Forget the crushing weight of tuition and the shackles of student loans. Forget ramen nights and side hustles just to stay afloat. In 31 U.S. states, the door to higher education has swung wide open, offering a revolutionary path forward: free community colleges.
No matter your stage in life, free community college offers a springboard to launch your dreams, debt-free. For recent high school graduates, community college is the perfect stepping stone. Gain foundational skills, explore diverse fields, and prepare for your ideal career without financial constraints.
For those who want to change careers, community college is the answer. Reimagine your journey by updating skills, acquiring certifications, and landing that dream job on a fresh path, free from financial worries.
Community college opens doors for everyone. Expand your knowledge, ignite new passions, and enrich your life while building a more secure and fulfilling future, free from debt. Whether you’re starting out, switching gears, or simply embracing lifelong learning, community college awaits, ready to empower you to build a brighter, debt-free tomorrow.
Full Tuition Coverage:
I’ve listed the colleges in alphabetical order for easy browsing. Just remember, that some of their eligibility requirements can be extensive. Be sure to click on the state link and explore in detail to see if you qualify for any of the amazing free community college programs offered.
Arkansas:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Graduated high school from an Arkansas public school or equivalent diploma approved by the Department of Career Education or verified residency within the state for the last three years.
- Be enrolled part-time or full-time at an approved institution of higher education in a program of study that leads to an associate degree or a certification in a STEM Program or regional high-demand field.
California:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A California resident, a non-resident eligible for tuition exemption, have a “T” or “U” visa or have a homeless youth determination from your college’s financial aid office
- An incoming or already enrolled California community college student
- Meet a certain income ceiling (changing yearly) or be qualified under a special classification, such as being a dependent of a 9/11 victim
Connecticut:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A New Haven resident
- A New Haven public school or approved public charter school graduate with a positive disciplinary record, at least a 90 percent attendance record, and a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Have completed the community service requirement as a volunteer for either a local not-for-profit community-based organization or a private sector organization for a minimum of 40 hours during high school
Delaware:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Delaware high school graduate or GED passer, Delaware homeschooled student, or a Delaware resident over 25 years old
- For associate degree students:
- Enroll with a minimum of 12 credit hours in the first semester and hold continuous enrollment for at least two semesters in each successive academic year
- Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA
Hawaii:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Hawaii resident or eligible non-resident
- Demonstrated financial need based on FAFSA
- Be enrolled in any degree program at any UH community college
Maryland:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Maryland high school graduate or its equivalent
- For incoming college students: at least a 2.3 unweighted cumulative GPA during the first or last semester of high school senior year or a copy of your GED examination
- For currently enrolled community college students: at least 2.5 cumulative GPA
- Meet the household income requirements:
- $100,000 if the applicant is single or resides in a single-parent household
- $150,000 if the applicant is married or resides in a two-parent household
Massachusetts:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Boston resident
- Enrolled in an eligible community college to get a certificate or associate degree
Nevada:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Nevada resident for at least a year before application and under the age of 20 years old
- Nevada or nearby county high school graduate or its equivalent from 2019 to 2023
- Completed eight hours of community service in a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in high school
- No existing associate or bachelor’s degree
New Jersey:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Be a New Jersey resident with an AGI between $0 – $100,000
- Complete the FAFSA or NJ Alternative Financial Aid Application by applicable state deadlines
- Enroll in at least six (6) credits per semester at one of New Jersey’s community colleges
- Have not yet earned a college degree
- Make satisfactory academic progress
New Mexico:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Full tuition and fees are covered at New Mexico public colleges and universities
- Includes part-time and full-time students
- For students pursuing credit-bearing career training certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees
- Available to all New Mexico residents
New York:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen or eligible non-citizen
- A New York resident for at least a year before applying
- A high school graduate or its equivalent
- Have an adjusted family household income of $125,000 or less
Oregon:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Oregon resident for at least a year before application
- Recent high school graduates or GED test graduates
- With a cumulative 2.0 high school GPA or 145 grade on GED tests
- Have no more than 90 attempted or completed college credits
- Meet the Expected Family Contribution requirements, if applicable
Rhode Island:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Rhode Island resident or eligible non-resident
- A high school graduate or GED recipient between 2017 to 2020 before 19 years old
- High school graduates aged 19 to 21 may be considered if they can provide a document explaining their late graduation
- Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in college
- Must be enrolled full-time in college
Tennessee:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- High school graduate or its equivalent before 19 years old
- Participate in the mandatory meetings and mentoring program
- Complete eight hours of community service per enrolled term before receiving the award
- Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA
Virginia:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Qualified for in-state tuition
- Have a total household income less than or equal to 400 percent of the federal poverty level
- Accepted or enrolled in an approved program at a Virginia public community college
- Enrolled with at least six credit hours per semester
Washington:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- For College Bound Scholarship:
- A public school student eligible for free and reduced-price lunch (FRPL) in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade, or in state foster care or a dependent of a state between 7th grade to high school graduation
- Must have graduated with a cumulative 2.0 GPA or higher
- Have no felony convictions
- Meet the annual median family income requirements:
- $33,874 for a household size of two people
- $42,606 for a household size of three people
- $51,338 for a household size of four people
- For Seattle Promise:
- All graduating seniors from Seattle public high schools regardless of GPA, family income, ability, or country of birth
Partial Tuition Coverage or Specific Programs
Georgia:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- A Georgia resident
- Meet the Eligible Postsecondary Institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy
- Comply with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990 (students with drug-related criminal offenses are ineligible for Georgia’s financial aid)
- Not a holder of a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from either American or foreign educational institutions
Indiana:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- An Indiana resident
- Demonstrated financial need based on FAFSA (7th and 8th grade students with legal guardians and foster children are exempt)
Iowa:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Graduate of an Iowa high school, homeschool program, or their equivalents or students aged 20 and above
- Have already applied for other available scholarships and grants
- Have an Expected Family Contribution at or below $20,000
Kansas:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen and Kansas resident
- Meet the household income requirements per family size
- $100,000 or less for a family of one or two
- $150,000 or less for a family of three
- $150,000 plus $4,800 per additional family member beyond three
- Meet one of the following conditions:
- Be a Kansas resident for three or more consecutive years before application;
- Be a Kansas public or private high school graduate or its equivalent within 12 months before application;
- Be a dependent child of a military service member stationed in another state and is an out-of-state high school graduate or its equivalent; or
- Have been in the custody of the Kansas Department of Children and Families at any time during grades 9 to 12
Kentucky:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US citizen or permanent resident
- A Kentucky resident
- A high school graduate or its equivalent
- With no previous associate or bachelor’s degree
Louisiana:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen or a permanent resident
- A Louisiana resident
- A graduate of a Louisiana public high school, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)-approved private high school, or a BESE-approved home study program
- At least a 27 ACT score or its SAT equivalent
Maine:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- US citizen or eligible non-citizen
- A high school graduate or its equivalent from 2020 to 2025
- There are no income or age limits
- Enroll part-time or full-time
Michigan:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- At least 21 years old
- A Michigan resident for at least a year
- A high school graduate or GED recipient
- With no associate or bachelor’s degree
Missouri:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US citizen or permanent resident
- Attended an A+ designated high school
- At least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in high school
- Have a 95 percent high school attendance record
- Have a record of good citizenship
Montana:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A Montana resident for at least a year before applying
- A high school graduate or its equivalent
- At least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in high school
- At least enrolled half-time in a Montana community or tribal college in programs with transferable credits or leading to an associate degree or certificate
- Have no associate degree or have not completed at least 60 credit hours at a post-secondary institution
Oklahoma:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen or lawfully present in the US during college enrollment in time for receiving the scholarship
- An Oklahoma resident
- Must be a student in the 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade in an Oklahoma high school during the time of application
- Homeschooled students must be between the ages of 13 to 16 years old
- Must be a student whose parents’ federal adjusted gross income does not exceed:
- $60,000 with one or two dependent children;
- $70,000 with three or four dependent children; or
- $80,000 with five or more dependent children
South Carolina:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Recent high school graduates or adult learners
- Students in credit-based programs must maintain a 2.0 GPA
- Must be employed
- Must take a financial literacy course from their chosen technical college
- Complete 100 hours of volunteer work for a nonprofit or public service organization
Vermont:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen or eligible non-citizen
- A Vermont resident of any age who is a high school graduate or its equivalent
- Have a family-adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less as reflected on FAFSA
- With no bachelor’s degree
- Not in default on an education loan
West Virginia:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen
- A West Virginia resident for at least a year before applying
- Must not have an associate or bachelor’s degree
- Enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program
- Must complete two hours of community service during the term/s of funding
- Must live in West Virginia for two years after completing a program
Wyoming:
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- A US Citizen
- A Wyoming resident
- A graduate of a Wyoming high school or completed GED or a homeschool program
- Honors Tier:
- 4 years of Language Arts
- 4 years of Math
- 3 years of Social Studies
- 4 years of Science
- 4 years of either Fine and Performing Arts (FPA), Foreign Language (FL), or Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- 3.5 Hathaway GPA
- 25 ACT Score
- Performance Tier:
- 4 years of Language Arts
- 4 years of Math
- 3 years of Social Studies
- 4 years of Science
- 4 years of either FPA, FL, or CTE
- 3.0 Hathaway GPA
- 21 ACT Score
- Opportunity Tier:
- 4 years of Language Arts
- 4 years of Math
- 3 years of Social Studies
- 4 years of Science
- 2 years of either FPA, FL, or CTE
- 2.5 Hathaway GPA
- 19 ACT Score
- Provisional Tier:
- Must apply this first to a community college and extend the scholarship to add four full-time semesters at the University of Wyoming
- Current high school graduation requirements for Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science
- 2 years of either FPA, FL, or CTE
- 2.5 Hathaway GPA
- 17 ACT Score or 12 WorkKeys Score
The door to opportunity stands open, beckoning with the promise of knowledge, skills, and a brighter future. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or anyone in between, free community college can be your stepping stone to success. Take the first step today. Explore your local programs, discover your passions, and pave your path to a thriving, debt-free tomorrow.
Some community colleges are now offering Bachelor’s Degrees!
—Sensei
