Best Tuition-Free Colleges in the U.S.

TBS Staff Writers
By
Updated on April 23, 2025

Disclosure: This page contains advertisements from our partner school network that are not related to free tuition.


Looking for a free college or at least free tuition?

A totally free college education isn’t the norm in the United States — but getting a tuition-free degree is possible! Many colleges, including some prestigious ones, provide free tuition alongside other financial assistance.

The Best Tuition-Free Colleges

Note

Tuition Free College isn’t actually entirely free, but it can save you a bunch of money. Though you may be required to pay for certain expenses—including student fees, housing, meal plans, textbooks and other basic college supplies—you are not responsible for paying the cost of tuition. Some schools cover this cost by requiring you to complete a specific number of work-study hours, either by filling an on-campus job or working within the local community. Each tuition free school dictates its own academic and financial eligibility requirements.

Featured Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site

Best Tuition-Free Colleges Based on Family Income

Note

Many top schools offering free tuition to families with an income below a specific ceiling could be in this list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Texas A&M University, in particular, have been included on account of their relatively high acceptance rates.

Featured Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site
Loading...
Loading...Learn More
Visit Site

Additional Options for Students

Check Out Ivy League Schools

The Ivy League schools are some of the most expensive schools in the nation, normally speaking. On the other hand, most Ivy League schools provide free tuition and other financial assistance for students from families with an income below a specific threshold, such as $60,000. All of the Ivy League schools have a “no-loans” policy; they provide grants instead of loans.

Top colleges have become more generous with issuing grants; a major reason for this being that they don’t want to pass up on exceptional students who may go on to have notable careers.

Consider Military Academies

In addition to the schools mentioned here, US military academies also offer free tuition, in exchange for military service. Check out our article profiling U.S. military academies.

Methodology

We selected the best colleges providing free tuition, based on financial aid packages, quality of degree programs, types of courses offered, faculty prestige, rankings, awards, and overall school reputation.

We provide two lists: colleges offering free tuition to most students, and schools offering free college tuition to students from families with an income below a specific income ceiling.

Header Image Credit: PeopleImages | Getty Images

More from The Best Schools