and submit the FAFSA.

Montana

Residents of Montana can qualify for free tuition at a community college, tribal college, or two-year school in the Montana university system. To stay eligible, students must submit the FAFSA, maintain a 2.5 GPA, and be enrolled at least part-time.

Nevada

Nevada residents under the age of 20 can qualify for free community college tuition at any of the following community colleges: College of Southern Nevada, Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College, or Western Nevada College. To qualify, students must complete the Nevada Promise Scholarship application, file the FAFSA, and complete community service and mentoring requirements.

New Jersey

New Jersey’s Community College Grant is available to students who have not completed college, have submitted the FAFSA, and have a household income that is less than $65,000 per year. They must attend an in-district community college, take at least six credits per semester, and make SAP.

New Mexico

New Mexico’s free community college offering is available under the above New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship. This award covers both two- and four-year colleges.

New York

The Excelsior Scholarship, mentioned above, does not just apply to students attending four-year colleges in the state. New York residents planning to attend a community college can qualify as well.

North Carolina

The Next NC Scholarship covers tuition and fees at all North Carolina community colleges. It will also enable North Carolina residents to pay for part of the tuition at four-year colleges and universities around the state as well. Families must have an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less.

Oklahoma

Students in Oklahoma can qualify for free tuition at a public two-year or four-year university. They can also use the funds to pay for a portion of tuition at a private college. There are quite a few stipulations that students must meet to receive funding, like applying during middle school and high school, completing required courses during high school, having parents whose AGI is less than $100,000 per year, and more.

Oregon

Oregon offers free community college tuition to all residents who graduated from high school or received a GED. Students must reside in Oregon for at least 12 months before enrollment and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.

Rhode Island

In exchange for free tuition at Rhode Island Community College, the state asks that recipients live and work in Rhode Island for a time after graduation. To maintain eligibility, students must attend school full-time and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA.

South Carolina

Tuition and fees are covered for residents at any of the sixteen technical colleges in the state. Students must also be enrolled in one of the following in-demand fields: healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality/tourism, construction, transportation, distribution and logistics, criminal justice, early care and education, and information technology.

South Dakota

The Build Dakota Scholarship enables residents who are planning to study in a specified, high-demand career to study for free at one of South Dakota’s technical colleges.

Tennessee

Finally, Tennessee offers free tuition to any of the state’s community colleges, applied technology colleges, and public or private universities that offer two-year programs. To qualify, students must commit to mentoring and community service, maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, and attend school in the fall immediately following high school graduation.

Vermont

The Community College of Vermont offers free tuition for families with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. With more than 12 locations around the state, CCV makes it feasible for Vermont residents to attend community college for free.

Virginia

Get Skilled, Get a Job, Give Back, also known as G3, provides a chance for Virginia residents to attend college for free. Students must study a high-demand major and meet income eligibility requirements.

Washington

The Washington College Grant (WA Grant) is available to students pursuing a certificate, job training, apprenticeship, or college programs. It will cover tuition for residents whose families have an adjusted gross income of $78,500 or less.

West Virginia

West Virginia Invests covers all residents who plan to study at a community or technical college within the state. This is a last-dollar program, similar to other states, which means that the state will pay for your tuition once grants from your financial aid package have been applied.

Colleges and Universities with Free Tuition

In addition to states that offer free tuition to four-year universities as well as two-year community colleges and technical schools, there are multiple colleges across the country that allow students to attend for free. These colleges include military academies and are located across the United States. Discover if these tuition free colleges are right for you.

How to Apply for Free Tuition Programs

Free tuition varies across states and colleges. Some states require a separate scholarship application, while others will utilize your admissions application for consideration. Furthermore, some states and programs may require you to complete the FAFSA in order to receive free tuition. Check your state’s higher education website for details, requirements, and application information. Also, be sure to schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss options for paying for school. They will have insight into free tuition programs around your state.