The cost of college can be burdensome, particularly if you have your sights set on a famous university. Unfortunately, college education has been increasingly out of reach as tuition has steadily increased.
It can be more challenging if you have trouble securing financial help or scholarships. But some college students get paid to attend college, and you could be one of them!
Most of these schools are accredited and will provide you with a quality higher education. However, the academic level of individual institutions varies widely.
So if getting a degree is your only priority, you should look into the following schools.
Let’s begin.
Top 10 Institutions That Pay You to Attend
- Elmira College, New York
Elmira College is a tuition-free, four-year liberal arts college founded in 1855. The college is also the first women’s college in New York and one of the 15 oldest colleges in America.
Elmira College offers more than 100 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs such as nursing or education that prepare students for professions across many industries.
- Alice Lloyd College, Kentucky
Alice Lloyd College is a private liberal arts college in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. The United Methodist Church founded the college in 1923, named after Alice Lloyd, a Kentucky teacher, author, and activist.
Alice Lloyd College is located on 600 acres of land and has an average enrollment of approximately 365 students.
The school offers both bachelor’s degrees and associate degrees but no graduate programs at this time.
- Berea College, Kentucky
Founded in 1859 by abolitionists, Berea College boasts a long history of helping students who can’t afford college.
Today, the institution offers nearly 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students an internationally renowned education. Moreover, they don’t charge tuition, except for fees.
As a student, you’ll be required to work 10 hours per week on campus as part of your financial aid package. This is done to help cover room and board expenses.
You must also complete at least one year of full-time employment before graduation. However, you may choose not to do so if it interferes with your academic goals or personal commitments.
This requirement has led some students who stay longer than five years at Berea College into lucrative careers after graduation.
Others use these opportunities as stepping stones toward more prestigious careers elsewhere in academia or business.
Some students prefer it that way rather than staying permanently employed by the college after graduating.
- Deep Springs College, California
Deep Springs College might be for you if you’re a man, have a high GPA, and are between the ages of 18 and 23. The school is located in California’s Death Valley and operates on an unusual model.
Students must work on the ranch for two years before attending classes at the college. The school has been around since 1917 but only admitted its first female student in 2013.
And even then, she had to transfer out after her sophomore year when she got pregnant with her boyfriend’s child. And that’s because the college president was against these types of relationships.
Because of this exclusivity, the New York Times named the school one of “America’s most selective schools.”
- College of the Ozarks, Missouri
This college is a private Christian liberal arts school in Point Lookout, Missouri. John Brinkley founded the school as a Bible institute in 1906 when he returned from missionary work in Korea.
It has grown into a four-year institution with 1,200 students worldwide and offers 50 majors across nine colleges and schools.
However, if you enroll, you must volunteer community service hours at home or abroad after graduation to get your degree debt-free. Attending CofO doesn’t require any monetary commitment upfront.
But you need to cover room and board, and that comes with an essential requirement. In addition, you must work on campus at least 10 hours per week during both semesters and summer.
This requirement may seem to detract from your educational experience at first glance. However, many find these jobs provide invaluable hands-on learning experiences outside their academic classes.
- Curtis Institute of Music, Pennsylvania
The Curtis Institute of Music is a private university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, who named the school after her grandfather Charles Pratt and his wife, Sarah C. Pratt.
After graduating high school with a music degree, you can apply to the Curtis Institute of Music undergraduate program.
The undergraduate program offers a four-year Bachelor of Music degree that allows students to work on their performance skills.
You also take classes such as theory and history of music. There are currently about 200 students enrolled in this program each year.
- United States Military Academy, New York
This is an excellent choice if you’re looking to serve your country while earning a degree. The USMA offers free tuition and room and board for all cadets; no deposit is required.
However, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and be able to pass the physical fitness test. Only then will you qualify for admission into the academy’s four-year program of study.
You’ll have to meet specific grade point averages as well. When you graduate from West Point, you’ll get a commission as an officer in any branch of the military service. And you don’t have to repay tuition costs or fees incurred during your time at West Point.
- Webb Institute, New York
Webb Institute is a private engineering and naval architecture college. It was founded in 1879 by William Webb, an engineer, and inventor. The institution is located on the North Shore of Long Island, making it one of the smallest colleges in the U.S.
It offers bachelor’s degrees in its graduate programs. It also offers a bachelor’s degree with an honors program for students who have completed their first two years at another college or university.
- Barclay College, Kansas
Barclay College is a private, Christian liberal arts college located in Haviland, Kansas. The school has been a four-year institution since 1883, enrolling approximately 60 students yearly.
Barclay College offers both undergraduate degrees and graduates degree programs that include:
- Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy
- United States Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut
The United States Coast Guard Academy is a four-year, federally-funded military academy that offers free tuition to all students. That means you won’t need to apply for financial aid, take out student loans, or work while in school.
You also don’t have to pay for room and board because it’s an official U.S. military institution with its dormitories on campus. And if your family lives close enough, family housing options are also available.
Students who qualify will receive a full scholarship covering tuition and fees during their four years at USCGA. And you don’t need to fill out any other forms besides the application form needed for admission into the program.
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for colleges that will pay you to attend, there you have it. Whether it’s free tuition or a stipend, these institutions are committed to providing students with access who might not otherwise be able to afford higher education.
These schools don’t offer traditional four-year schools, but they all have something special about them. And that offers opportunities for hands-on learning experiences, whether close to home or overseas.