Top 10 US Universities Offering Free Tuition to International Students: A Guide

Even if Maryam Yahaya were to sell everything that the family owns as a first-generation student, it wouldn’t be enough to pay for her tuition fee at the University of Rochester. To Maryam and millions of other international students, studying in the USA is a luxury they cannot afford without scholarships or external financial support.

Are they are schools in the USA offering free tuition? Yes. However, sometimes, free tuition rarely means everything is free. You will have to make certain payments, such as personal expenses, health insurance, books, and room and board.

In this guide, we have listed a few schools where you can study without paying for your tuition.

Read: How to Move to South Korea for Free as an International Student

Berea College (Berea, Kentucky)

Model: The school provides 100% tuition-free education to all admitted students, funded by the college's endowment.

For International Students: Berea is one of the only U.S. colleges to offer this to international students.

Intake:

1. Admission is competitive for internationals.

2. You must demonstrate exceptional leadership, academic merit, and significant financial need.

3. You are required to work 10-15 hours per week in a campus job.

4. You must be able to pay a one-time deposit and contribute to your living costs.

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (Needham, Massachusetts)

Model: For the class entering in 2024 and beyond, the school offers a tuition scholarship covering at least 50% of tuition. Need-based aid can cover up to100% of tuition and fees.

For International Students: Every student is eligible for the same merit and need-based aid.

Intake:

1. It is a highly selective engineering college.

Yale School of Music (New Haven, Connecticut)

Model: All students receive a full-tuition scholarship plus a generous stipend for living expenses.

For International Students: All students are eligible.

Intake:

1. Admission is based on artistic talent.

Deep Springs College (Deep Springs, California)

Model: The school is a 2-year liberal arts college on a cattle ranch that offers a full scholarship covering tuition, room, and board.

For International Students: The offer is fully eligible.

Intake:

1. The model is based on self-governance, labour, and academics.

2. The application process is intensive (essays, interviews, and a mandatory visit for finalists).

3. Students work 20+ hours per week on the ranch/farm.

4. After two years, students transfer to top universities to complete their bachelor's degree.

Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Model: The school offers students, regardless of nationality or need, a full-tuition scholarship on artistic merit.

For International Students: The offer is fully eligible.

Intake:

1. Admission is the sole barrier.

2. It is one of the most selective music schools in the world.

3. The schools offer need-based grants for living expenses.

Barclay College (Haviland, Kansas)

Model: A Christian college offering a fully funded scholarship to students who live on campus.

For International Students: Everyone is eligible for the scholarship.

Intake:

1. You must pay for room and board and fees.

2. You must prove you can cover these costs for the I-20 visa form.

College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbour, Maine)

Model: The school is not tuition-free. However, the cost of attendance is need-blind for international students and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.

For International Students: This is a need-based financial aid model, not a blanket promise.

Intake:

1. You must apply for aid and demonstrate need.

2. The average aid package for internationals is very high.

Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

Model: The school offers need-blind admission for international students, and meets 100% of demonstrated need with grant aid (no loans).

For International Students: If admitted and your financial need is high, Amherst will cover tuition, room, board, and fees entirely with grants.

Intake:

1. It's one of the most generous liberal arts colleges in terms of international aid.

Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

Model: The school offers need-blind admission for international students starting with the Class of 2028.

For International Students: For admitted students with high financial need, aid packages can cover full tuition, room, and board.

Intake:

1. This is a recent and significant policy shift.

U.S. Service Academies

All academies offer free tuition plus a service commitment.

• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA): Admits international students per year with nominations from their home governments.

• Military, Naval, Air Force, Space Force Academies: Require U.S. citizenship, except in rare cases involving government-sponsored exchange students.

What You Should Do Next

If you find any of the schools:

• Visit the school’s official website and check its admissions & financial aid pages carefully.

• Contact their international admissions office: ask about eligibility, scholarships, visa requirements, and costs beyond tuition.

• Confirming what’s covered: tuition, room & board fees?

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