Full tuition scholarships are the holy grail of funding opportunities for students to completely reprieve their financial worries in college.
Whether merit- or need-based, full tuition scholarships will cover your entire bill for up to four years. Many universities also throw in free housing, meal plans, and spending allowances to really entice high-achieving students.
One TIME magazine article reported that average tuition at four-year U.S. colleges range from $9,410 to $32,410. Finishing a bachelor’s or higher is still valuable to claim the median $1 million lifetime advantage over high school graduates though. Plus, you can receive one of these full tuition scholarships that won’t cost a buck.
1. 5 Strong Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: December 31st
Founded by Andrew H. Ragland, the 5 Strong Foundation provides full tuition scholarships to minority high school seniors in the Atlanta Metro who are accepted at HBCUs. Partnering colleges include Langston, Bethune-Cookman, Alabama A&M, Lincoln, and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Eligibility criteria includes graduating this Spring, attending mandatory bi-monthly college prep sessions, carrying a minimum 2.5 GPA, scoring at least 19 on the ACT or 980 on the SAT, and displaying leadership potential.
Contact
5 Strong Foundation Scholarships
223 James P. Brawley Drive SW
Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 880-8992
drewragland@5strongscholars.org
2. Baptist Theological Heritage Scholarships
Deadline: July 15th
The Houston Baptist Institute & Theological Seminary (HBITS) offers up to 350 Baptist Theological Heritage Scholarships yearly to cover full tuition, partially waive fees, and give a sizable $9,900 stipend. Qualified undergraduates at the Houston campus must be entering at the associate level to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Bible studies, theology, or ministry full-time. Attending the campus worship service each Sunday and adhering to the seminary code of conduct is also required.
Contact
Baptist Theological Heritage Scholarships
260 Cooper Road
Houston, TX 77076
(866) 270-1515
admin@hbits.org
3. B.T. Roberts Academic Scholarships
Deadline: February 3rd
At Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, the three B.T. Roberts Academic Scholarships extend full tuition guarantees to cover the annual price of $29,600 after financial aid. Suitable candidates would hold a NYS Regents diploma or out-of-state equivalent, excel with a minimum 3.5 GPA, score at least 1270 on the New SAT or 27 on the ACT, participate in an interview during the Academic Scholarship Weekend, and enroll full-time in one of RWC’s 50 majors.
Contact
B.T. Roberts Academic Scholarships
2301 Westside Drive
Rochester, NY 14624
(585) 594-6455
KohrL@Roberts.edu
4. Chicago Police and Fire Scholarships
Deadline: January 2nd
Launched in 1976, the Chicago Police and Fire Scholarships provide full tuition coverage at the University of Chicago to the biological or legally adopted children of active, sworn-in Chicago law enforcement officers and firefighters. Students whose parent was killed on-duty would also qualify. Applying to UChicago before the Regular Notification deadline is mandatory to waive four years of full-time baccalaureate study. A similar $20,000 scholarship is given at Illinois Tech.
Contact
Chicago Police and Fire Scholarships
5801 South Ellis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-8650
collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu
5. Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship
Deadline: October 30th
Annually, the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship from the Western Gold Association (WGA) covers full tuition and housing for over 900 outstanding caddies who seek accredited, four-year education. Eligible golf enthusiasts must have caddied for at least 24 months, finish their junior year of high school with a minimum “B” average, establish financial need, and display good leadership character. Recipients typically attend colleges with an Evans Scholars chapter, such as Marquette, Miami, Northwestern, and Purdue.
Contact
Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship
One Briar Road
Golf, IL 60029
(847) 724-4600
havekost@wgaesf.org
6. Colorado Garden Show Scholarship
Deadline: March 15th
The Colorado Garden Show, Inc. awards a four-year, full-ride scholarship to incoming freshmen at publicly funded colleges in-state who are majoring in horticulture, agriculture, floriculture, landscape architecture, plant science, forestry, and similar fields. Funding pays for tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and a laptop computer. Scholarship terms include maintaining a cumulative GPA above 2.5, performing 20+ hours of community service annually, and remaining a gardening-related major.
Contact
Colorado Garden Show Scholarship
959 S. Kipling Parkway Suite 100
Lakewood, CO 80226
(303) 932-8100
jim@gardeningcolorado.com
7. Diversity at Microsoft Tuition Scholarships
Deadline: January 27th
As a Washington-based Fortune 500 tech company, Microsoft applauds diversity by granting full tuition or partial tuition scholarships to college students of underrepresented minorities. Eligible applicants must be enrolling full-time at a North American university to pursue STEM majors, such as computer science, computer engineering, or software development, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Priority is given to applications that display exceptional leadership work in promoting diversity.
Contact
Diversity at Microsoft Tuition Scholarships
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
(800) 426-9400
scholars@microsoft.com
8. Eugene DuPont Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: January 15th
Since 1980, the Eugene DuPont Memorial Scholarship has been gifted by the University of Delaware to honor the businessman who became the first head of DuPont Corporation in Wilmington. It’s intended to cover four years of tuition, room and board, and fees while providing a $375 textbook stipend each semester and one-time $2,500 enrichment grant. Qualified freshmen must be enrolling full-time in the Distinguished Honors Program with a minimum 3.3 GPA.
Contact
Eugene DuPont Memorial Scholarship
30 Lovett Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
(302) 831-2126
admissions@udel.edu
9. Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program
Deadline: December 15th
Channeling the Maryland abolitionist’s spirit for equality, the Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program is hosted by American University to award full tuition, fees, textbooks, and room and board for four years. Interested freshmen must possess a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3, score at least 1190 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT, and demonstrate active civic engagement. Preference is given to first-generation students, people of color, and those committed to serving the under-served.
Contact
Frederick Douglass Scholarship Program
4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-6213
fdds@american.edu
10. Gates Millennium Scholarships
Deadline: March 17th
Endowed for $1.6 billion by the Bill & Melina Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholarships offer full tuition by covering unmet need for African American, Native American, Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic students. Minority students must enroll as first-year students at U.S.-based colleges, select STEM majors like computer science or chemical engineering, qualify for the Federal Pell Grant, excel academically with a minimum 3.3 secondary GPA, and participate in community service.
Contact
Gates Millennium Scholarships
2025 M Street NW, Suite 610
Washington, DC 20036
(877) 808-7032
mary.williams@gmsp.org
11. George A. Carpenter Scholarships
Deadline: December 1st
The Drake University National Alumni Association funds full tuition with George A. Carpenter Scholarships for 10 top-achieving freshmen who are matriculating full-time for their first bachelor’s degree. Scholastic requirements include ranking in the top 5 percent of one’s class, holding a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher, and scoring at least 31 on the ACT or 1430 on the SAT without writing. Consideration is also given for extracurricular life, communication skills, and service leadership.
Contact
George A. Carpenter Scholarships
2507 University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 271-2011
admission@drake.edu
12. Hatton W. Sumners Law Scholarship
Deadline: February 15th
The Hatton W. Sumners Foundation honors his 34-year public service career as the Congressman-at-Large from Texas and Chairman for the House Judiciary Committee. Among the Foundation’s merit-based programs is the three-year Law Scholarship, which covers full tuition and fees with a housing allowance. Four to six recipients are selected from the top one-third of the incoming class at the ABA-accredited Oklahoma City University or Southern Methodist University.
Contact
Hatton W. Sumners Law Scholarship
325 North St. Paul Street Suite 3920
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 220-2128
info@hattonsumners.org
Scholarship Link
13. Hays Memorial Achievement Scholarship
Deadline: February 1st
One of the four-year full tuition scholarships at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, is the Hays Memorial Achievement Scholarship. It’s designed for graduating high school seniors legally residing in the U.S. who exhibit the intellectual vitality for collegiate success with a minimum 3.6 GPA, ACT “super score” of 32, and SAT Critical Reading and Math score of 1410. Applying to Hendrix before the Early Action I deadline for any of the 34 bachelor’s majors is required.
Contact
Hays Memorial Achievement Scholarship
1600 Washington Avenue
Conway, AR 72032
(501) 329-6811
adm@hendrix.edu
14. John Preston Davis Art Scholarship
Deadline: January 1st
At Salem College, the John Preston Davis Art Scholarship is worth full tuition, which is presently $27,406, for outstanding first-year artists who are accepted as full-time studio art, art history, or design majors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Before the interview, freshmen must submit a brief 300-word essay, portfolio, and one art teacher’s recommendation letter. Non-art majors could earn Salem’s Robert E. Elberson Scholarship and Whitaker Scholarship too.
Contact
John Preston Davis Art Scholarship
601 S. Church Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 721-2600
financialaid@salem.edu
15. Julie and John Mork Family Scholarship
Deadline: December 1st
The University of Southern California manages a historic $110 million donation from alumni Julie and John Mork, two executive directors at the Denver-based Energy Corporation of America (ECA). The Mork Family Scholarship provides full tuition worth $51,000 per year and provides a $5,000 stipend for housing expenses. Each year, 10 freshmen are selected who’ve ranked in the top 1-2 percent of students in demanding curriculum.
Contact
Julie and John Mork Family Scholarship
3601 Trousdale Parkway Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90089
(213) 740-9116
ahfstaff@usc.edu
16. MasterCard Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: February 1st
MasterCard Foundation partnered with Michigan State University in East Lansing to provide full tuition scholarships for residents of sub-Saharan African countries, including Angola, Sudan, Chad, Gambia, Mali, and Seychelles. Eligible candidates must be in their nation’s lowest income bracket, pursue their first bachelor’s or master’s degree, exhibit strong academic success, and show leadership potential for fostering African economic growth. Funds also recipients’ cover travel, visa, housing, and insurance costs.
Contact
MasterCard Foundation Scholarships
427 N. Shaw Lane
East Lansing, MI 48864
(517) 355-8332
mcfs@isp.msu.edu
17. NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
Deadline: May 5th
The HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce administers the NURSE Corps Scholarship Program every Spring to cover tuition, eligible fees, textbooks, and clinical expenses with an additional monthly stipend of $1,330 for future nursing staff. Appropriate applicants will be U.S. citizens or nationals, enroll at an accredited nursing school, begin classes before September 30th, and be free of federal judgment liens. Scholars must agree to work at least two years full-time in a Critical Shortage Facility (CSF).
Contact
NURSE Corps Scholarship Program
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
(800) 221-9393
18. Posse Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: January 3rd
Founded in 1989, the Posse Foundation is one of America’s premier college access systems conferring four-year, full tuition leadership scholarships to nominated high school seniors. Students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, and Washington, DC, receive all-inclusive education at 57 Posse partners like Case Western Reserve and Syracuse. Positive, motivated nominees are selected based on their scholastic potential and leadership, not financial need.
Contact
Posse Foundation Scholarships
14 Wall Street, Suite 8A-60
New York, NY 10005
(212) 405-1691
info@possefoundation.org
19. Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship
Deadline: None
Incoming freshmen at Duke University are automatically considered for the Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship, a full tuition award remembering the first Black President of the Associated Students who was tragically killed in a car crash. Hopeful applicants of African American heritage should be enrolling full-time, rank in the top percentile of their class, be committed to community service, and embody Reggie’s spirit of social justice.
Contact
Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship
114 S. Buchanan Street
Box 90756
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 660-3070
ousf@duke.edu
20. Robert J. Noyce Scholarship Program
Deadline: April 15th
At Cleveland State University, the Robert J. Noyce Scholarship is offered in the College of Education and Human Services to provide full tuition totaling $25,000 per year and a $1,200 technology award. Funding is reserved for educators in the NCATE-accredited Master of Urban Secondary Teaching Program (MUST) who intend to teach inner-city students in 7-12 science or mathematics classrooms. Recipients also benefit from a one-year urban clinical experience and job placement rate of 100 percent.
Contact
Robert J. Noyce Scholarship Program
2121 Euclid Avenue, JH 384
Cleveland, OH 44115
(216) 687-4589
g.r.mcpherson@csuohio.edu
21. Sister Mary Ildephonese Holland Scholarship
Deadline: January 31st
Mount Mercy University presently charges full-time undergrads $28,226 yearly, so the Sister Mary Ildephonese Holland Scholarship’s full tuition coverage is handy. This merit-based program selects incoming freshmen who will live on-campus in Cedar Rapids, possess a minimum overall GPA of 3.7, score at least 1240 on the SAT or 26 on the ACT, and display Catholic values in community service. The Catherine McAuley Scholarship also offers full tuition for Iowans.
Contact
Sister Mary Ildephonese Holland Scholarship
1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
(319) 363-8213
studentfinancialservices@mtmercy.edu
Scholarship Link
22. SMART Scholarship for Service
Deadline: December 1st
The Department of Defense works with the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) to award the SMART Scholarship for Service. Its endless benefits include full tuition, a stipend up to $38,000, health insurance allowance up to $1,200, mentoring, and research internships. Approximately 240 scholars are selected yearly for STEM majors like electrical engineering, physics, oceanography, and biosciences with an average cumulative GPA of 3.7 and SAT Math score of 660.
Contact
SMART Scholarship for Service
1818 N Street NW Suite 600
Washington DC 20036
(202) 350-5715
smart@asee.org
23. Stamps Family Foundation Scholarships
Deadline: Varies
The Stamps Family Foundation has bestowed nearly $40 million in the last six years through full tuition scholarships at colleges across the United States. Partner schools include Georgia Tech, Morehouse, West Point, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and many more. Eligibility criteria typically requires being a full-time incoming freshman, carry a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or better, scoring at least 1300 on the New SAT or 28 on the ACT, and displaying leadership with perseverance.
Contact
Stamps Family Foundation Scholarships
P.O. Box 98374
Atlanta, GA 30359
(404) 681-2800
Scholarship Link
24. UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
Deadline: March 2nd
Enrolling in the 10-campus University of California system from Berkeley to Los Angeles could be free thanks to the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. This need-based program waives full tuition and fees for students who reside in California or have AB 540 status, are enrolling or transferring into a baccalaureate program, matriculate at least half-time, and have significant financial need with a household income below $80,000 yearly.
Contact
UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
P.O. Box 1432
Bakersfield, CA 93302
(310) 513-2715
ucinfo@applyucsupport.net
25. USDA 1890 National Scholarship
Deadline: January 31st
The U.S. Department of Agriculture joins the 1890 Historically Black Land-Grant Universities to grant a four-year, full tuition national scholarship and benefits to diverse scholars earning bachelor’s degrees at select HBCUs like Tuskegee and Florida A&M. Interested applicants must hold United States citizenship, carry a minimum “B” average, and exhibit leadership in community service. Applications are reserved from agricultural majors, including crop science, forestry, horticulture, range management, and natural resources.
Contact
USDA 1890 National Scholarship
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250
(202) 720-6350
1890init@usda.gov
Seven in 10 college seniors are graduating with student loan debt at an average price of $30,100 before interest. Sinking under debt is an all-too-common problem for society’s youngest professionals, but that doesn’t mean it has to be your destiny. Extremely ambitious students can compete for prized full tuition scholarships and earn a degree that costs $0. If your chosen school or major isn’t represented in the above 25 full tuition scholarships, contact your financial aid office for more information.
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