For most families, affordability is one of biggest deciding factors when their students are preparing for college. In fact, two-thirds of today’s college students use some form of financial aid.
With the added pressures paying for school puts on families, many students and parents are happy to learn there are a handful of colleges offering complete financial aid packages in exchange for student work. At these schools, tuition may be totally or partially covered by the tuition busting plans offered by the schools. Most of the "free tuition" colleges require at least 15 hours of student work each week in addition to a full load of classes; and student workers generally serve essential functions in the operation of the school.
Of course, working through school is not for every student; and, options are limited, and may only be available to specific student populations. Taking a heavy class load and working part-time can be challenging, particularly to college students who are unused to managing their own time; however, it's certainly great preparation for any student's future that will certainly involve a myriad of additional responsibilities requiring the skills aquired through programs like these.
The list below details seven colleges that offer four-year degrees at reduced or free tuition in exchange for student work.
1. Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, is nestled in the Appalachian mountains of Kentucky. Students at this private Christian school choose from 28 liberal arts degree programs, and can expect class sizes to be under 20. Through the school's Labor Program, students are expected to take a full course load and simultaneously work 10 to 15 hours per week to repay the college for extending them the cost of tuition, as well as room and board. Financial aid through traditional sources like federal grants and academic scholarships are not prohibited; however, they do not affect the work requirements the school has in place.
Working as a student at Berea is not a typical campus work-study assignment. Instead, each student is matched to a job that aligns with his or her major and skill level as a freshman. As students advance through their studies, they are expected to advance in the school based workplace as well, taking on more responsibility as experience is gained. Performance in the workplace is not graded; however, supervisors regularly evaluate and report students' work performance.
2. Blackburn College, Carlinville, Illinois, where eighty-five percent of the student body makes ends meet by taking advantage of this liberal arts school's work program. Tuition and room and board at Blackburn College may be supplemented by standard sources of financial aid. Students in this program must log 160 hours of work per semester, earning tuition credits as they work on campus or in the nearby southern Illinois community. Blackburn's Work Program is unique in that it is managed by its students, providing participants the opportunity to gain higher-level skills that may be more attractive to employers
3. College of The Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri, known colloquially as "C of O", is located near Branson, which is in southwest Missouri. This private Christian university offers 4-year degree programs in 40 different majors, focusing on the development of patriotic and hardworking citizens. The goal of C of O is to provide a tuition-free education to students who otherwise would not be able to attend college. All students must demonstrate financial need to attend C of O; and, all enrollees must work to defray the cost of attendance. Full-time students must work 15 hours each week in exchange for tuition, as well as two 40-hour weeks when classes are not in session. Students who demonstrate extreme need may work 6-week sessions during the summer to cover the cost of room and board.
Because C of O discourages debt, its students may not borrow state or federal funds to cover the costs of college. Grants and scholarship funds from government and private sources are allowed, however. C of O takes its conservative Christian roots seriously and prohibits alcohol and tobacco on campus. Admission is highly selective; only 13% of applicants were admitted in 2013.
4. Ecclesia College, Springdale, Arkansas, is a private Christian school, and has a student population of less than 200. Each of the seven available degree programs is taught from a Biblical perspective. Every student at Ecclesia is eligible for financial aid through the school's Work Learning program. Participants spend 15 hours per week in positions on campus; and, junior and senior students are placed in jobs that align with their field of study. Tuition credits of up to $2,000 per semester may be earned to defray the cost of attendance.
Ecclesia caters to students who appreciate the familial atmosphere of a very small campus. Previously homeschooled students, in particular, may find that Ecclesia offers their preferred environment for post-secondary learning. Though students need to pay for the courses, it is also possible to complete class requirements online; and, the school offers a scholarship that greatly discounts the cost of online enrollment.
5. Sterling College, Craftsbury Common, Vermont, is a small private institution located just south of the U.S.-Canadian border. Situated on a working farm, Sterling is devoted to educating students via both classroom and fieldwork. The fieldwork takes place in actual fields, as students manage animal husbandry, horticulture, woodlot management, and agriculture and conservation in the process of maintaining a working farm and school.
Four-year degrees are available in ecology, outdoor education, sustainable agriculture and food systems, and environmental humanities. One third of Sterling's students opt to design their own degree programs.
Students may defray the cost of tuition while adhering to Sterling's educational model of hard work in the context of learning. All residential students must work at least 80 hours per semester; in return, a minimum of $1,650 may be credited against tuition. Total enrollment is about 100 students, and average class size is seven. At 63%, Sterling's first-year retention rate is higher than most colleges.
6. Warren Wilson College, Asheville, North Carolina, is a small private liberal arts college that is focused on environmental studies. Though it was founded as a Presbyterian missions school, WWC no longer has a religious affiliation. Students may choose from 40 majors for a 4-year degree, or design an individual program via Integrative Studies. Regardless of major, all WWC students must strive to practice ecological sustainability. To that end, all students must work at least 15 hours a week on a work crew that is essential to the sustainable operation of the school. As a result, tuition may be reduced by as much as $3,500 per year.
There are fewer than 1,000 students enrolled at WWC at any given time, allowing for an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. After environmental studies, the most popular majors include sociology and performing arts. Graduates of WWC generally can expect to do well, as 75% reported full-time employment within six months of graduation.
7. Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the most selective schools in the country. Curtis is very small, taking up just five buildings in urban Philadelphia. Its students are talented musicians who are preparing for careers in music performance at the highest levels. The students give more than 200 performances a year. Students who successfully audition into Curtis receive100% tuition coverage.
Financial support for Curtis was initially provided by a $12.5 million gift from its founder Mary Louis Curtis Bok, which launched the school's unusual tuition-free policy in 1928, and provided financial support for much of the school's history. In the 1980s, Curtis instituted annual fundraising to augment ongoing endowment fundraising. Together with planned gifts, this private support funds more than two-thirds of the school's annual operating expenses.
Curtis only accepts an average of 5% of total applicants. This selectivity guarantees an intimate and intensive learning environment for the college's 175 students. Celebrated instructors work one-on-one with student musicians to prepare them for a lifetime of elite performance. The school offers a Bachelor of Music degree, a diploma, and for opera students, a Master of Music degree and a Professional Studies certificate. The length of a student's stay is open-ended, and students graduate when their teachers decide they are ready.
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