At least 23 states offer tuition free of charge to students who attend community colleges.
Your education is not free. Students often have to pay for fees, transportation and room and board.
Additionally, community colleges often have restrictions that restrict who is eligible. You may not be eligible for free tuition if you have a low income, are a resident of the same area, or have had any previous education. There may be restrictions on your study field in certain states like Kentucky that may limit your eligibility for free tuition.
Is there a community college that is free?
Arkansas, California and Delaware are the states that offer free community college.
It is not uncommon for states or localities to offer community college at no cost. It is best to search for grant programs or “promise programmes” in your locality or state. Your local community college may have information about programs that are available.
You should verify that you are eligible to receive a free program at a community college before you assume you will get tuition free. There are many eligibility requirements, depending on which program you choose.
Michigan, for example, offers community college free of charge to those who have special circumstances. Michigan Reconnect, for instance, offers free community college access to those over 25 with no college education.
In-district residents are local residents. There are differences in state districts, but the general rule is that students from out-of district community colleges will pay more tuition fees than those from within their respective districts. This is similar in principle to the way four-year colleges use state designations for tuition eligibility. You will typically find in-district identifications on the website of the community college.
While some states have granted community college to residents at no cost, it has not been passed at the federal level. In 2021, the Build Back better social spending bill contained a proposal that students could receive free community college in the early versions. After much negotiation, the provision for free community college was dropped from the Act.
FAFSA is a way to lower the costs of community college
It doesn’t matter where you plan to go college, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a must. Before applying for private loans or grants for community college, apply for federal aid.
Free community college is available in some states, but you must submit the FAFSA to receive it. Programs are often “last-dollar,” meaning they cover the difference in cost and amount of grants or other aid that don’t have to repaid.
Even if you cannot afford a community college, federal student aid can be used to reduce the cost of tuition. $6,495. This is Pell Grant aid that you don’t need to repay. Pell Grants can be applied for each academic term or for six years of school.
According to College Board, the average tuition cost for community college was $3,800. This is for residents who attend their local college. Pell Grants can be used to pay tuition. The Pell Grant is granted based on demonstrated financial need and tuition costs. However, income is not a limit.
