Millions of undergraduates have learned a tough lesson at college: Education is expensive. But some students can avoid such costs thanks to the largesse of the state where they live.
A handful of states offer their residents free tuition at their public community colleges or universities In these places, eligible students can pursue an education without depleting their wallet.
Here are the states that might pay for some or all of your public college tuition. In all cases, other eligibility conditions may apply in addition to what you see here.
West Virginia
The program: West Virginia Invests
The costs it covers: Tuition, mandatory fees and approved academic program fees for certificate and associate degree programs in high-demand fields
Applicable institutions: State community and technical colleges in West Virginia
Residency-related restrictions: West Virginia Invests is only open to people who have been residents of West Virginia for at least one year. Applicants must also commit to living in the state for at least two years after they are no longer enrolled at least part-time.
Nevada
The program: Nevada Promise Scholarship
The costs it covers: Up to three years of base registration and some other mandatory fees not covered by other state and federal aid
Applicable institutions: Community colleges in Nevada
Residency-related restrictions: Must be a new high school graduate who is classified as a Nevada resident for tuition purposes. Nevada Promise Scholarship recipients continuing from the previous year also are eligible to continue in the program.
Arkansas
The program: Arkansas Future Grant
The costs it covers: Tuition and fees for qualifying certificate and associate degree programs related to science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) fields of study or regional high-demand areas of study
Applicable institutions: Arkansas public institutions
Residency-related restrictions: Applicants must have resided in the state for at least three years prior to application and to have graduated from an Arkansas public, private or home school.
Indiana
The program: Workforce Ready Grant
The costs it covers: Tuition and fees for qualifying certificate programs
Applicable institutions: Approved job training providers
Residency-related restrictions: Indiana residents who have a high school diploma, but less than a college degree
Michigan
The program: Michigan Reconnect
The costs it covers: All of tuition when you attend an in-district community college or part of tuition if you attend an out-of-district community college
Applicable institutions: All public community colleges in Michigan
Residency-related restrictions: Residents 21 or older who have lived in Michigan for a year or more and who have graduated from high school but not college
Connecticut
The program: Mary Ann Handley Award
The costs it covers: Community college tuition and mandatory fees not covered by federal and state grants
Applicable institutions: Community colleges in Connecticut
Residency-related restrictions: Connecticut residents who are high school graduates
New Mexico
The program: The Lottery Scholarship and Opportunity Scholarship
The costs it covers: The lottery scholarship pays for 100% of tuition, and the opportunity scholarship covers 100% of tuition as well as course-specific fees of up to $50 per credit hour.
Applicable institutions: Public colleges and universities in New Mexico
Residency-related restrictions: You must be a New Mexico resident for at least a year
Rhode Island
The program: Rhode Island Promise
The costs it covers: 100% of tuition
Applicable institutions: The Community College of Rhode Island
Residency-related restrictions: Rhode Island residents who are graduates of a high school and 18 or younger
Maine
The program: Free College Scholarship
The costs it covers: 100% of tuition and mandatory fees
Applicable institutions: All community colleges in Maine
Residency-related restrictions: Maine residents who are recent high school graduates
The program: Tennessee Promise
The costs it covers: Tuition and mandatory fees not paid by other grant and scholarship programs
Applicable institutions: Community colleges and colleges of applied technology within the College System of Tennessee
Residency-related restrictions: All graduates of eligible Tennessee high schools qualify for Tennessee Promise
Massachusetts
The program: MassReconnect and MassEducate
The costs it covers: Full cost of tuition and fees. Some students may also be eligible for an allowance to cover the cost of books, supplies and other expenses.
Applicable institutions: Community colleges in Massachusetts
Residency-related restrictions: You must have physically resided in Massachusetts for at least one year.
Kentucky
The program: Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship
The costs it covers: The cost of tuition for up to 60 credit hours in approved programs
Applicable institutions: Community colleges, technical colleges and universities in Kentucky
Residency-related restrictions: Kentucky residents who are high school graduates
California
The program: California College Promise Grant
The costs it covers: Waives enrollment fees (tuition) for eligible students for up to two years
Applicable institutions: California community colleges
Residency-related restrictions: Must have lived in California for at least one year or have been determined a California homeless youth
Louisiana
The program: Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
The costs it covers: Depending on the institution, the program may cover some or all of tuition costs. You can find a breakdown of award amounts here.
Applicable institutions: Louisiana public colleges and universities, schools that are a part of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana-approved proprietary and cosmetology schools, or institutions that are a part of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Residency-related restrictions: Must be a resident of Louisiana for two years prior to graduating from high school. May also qualify based on the residency of a parent or legal guardian.
Add a Comment