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Free College? It's More Likely Than You Might Think
Free college? Well, for most students, college is expensive.
Each year, the costs of attending rise, and show no signs of slowing. Between tuition, textbooks, lab materials, and room and board—”the path to a diploma exacts a large price. Yet degrees remain highly in demand. Families are asking: how can we afford it?
Thankfully, some states have begun to address this issue with legislation. Just last week, New Mexico proposed a bill to offer free tuition for all residents regardless of income bracket. What may really surprise you, though, is that about half of the states already offer some form of free tuition for their residents! These benefits are usually reserved for in-state applicants, so it's not a free-for-all—”but if you and your family are weighing options for how to pay for a college education, see if your state qualifies.
Ready to learn more?
We've compiled a list of which states offer tuition-free paths, so you don't have to. Check out the list below and research your state's rules. Remember, this is just a starting point: each contains different regulations, so make sure to read up on your individual situation before making a decision!
Does your state offer some form of a tuition-free college option?
| Yes, in limited areas. | |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Not yet. |
| Arizona | Yes, in limited areas. |
| Arkansas | Yes. |
| California | Yes. |
| Colorado | Not yet. |
| Connecticut | Yes, in some areas. |
| Delaware | Yes. |
| Florida | Yes. |
| Georgia | Not yet. |
| Hawaii | Yes. |
| Idaho | Yes. |
| Illinois | Not yet. |
| Indiana | Yes. |
| Iowa | Not yet. |
| Kansas | Not yet. |
| Kentucky | Yes. |
| Louisiana | Yes. |
| Maine | Not yet. |
| Maryland | Yes. |
| Massachusetts | Yes, in some areas. |
| Michigan | Not yet. |
| Minnesota | Yes. |
| Mississippi | Not yet. |
| Missouri | Yes. |
| Montana | Yes. |
| Nebraska | Not yet. |
| Nevada | Yes. |
| New Hampshire | Yes, in limited areas. |
| New Jersey | Yes. |
| New Mexico | Not yet. |
| New York | Yes. |
| North Carolina | Yes. |
| North Dakota | Not yet. |
| Ohio | Not yet. |
| Oklahoma | Yes. |
| Oregon | Yes. |
| Pennsylvania | Yes, in limited areas. |
| Rhode Island | Yes. |
| South Carolina | Not yet. |
| South Dakota | Yes. |
| Tennessee | Yes. |
| Texas | Yes, in some areas. |
| Utah | Not yet. |
| Vermont | Not yet. |
| Virginia | Not yet. |
| Washington | Yes. |
| West Virginia | Yes. |
| Wisconsin | Not yet. |
| Wyoming | Yes. |
What have you learned about financial aid and how to make the most of your state's offerings? Let us know!
If you'd like to read more about financing your college education, make sure to check out the Financial Aid tab on the blog for more articles.
If you'd like to learn more about how to build up the other elements of your college education, reach out to Empowerly today to learn how we help students.