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How to go to college for free

If you’re not sure how to afford college, these strategies may help you get your education for free.

Emily Guy Birken Emily Guy Birken Edited by Jared Hughes Updated February 28, 2023

Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to improve your finances. Although we receive compensation from our partner lenders, whom we will always identify, all opinions are our own. Credible Operations, Inc. NMLS # 1681276, is referred to here as "Credible."

The cost of a college education has long been increasing faster than inflation. Tuition and fees in the 2011-12 school year averaged $9,890 at a public four-year college, with the cost rising to $10,740 in the 2021-22 school year according to CollegeBoard. The number is even greater for private schools — rising from $33,320 to $38,070. This can put college financially out of reach for many, but there are ways to get an education for free or at a drastically reduced price.

  • Affordable ways to go to college
  • Take out a private student loan

Affordable ways to go to college

While it’s virtually impossible to go to college for “free,” students can reduce their college costs to make education much more affordable in a number of ways.

1. Apply for grants and scholarships

Grants and scholarships are a type of financial aid that does not need to be repaid. Before you decide you can’t receive a scholarship if you’re not a star athlete, remember that a huge number of full-tuition grants and scholarships designed to help all types of students are available.

The first place to start is with the college or university you plan to attend. Each school generally has its own application process and requirements for handing out merit-based grants and scholarships, including full rides.

Filling out the FAFSA can also help you qualify for additional scholarship money from your school — and it’s the only way for the institution to offer you need-based money.

Additionally, there’s no limit to the grants and scholarships you can apply for and receive. This means it’s conceivable to have your education paid for entirely through a combination of several smaller grants and scholarships, even if you don’t qualify for or receive a full ride.

Check with nonprofit organizations, local and national businesses, and professional associations in your field to find scholarships and grant-based aid that you may qualify for. You may also want to find scholarships that fit your specific demographic, talents, interests, needs, or plans.

Tip: Finding scholarships you’re a good match for can increase the odds that you’ll receive the money. You may find scholarships for students who:

  • Maintain a high GPA
  • Show potential in a specific educational field
  • Are a certain ethnicity
  • Have extreme financial needs
  • Intend to study at a specific university or program
  • Have worked as a volunteer
Check Out: 5 Steps to Take If You Can’t Afford College

2. Look into military service

Ever since the original G.I. bill passed in 1944 to provide returning WWII service members with a range of civilian benefits, our nation has made sure to help pay for education in exchange for military service. Several versions of the G.I. bill have existed since that time, and the current bill, known as the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33) can help service members go to school for free or at a much-reduced cost.

Service members must meet at least one of the following requirements to be eligible for Post-9/11 G.I. educational funds:

  • Served 90 days of active duty starting on or after Sept. 11, 2001
  • Received a Purple Heart on or after Sept. 11, 2001
  • Served at least 30 continuous days starting on or after Sept. 11, 2001, and honorably discharged with a service-connected disability
  • Are a dependent child using benefits transferred by a qualifying veteran or service member
The full education benefit covers up to $26,381.37 in annual tuition, up to $1,000 annually for books and supplies, and a potential monthly-housing allowance that’s calculated based on your needs. The amount of the benefit you receive depends on your length of service:

  • 100% of the full benefit for service members who served 36 full months
  • 90% of the full benefit for 30 to 35 months of service
  • 80% of the benefit for 24 to 29 months of service
  • 70% of the benefit for 18 to 23 months of service
  • 60% of the full benefit for 6 to 17 months of service
  • 50% of the full benefit for 90 days to 5 months of service
Read More: How to Pay for College

3. Work at school

A number of colleges and universities offer free or reduced tuition for employees and staff of the school. This is often called “tuition remission.” In some cases, this is even extended to children of employees, as long as they qualify for admission.

While the full list of schools that offer free tuition to employees and staff would be too long to include here, some examples include:

  • Boston College: Full-time employees, their spouses, and their children are eligible for 100% tuition remission, provided the employee has worked there for at least five years at 35 hours per week. Employees who have worked less than five years can expect 50% tuition remission. Children of employees must be admitted through the regular admissions process.
  • Goucher College: This college provides tuition remission to full- and part-time employees, their spouses, and their dependent children. Full-time employees must have worked a minimum of 30 hours per week. Part-time employees must have worked either 10 hours per week for at least 39 weeks per year or as a half-time faculty member.
  • Marquette University: Both full- and part-time employees and their immediate families are eligible for tuition remission at Marquette. The benefit for part-time staff is prorated. This benefit starts the semester after the employee’s hire date.
  • New York University: Full-time NYU employees, their spouses, and their dependent children are eligible for tuition remission through NYU. The employee must complete at least one full year of employment before the remission is available to a dependent child. If you make $50,000 or more per year, you’re eligible for 90% of the benefit. Those making less than $50,000 are eligible for the full benefit.

In addition to these individual schools, many colleges and universities offer tuition exchange programs with other schools. That means working at one school could potentially earn you tuition remission at another school within the exchange network.

Though tuition remission can allow you to attend for “free,” generally, you’ll still be required to pay for your own fees, books and supplies, housing, and other educational costs.

See Also: Paying for College without Financial Aid

4. Employer payment

Some employers offer tuition payments as a perk of employment. While not common among all employers, larger corporations are more likely to provide such a benefit.

In most cases, the maximum amount of tuition reimbursement you might receive from an employer is $5,250 per year. Any amount higher than that is considered taxable income, and the employee will be expected to pay income taxes on the benefit.

Some of the companies offering tuition assistance to their workers include:

  • Amazon: If you work for the online retail giant for at least 90 days, you’ll be eligible to receive tuition assistance at one of the participating institutions.
  • Boeing: If you’re employed by Boeing and meet the requirements, the company will help pay for your undergraduate or graduate education, and tuition assistance for your dependents.
  • Disney: Full- and part-time Disney employees can use the Disney Aspire program at one of the partner schools to get an undergraduate or graduate degree. Disney will pay for your tuition and books.
  • Target: If you work at Target, either full- or part-time, the company will pay for your tuition at its partner institutions.

Even if you don’t work for one of the listed companies, you can ask your employer if tuition assistance is part of your benefits package.

See Also: 8 Steps If Your Parents Won’t Help Pay for College

5. Choose a school that pays for you

Certain colleges and universities will pay the tuition of students who meet certain criteria. These requirements typically have to do with financial need, but not always.

The following schools will pay for your education if you meet the eligibility requirements:

  • Alice Lloyd College: If you hail from one of the 108 Appalachian counties in this college’s service area, you’re guaranteed an out-of-pocket tuition cost of $0.
  • University of New Hampshire: The Granite Guarantee offers a tuition-free UNH education to all New Hampshire students eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.
  • Warren Wilson College: Students from North Carolina who qualify for a federal or state need-based grant can attend Warren Wilson College tuition-free. To be eligible, you must live on campus and participate in a work program for 8 to 16 hours per week.
  • Webb Institute: If you’re interested in naval architecture and marine engineering, this small specialty engineering school on Long Island offers a full tuition scholarship to any student who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The school only has one course of study, so this option will only work for students committed to the niche field of naval architecture/marine engineering.

Take out a private student loan

Once you’ve exhausted your options for going to college free, you should consider taking out a private student loan for any gaps in funding. Credible lets you compare private student loan rates from multiple lenders, all in one place.

The companies in the table below are Credible’s approved partner lenders. Whether you’re the borrower or cosigner, Credible makes it easy to compare rates from multiple private student loan providers without affecting your credit score.

LenderFixed Rates From (APR)
Variable Rates From (APR)


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.62%+10 5.86%+10
  • Fixed APR: 4.62%+10
  • Variable APR: 5.86%+10
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $2,001 to $400,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: 0.25% to 1.00% automatic payment discount, 1% cash back graduation reward
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or DACA student enrolled at least half-time in a degree-seeking program
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 12 on-time principal and interest payments
  • Loan servicer: Launch Servicing, LLC


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.99%+1 5.1%+
  • Fixed APR: 4.99%+1
  • Variable APR: 5.1%+
  • Min. credit score: 720
  • Loan amount: $1,000 to $350,000
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15
  • Loan types: Any private or federal student loan
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay, loyalty
  • Eligibility: Available in all 50 states (international students can apply with a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner)
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 36 months
  • Loan servicer: Firstmark Services


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.74%+2,3
4.74%+2,3
  • Fixed APR: 4.74%+2,3
  • Variable APR: 4.74%+2,3
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $1,000 up to cost of attendance
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 8, 10, 15, 20
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 24 months
  • Loan servicer: College Ave Servicing LLC

custom choice

Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
3.65%+ 5.67%+
  • Fixed APR: 3.65%+
  • Variable APR: 5.67%+
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $1,000 to $99,999 annually ($180,000 aggregate limit)
  • Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, immediate repayment, interest-only repayment, flat/full repayment, academic deferment, military deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Available to borrowers in all 50 states. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Customer service: Phone, email
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 36 months
  • Loan servicer: American Education Services
  • Min. income: Does not disclose

edvestinu student loan refinance

Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
7.52%+7 6.99%+7
  • Fixed APR: 7.52%+7
  • Variable APR: 6.99%+7
  • Min. credit score: 750
  • Loan amount: $1,000 to $200,000
  • Loan terms (years): 7, 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and have a minimum income of $30,000.
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 36 months
  • Loan servicer: Granite State Management & Resources (GSM&R)


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.37%+8 5.86%+8
  • Fixed APR: 4.37%+8
  • Variable APR: 5.86%+8
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: $1,001 up to cost of attendance
  • Loan terms (years): 5, 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, full monthly payment, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferment, forbearance
  • Fees: Late fee
  • Discounts: Autopay, reward for on-time graduation
  • Eligibility: Must be an Indiana resident or a U.S. citizen attending an eligible Indiana school
  • Customer service: Email, phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 48 months
  • Loan servicer: American Education Services


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.89%+ N/A
  • Fixed APR: 4.89%+
  • Variable APR: N/A
  • Min. credit score: 670
  • Loan amount: $1,500 up to cost of attendance less aid
  • Loan terms (years): 10, 15
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, interest only, immediate repayment, academic deferral, forbearance
  • Fees: None
  • Discounts: None
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be making satisfactory academic progress.
  • Customer service: Email, phone
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: After 48 months
  • Loan servicer: American Education Services (AES)


Credible Rating
Credible lender ratings are evaluated by our editorial team with the help of our loan operations team. The rating criteria for lenders encompass 78 data points spanning interest rates, loan terms, eligibility requirement transparency, repayment options, fees, discounts, customer service, cosigner options, and more. Read our full methodology.
View details
4.509 - 14.83%9 5.49%9 - 15.83%9
  • Fixed APR: 4.509 - 14.83%9
  • Variable APR: 5.49%9 - 15.83%9
  • Min. credit score: Does not disclose
  • Loan amount: $1,000 up to 100% of school-certified cost of attendance
  • Loan terms (years): 10 to 209
  • Repayment options: Full deferral, fixed/flat repayment, interest only, academic deferment, forbearance, loans discharged upon death or disability
  • Fees: Late fee, non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee
  • Discounts: Autopay
  • Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Also available to non-U.S. citizen students (including DACA students) attending a school located in the U.S. who apply with a qualifying cosigner.
  • Customer service: Phone, chat
  • Soft credit check: Yes
  • Cosigner release: Borrowers can apply after graduation, 12 consecutive on-time principal and interest payments, and meeting certain credit requirements.
  • Loan servicer: Sallie Mae
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About the author
Emily Guy Birken
Emily Guy Birken

Emily Guy Birken is a Credible authority on student loans and personal finance. Her work has been featured by Forbes, Kiplinger’s, Huffington Post, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.

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Home » All » Student Loans » How to go to college for free

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