New exit window for college students in the United States. New options for college scholarships and full-tuition grants have been launched, based on student’s income level and academic standing. These full-tuition scholarships allow students to attend college without having to pay for classes or take out student loans. A scholarship differs from a grant in that grants are awarded based on financial need, but scholarships are reserved for exceptional students.
In 2023, the average cost of a four-year college degree was $17,709 per year, but that figure is much higher at the most prestigious institutions. This amounts to a 42% increase since 2000, even adjusting for inflation.
Here are some of the best scholarship options:
The Gates Scholarship – $160,000 (Deadline: September 15, 2025)
Breakthrough Junior Challenge – $250,000 (Deadline: September 15, 2025)
QuestBridge National College Match – $325,000 (Deadline: September 26, 2025)
Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway – $100,000 (Deadline: September 30, 2025)
Coca-Cola Scholars Program Scholarship – $20,000 (Deadline: September 30, 2025)
Rhodes Scholarship – $250,000 (Deadline: October 1, 2025)
WGA Evans Scholars Program – $120,000 (Deadline: October 15, 2025)
Daniels Scholarship Program – $304,236 (Deadline: October 18, 2025)
Flinn Scholarship – $135,00 (Deadline: October 21, 2025)
BAEF Fellowships for Belgians – $100,000 (Deadline: October 31, 2025)
More than 46 million Americans owe student loan debt
Millions of college students routinely take out loans to cover their education costs, but some colleges actually offer completely free tuition for those who meet certain criteria. More than 46 million Americans owe student loan debt, representing a national debt of nearly $2 trillion. While former President Joe Biden made progress in providing student loans through various programs, President Donald Trump has challenged the power of the Department of Education and called for massive layoffs at the agency.
Harvard College will be tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less
Some universities have already announced aid, such as Harvard. In March, Harvard University President Alan M. Garber and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Hopi Hoekstra announced that Harvard College will be tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $100,000 or less, and tuition-free for students from families with annual incomes of $200,000 or less. “This significant expansion of financial aid, beginning in the 2025-26 academic year, will make Harvard more accessible than ever to more students, especially from middle-income families,” reads the official statement from one of the world’s leading universities.
“Putting Harvard within financial reach for more individuals widens the array of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that all our students encounter, fostering their intellectual and personal growth,” Garber said. “By bringing people of outstanding promise together to learn with and from one another, we truly realize the tremendous potential of the University.” Thanks to this, about 86 percent of American families would qualify for financial aid at Harvard for the next school year.
Several other colleges have chosen to give free tuition to some students:
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology removed tuition costs for undergraduates from families earning less than $200,000 a year; The University of Pennsylvania said it would also allow students from families earning $200,000 or less to receive free tuition. Previously, the school set its limit at $140,000; Stanford families earning $150,000 or less do not have to pay tuition; all nine University of Texas schools have waived tuition for families earning $100,000 or less; all public state schools in New Mexico offer residents free tuition; Columbia University sets its household income threshold at $150,000 for free tuition; students at Cornell and Yale from families making $75,000 or less will get free tuition; Princeton allows students from families earning $160,000 or less free tuition; Arkansas residents will get free tuition at the University of Arkansas if their family income is under $70,000; The New York University Promise ensures that students whose families make under $100,000 do not have to pay for tuition.
While some schools choose to serve low-income students by combining grants, scholarships and work-study loans to help meet their financial needs, others have promised to keep these students and their families from taking on loans.
