It’s no secret that the cost of college has reached an all-time high now, which leaves most low-income and some middle-income families with no spot due to lack of funds. This is the most popular of the reasons why most students are in search of tuition-free colleges. Let’s begin with Is college free in Ohio?
The good news??
Ohio 2-year and 4-year colleges/universities do indeed offer tuition-free courses to their citizens.
The not-so-good news?
These free courses are sponsored by lifelong learning institutes (LLIs) or Institutes for learning in retirement (ILR) which are community-based programs whose sponsors are available only to senior citizens and retired(60+) residents.
While most of these courses are sponsored by LLI and the likes, Some colleges and universities also offer free courses to retired residents and senior citizens in Ohio
Here’s a list of a few out of the numerous colleges/universities that offer free courses for senior citizens and retired residents….
- Columbus State Community College
- Central State University
- Kent State University
- Eastern Gateway Community College
- Shawnee State University
- Cincinnati State Technical & Community College
- Southern State Community College
- Cleveland State University
- University of Cincinnati
- Stark State College
As a large percentage of people seeking tuition-free colleges are students, we’ll be discussing how and where you could get tons of tuition-free colleges in subsequent lines…
Is College free for International students?
Some countries offer free college for international students. These countries include Germany, the US, Norway, and Kenya among others.
However, a necessary criterion to qualify for these scholarships is to learn the country’s basic/general language which is Usually a year course.
One of the most recognized universities that offer tuition-free courses for international students in the USA is Berea college. The amazing fact about this university is that it offers a full scholarship that covers living costs for its international students. Although it’s totally difficult to get in, the reward is ultimately worth it.
Below is a list of tuition-free colleges you should consider in your search for free college
- Clark University
- East Tennessee State University
- Virginia State University
- The University of Maine
- University of Illinois
- University of Houston
- University of the Virgin Islands
Below are a few out of a list of top colleges and universities that waive application fees and other fees (if eligible) for students in need of financial aid
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- John Hopkins University
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- University of Pennsylvania
- California Institute of Technology
- Harvard University
What are the requirements/eligibility criteria for getting free admission?
Getting financial aid is a critical criterion to qualify for getting free admission.
There are various criteria applicable to different institutions for getting financial aid. One of the most popular is applying for FAFSA( Free Application for Federal Students Aid). This financial aid is available to US citizens and eligible noncitizens. You can also meet with your high school counselor to help with applying for fee waivers to colleges you’re applying to.
Below are the requirements for applying for FAFSA
- Have a valid social security number
- High school diploma/GED
- Your citizenship, ensure your eligibility for FAFSA before applying.
- Have all necessary valid documents and paperwork.
- Maintaining a satisfactory GPA after being granted financial aid to avoid revoking aid
However…
There are lots of scholarships and grants available for non-US citizens who do not qualify for FAFSA. These scholarships are usually organized by private organizations or charity funds.
These grants and scholarships mainly consider students’ financial status and grades before awarding these scholarships and grants.
So do ensure that you have or maintain a high GPA, as it increases your chance of being granted financial aid, grants, fee waivers, or scholarships.
How long is the admission process?
How long a college responds to your applications for admission and the entire duration of your admission process depends on when you are applying and how long the college you are applying to takes to start admitting.
While it might take days in some cases, it takes months and weeks for most colleges. Therefore, endeavor to get information on how long it takes your college to send admission letters to avoid checking your emails every minute.
Conclusion
Although the free colleges in Ohio are limited to senior citizens, you shouldn’t be held back by that.
As explained and mentioned earlier, there are tons of grants, scholarships, fee waivers, and financial aids out there and if fully and properly utilized will be as good as attending a free college in Ohio.
And this works well if you’ve narrowed down your options. Then, there’s a huge probability that you’ll be accepted in one if not all of your options.
Why?
Because it’s easier to research a particular school than just going out there in search of a school that’s tuition-free.
Remember… the earlier you start searching for scholarships, fee waivers, grants, and student aids available in your dream colleges, the easier it gets for you to win a scholarship and get into your dream school!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is college completely free?
Some countries do offer tuition-free courses for students. Some are available only to citizens, while some are available for both international students and citizens (for example Kenya)
2. How much does college cost in Ohio?
Ohio colleges and universities place margins on tuition fees depending on whether you’re a resident (referred to as in-state fees) or a non-resident (known as out-of-state fees)
The average cost of Ohio’s in-state tuition is $12,660 and that of out-of-state is $22,810.
In summary, Ohio’s cheap tuition fee is mainly for residents( in-state fees), while it’s usually more expensive for non-residents (out-of-state fees)
3. How much does college cost?
The cost of college is partly determined by the school you choose. How?
According to the College Board, the average tuition fees for universities/colleges in the 2021-22 academic year is $10,740 at in-state public four-year institutions and $27,560 at out-of-state public four-year colleges. Therefore choosing a college in your state drastically reduces your college costs.
