Getting free education requires work for those who are not fortunate enough to have a 529 or trust fund that is wholly funded. There are numerous applications and hurdles to clear, but if you do it just right, you can get your degree for almost nothing.
Below are ways you can get a free college education.
Apply to Institutions that Fully Satisfy Your Financial Need
Details about your parents given on the FAFSA determine your EFC. The EFC is considered even if your family is not paying for your education expenses. Therefore, an institution dedicated to satisfying 100% of demonstrated financial need would have to offer you a package of financial assistance of $30,000 per year if the FAFSA indicates that your EFC is $20,000 per year and your college costs $50,000 per year.
Think about QuestBridge
The National College Match Scholarship is offered through a partnership between QuestBridge and 40 American colleges and universities. Each school's cost of attendance is covered, including tuition, housing and board, out-of-pocket fees, transportation costs, books, and supplies. This is without any help from the parents and any student debts! However, students might need to contribute their funds or a work-study program.
Request Full-Ride Scholarships
A full-ride scholarship will pay for all associated expenses, such as lodging, food, transportation, and books. Similar scholarships that cover the total cost of tuition do not include living expenses. These scholarships are frequently used by the colleges that offer them as recruitment strategies to draw talented candidates. Full-ride scholarships are more difficult to obtain as an institution moves up the rankings. Full-ride scholarships are available at Virginia Tech, the University of Notre Dame, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Vanderbilt University.
Score High on your SAT/ACT
Some colleges offer full-tuition or full-ride immediate merit scholarships! Only specific GPAs or SAT/ACT scores are required for these scholarships; no application is needed. Examples include the Trustee Scholarship at Clemson and the Presidential Academic Scholarship at Alabama.
Look at Scholarships for University Faculty Students
These programs, together with other scholarships, can help you reach your goal of a free college education. For instance, Duke University provides employees with grants for their children's undergraduate costs at any reputable institution or university, not just Duke.
Think about Loan Forgiveness Initiatives
These programs frequently have rigorous guidelines that must be fulfilled to receive forgiveness. Many of these programs help students who wish to work in local locations and fields in demand.
Inquire about Free Community Colleges
Free community college tuition is available in some areas, which is an excellent method to get general education credits for a bachelor's degree or a degree. Many credits move over, and you can get them for nothing or at a steep discount. Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, and New York are some states that provide free community college.
Bottom Line
As much as a free college education can be achieved, it's not entirely guaranteed. One would require to make lots of applications and hope that somehow a free ride will come through. However, for you to qualify, having a low family income is necessary.