Do you know of any truly need blind public or private college here in US where any qualifying student can study for free, irregardless of his/her family’s finances? Just offering completely free education for all who want to learn and work hard, instead of offering parent poverty based handouts, hardship discounts, loans or merit/talent based scholarships.
Would it be financially feasible for a big endowment college to practice such policy?
Webb Institute http://www.webb.edu
It is tiny (competitive admission), one plan of study (naval architecture & marine engineering, BS that is abet accredited) and offers full tuition to every student.
Naval Academy, West Point, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy. It is financially feasible because YOUR tax dollars pay every penny, and graduating seniors pay back with their years of service (and potentially their lives).
Deep Springs.
https://www.deepsprings.edu/about/
It would be entirely possible for say Harvard to offer a full ride to everyone, but why would they want to advantage the already-advantaged? Why give free college to say, Bill Gates’ or Mark Zuckerberg’s kids? Or, other billionaire?
They basically start paying you by training/educating you as soon as you commit to work for them. It’s awesome but not really a no string attached set up. Financial aid is free money, military tuition is advance from your future earned income. Soliders aren’t getting no freebies. They earn every penny with hard work and sacrifices.
Berea only charges room and board, and some students get that covered as well. Cooper Union is going back to the no tuition model, too (maybe started it fall 2018?).
Berea is wonderful, but there are income limits to be eligible for admission.
“Berea College provides a remarkable opportunity for students who have great academic promise, but limited financial resources. We do this by awarding all admitted students a four-year tuition scholarship. In addition, the College has established a policy for determining each family’s financial eligibility for admission” https://www.berea.edu/admissions/financial-requirement/
Curtis, if you are a musician…free tuition for all. Olin…free tuition for those looking into engineering. No finances considered at all…just talent to get accepted.
If they don’t consider merit or talent, on what basis would students be admitted? Stats don’t matter, finances don’t matter, ability to play the flute doesn’t matter? Are they picking the student body by lottery?
Some states have free community colleges, open to all ‘who want to learn and work hard,’ but not many are interested and the flagships and private colleges are still packed with people paying tuition rather than taking the completely free education.
@twoinanddone Merit and talent would matter for qualifying to attend the college, not for paying for it.
If people were interested in community college, for the same financial aid that covers one poor student’s free ride at an Ivy, you can send ten to a community college for free.
Other than the service academies, looks like there are eight free colleges in the USA, according to the old article from Consumer Reports:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/07/how-to-go-to-college-for-free/index.htm
Many sites offer free online education. If you want the certification of a degree, pretty buildings, and four year social setting, you pay.
Some states allow for hs DE and an associate’s degree.
Is this another speculative question or one based on your true situation?
Yes there are such schools but most have certain eligibility requirements: here is a parti
al list of some: https://www.nonprofitcollegesonline.com/free-colleges/ and https://affordableschools.net/20-tuition-free-colleges/
That list includes the generous meets full need colleges…which DO consider financial need when offering aid. EVERYONE doesn’t get a free ride…which is what the OP is asking about.
@thumper1 Olin used to offer free tuition. They currently have half tuition merit scholarship for all students.
The Olin Tuition Scholarship
Currently valued at more than $100,000, the merit-based Olin Tuition Scholarship benefits all admitted students. Offered for eight semesters of full time study and covering half the annual tuition charges, this scholarship recognizes achievement inside and outside the classroom and represents our confidence in your ability to succeed in this unique academic environment.
I don’t know if these are still current, however, here is a list of potentials!
Alice Lloyd (KY)
Barclay (KS)
Berea (KY)
College of The Ozarks (MO)
Cooper Union (NY)
Deep Springs (CA)
McCauley Honors (CUNY)
Webb Institute (NY)
Brown / Columbia / Cornell / Duke / Harvard / MIT / Yale / Vanderbilt
Texas A&M…
and many more…
Brown / Columbia / Cornell / Duke / Harvard / MIT / Yale / Vanderbilt–
I think technically there’s a small amount paid even for the lowest income student.
Webb Institute may have free tuition, but I think you have to pay R&B
McCauley Honors is free for NYC residents and I think it costs something for OOS residents
I think that the Apprentice School has free tuition – https://www.as.edu/
@momo2x2018 and @Dustyfeathers The question is not what schools offer good financial aid for high need students. It is what schools are free for all regardless of need. Ivies and other selective colleges you both listed are not free. If my kids were to go to any of them we would get a nice big bill.
@me29034 If you’re referring to the Brown et al line, please read it carefully. It says exactly what you just said. It’s a correction of an earlier post by someone else. The same with Webb institute. and the rest.
Have you seen this story in NYT?
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/business/dealbook/education-student-loans-lambda-schools.html