Most Americans are feeling a major pinch in their wallets—from the price of eggs to high home prices—and the bottom line comes into sharper view for families with children who want to go to college.
The average cost of college in the United States is $38,270 per student per year, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, and room and board, according to the Education Data Initiative.
That’s $153,080 over four years. And to take home that eye-watering amount of money after taxes, the person paying for college must earn roughly $190,996 before Uncle Sam and the state get their cut, assuming a combined federal and state tax rate of about 19.9%.
But parents don’t need to start taking on extra jobs and socking away every single penny to put their kids through college. Currently, 15 states offer free college tuition—for anywhere from two to four years—with no income requirements.
How I saved a bundle
When my son Holden graduated from high school in 2019, I heard about a program called California Promise, which provided free tuition at participating California community colleges for two years. I encouraged him to apply, and he went on to earn an associate degree at Pasadena City College for free and then went to a university out of state to get his bachelor’s degree.
His college education was essentially half-price, so I saved a bundle.
And it turns out California isn’t the only state that offers this perk.
The history of free tuition
The small town of Wheelock, VT—population 768—made history as the first to offer free tuition. Since 1830, qualified applicants from the town have been eligible for a free Dartmouth education, a legacy from when the college owned the town.
Fast-forward to the Campaign for Free College Tuition, which was established in the state of Washington in 2014. This bipartisan organization advocates for tuition-free education nationwide.
By 2015, Tennessee introduced the first state-level free tuition program. Today, 32 states offer similar programs, with 20% of U.S. community college students attending tuition-free.
“This creates more upward economic mobility in our country,” says Morley Winograd, president and CEO of the campaign.
The average cost of tuition per year is $17,709. So if your city or state covers two years of tuition, that means you’re saving $35,418. For three years, it’s $53,127. For four years, it’s $70,836. That’s per kid.
Living in one of those tuition-free zones gives people “the opportunity to get college credits out of the way locally without incurring tuition expenses,” which brings the total cost of an education down substantially, according to Realtor.com® senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones.
And for homebuyers? That’s a win in today’s tough housing market.
Below, we’ve listed 15 states offering free tuition with no income requirement. For each location, you’ll find the median home list price and the minimum income needed to live comfortably—using the “30% rule” to keep housing costs manageable. This rule earmarks no more than 30% of your monthly income going toward your housing payment.
States offering free college tuition programs with no income requirements
Median list price: $296,854
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $65,665
The Arkansas Future Grant covers tuition and fees for students working toward a certificate or associate degree at any public community or technical college in Arkansas.
To qualify, students must be enrolled in a STEM program or another field of study in high demand in the region. All grant recipients must work full time in Arkansas for at least three years after graduation.
Median list price: $759,500
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $168,003
California Promise provides a tuition-free community college program for first-time, full-time students attending public community colleges. It covers the cost of tuition for up to two years as long as students meet specific academic criteria and maintain a certain course load. However, not all California community colleges receiving Promise money use it to waive enrollment fees, so confirm with your college first.
Median list price: $499,994
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $110,600
The Pledge to Advance Connecticut program allows eligible first-time, full-time students to attend a community or technical college tuition-free.
Median list price: $487,450
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $107,825
Delaware’s SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) Scholarship Program is a last-dollar tuition scholarship for Delaware high school graduates enrolled full-time in an associate degree program at Delaware Technical Community College or the University of Delaware’s Associate in Arts program.
Students must have a 2.5 high school GPA and a 2.5 college GPA for continued eligibility.
Median list price: $290,750
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $64,314
The Workforce Ready Grant offers tuition and fee coverage for students attending Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, Indiana Institute of Technology, or other approved institutions.
This grant supports students pursuing certificates in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, building and construction, health sciences, IT services, business services, and transportation and logistics.
Median list price: $299,950
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $66,349
The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship provides funding for tuition and fees for programs that prepare students for high-paying, in-demand careers. The scholarship covers up to 60 credit hours and is available to Kentucky residents who have a high school diploma or are working toward a GED.
Median list price: $276,438
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $61,149
The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students offers scholarships to Louisiana residents attending public colleges and universities, institutions within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, approved proprietary and cosmetology schools, and schools affiliated with the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
These merit-based awards cover tuition and certain fees at eligible Louisiana public colleges and universities.
Median list price: $450,000
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $99,541
Graduates from Maine high school classes 2022 and 2025 can qualify for Maine’s last-dollar Free College Scholarship. This scholarship covers tuition and fees at one of Maine’s seven community colleges.
Median list price: $769,500
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $170,215
Massachusetts Reconnect is a program designed for eligible adults aged 25 and older.
You must have been a resident of Massachusetts for at least one year and have earned a high school diploma but have not previously completed a postsecondary degree.
It covers community college tuition and fees and also provides an allowance for books and supplies.
MassEducate is a state-funded initiative that offers free community college education to people who have been Massachusetts residents for at least one year, have earned a high school diploma, are not in default on a student loan, and have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree.
The program covers all tuition and fees associated with courses, and provides an annual allowance of up to $1,200 for books, supplies, and other educational expenses.
Median list price: $289,950
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $64,137
Michigan Reconnect offers free community college tuition to adults aged 25 and older who do not have a college degree. This program is part of Michigan’s effort to enhance its workforce by providing opportunities for upskilling.
Median list price: $495,000
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $109,495
Nevada offers last-dollar scholarships that cover community college tuition, making it free for eligible students.
High school graduates must complete 20 hours of community service and maintain a 2.5 GPA in college to qualify.
Participation in the Nevada Promise Scholarship program is optional for each community college.
Median list price: $399,000
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $88,260
The Legislative Lottery Scholarship supports recent New Mexico high school graduates and high school equivalency recipients from their second through seventh semester if satisfactory academic progress—including a 2.5 GPA—is maintained. You must enroll as a full-time college student within 16 months of getting your high school diploma or GED.
The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship covers up to the total cost of tuition at any New Mexico public college or university, whether you are a full-time or part-time student. You must be a New Mexico resident; plan to enroll in at least six credit hours per semester; and maintain a 2.5 GPA throughout college.
Median list price: $549,950
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $121,650
Recipients of Rhode Island’s Promise can attend the Community College of Rhode Island and earn an associate degree with no tuition costs.
To remain eligible, students must enroll full time, maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher, complete 30 credits per year, and attend both the fall and spring semesters each academic year.
Median list price: $427,450
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $94,553
Tennessee Promise provides tuition and fee coverage for Tennessee high school graduates attending an in-state community or technical college once they have applied for Pell Grants, the HOPE Scholarship, and other state financial aid.
Tennessee Reconnect is available to adult learners, or those 23 years and older, who plan to attend an in-state community college or technical school. The program covers tuition after other financial aid has been applied.
Median list price: $245,000
Minimum income to live comfortably there: $54,194
The West Virginia Invests program covers tuition for state residents attending community or technical colleges in West Virginia.
To qualify, recipients must pass a drug screening at least 60 days before the start of their first term each academic year.
