The cost of public and private college tuition continues to rise. The New York Times reports that college tuition rose more than 400 percent from 1982 to 2007, making a college degree cost-prohibitive for many low- and middle-income families. Some parents start saving for college shortly after their children are born. Students without family savings often must work and borrow thousands of dollars to be able to afford one year of college. The staggering cost of higher education has prompted some students to look for free college tuition opportunities across the United States.
Instructions
1. Fill out the FAFSA online. FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, sends your information to your college(s) of choice for grant and institutional scholarship consideration. Grants and institutional scholarships are funds given by donors that could cover your entire tuition bill if you qualify. To fill out the form, open an account at fafsa.gov and fill in each section with your personal, educational and financial information. Add a list of colleges to which you plan to apply in the appropriate section of the form.
First-time undergraduate students can receive the Pell grant, a government needs-based college grant awarded at the beginning of each academic year, which could cover your entire tuition bill if you attend an inexpensive, in-state community college. As of 2011, Pell grants are awarded in the amount of $5,500 per student.
2. Apply to a college that does not charge tuition. Some colleges that offer free tuition, such as College of the Ozarks in Missouri, which requires students to work on campus; Cooper Union University in New York; and Berea College in Kentucky receive hundreds of applications, not because they are considered competitive by university watchers, but because they offer free tuition. Include in your application a resume and a well-crafted essay that clearly states your academic and career goals. Send in your application online or by mail as early as possible.
3. Apply for private scholarships. Open an account at scholarships.com and fastweb.com. The websites contain directories of scholarships for which you could be eligible but that your college may not know about. Such scholarships include private funds earmarked for students based on ethnicity or religious affiliation, athletic ability, or other talents. Although scholarship amounts vary, you can apply for any or all of the scholarships for which you qualify, which could add up to enough to pay your entire tuition bill.
4. Join the United States Armed Forces. The United States military provides servicemen and women with tuition benefits after completing a tour of duty that includes a minimum of 90 days of service. Servicemen and women must complete 36 months of service to qualify for the maximum tuition benefit. The GI Bill pays for tuition and housing when you take on-campus courses. Generally speaking, to get the most out of your GI Bill benefits, apply to accredited, public two-year or four-year colleges, which offer the cheapest tuition rates per credit hour.
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