With college costs climbing as high as $99,000 per year (University of Southern California) and the average household income for a family of four ranging between $100,000 and $125,000, it’s no surprise that over three million students have more than $100,000 in student loan debt. As the financial burden of a college education continues to rise, many families are increasingly finding college to be out of reach. But some schools are working to change that. Across the country, many schools are guaranteeing no federal loans, offering free tuition, and even covering the full cost of attendance for undergraduate students whose families fall below certain income levels. Although income based assistance isn’t a new concept, the number of families that are eligible is. Assistance is extending well beyond low income households, now including middle, and even upper middle income families (those earning between $106,000 and $150,000).
This post does not provide a comprehensive list of every college offering undergraduate income based aid, instead, it highlights several financial aid opportunities where The College Sage students often applied in recent years. While there are many schools that offer income based tuition assistance, eligibility requirements vary. Larger public schools or those that are a part of a state program often limit benefits to in-state residents. However, smaller private schools and some large national universities extend their aid to all students regardless of where they live.
If a college’s sticker price is causing you to reconsider applying, don’t cross it off of your list just yet. Always check the financial aid page and complete the various financial aid calculators available at the College Board at other helpful sites like myintuition.org. Many schools offer more support than you would expect for families with income below $150,000. Their generosity may just surprise you. Take a look at our recap below and see if you qualify or contact thecollegesage.com now!
Schools with residency requirements for undergraduate assistance:
California
University of California System - https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/tuition-financial-aid/tuition-cost-of-attendance/ab-540-nonresident-tuition-exemption.html
The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan covers full tuition and fees for California residents with families who qualify for financial aid and have an income of less than $80,000.
Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - https://osfa.illinois.edu/illinois-commitment/
In-state students with a household income of less than $75,000 will have tuition and all fees covered for up to four years.
Michigan
University of Michigan - https://goblueguarantee.umich.edu/ann-arbor/?utm_source=google-ads&utm_medium=performance-max&utm_campaign=umich-go-blue-guarantee&utm_term=performance-max&utm_content=fy25-hybrid-assets&gad_source=1
With the Go Blue Guarantee, Michigan resident families with incomes $125,000 and under qualify for free tuition. Students who qualify for free tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee will receive coverage for the full cost of attendance if they are enrolled in the School of Nursing or are in teacher preparation programs in the Marsal Family School of Education.
Missouri
Washington University in St. Louis - https://stlouis.washu.edu/washu-pledge/
With the WashU Pledge, students from Missouri and Southern Illinois that qualify for the Pell-grant or have household incomes of $75,000 or less, will receive a free education which includes tuition, fees, housing, and food.
New York
The State University of New York (SUNY) System - https://www.suny.edu/smarttrack/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/excelsior/#:~:text=The%20Excelsior%20Scholarship%20provides%20tuition,a%20SUNY%20college%20tuition%2Dfree
New York residents with a household income of $125,000 or less that attend SUNY or CUNY schools receive free tuition with the Excelsior Scholarship.
North Carolina
Duke University - https://financialaid.duke.edu/initiative-students-carolinas/
North Carolina and South Carolina residents with a household income of $65,000 or less will have full tuition coverage, as well as financial assistance for other expenses without having to take out student loans.
North Carolina and South Carolina residents with a household income below $150,000 will receive full tuition grant assistance without the use of student loans.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - https://studentaid.unc.edu/tar-heel-guarantee/
Under the Tar Heel Guarantee, UNC will cover all tuition and fees for North Carolina residents with a household income of $80,000 or less
Tennessee
University of Tennessee, Knoxville - https://tennessee.edu/academics/affordability/ut-promise-scholarship/
Tennessee residents with a household income of $75,000 or less will not have to pay out-of-pocket for any tuition or fees that remain after other scholarships are applied.
Texas
The University of Texas System - https://www.utsystem.edu/promise-plus
Promise Plus covers full tuition and fees for Texas residents with a household income less than $100,000.
Vermont
University of Vermont - https://www.uvm.edu/studentfinancialservices/uvm-promise
The UVM Promise provides Vermont residents with household incomes of $100,000 or less, Federal, state, and institutional grants and scholarships to cover tuition and all fees.
Virginia
University of Richmond - https://financialaid.richmond.edu/types-of-aid/virginians/promise.html
Richmond will fully fund the cost of tuition, housing, and food for Virginia residents with household incomes of $75,000 or less.
University of Virginia - https://sfs.virginia.edu/our-financial-aid-commitment-you-0
Students with household incomes less than $50,000 will receive grants and scholarships to cover full tuition, housing, food, and fees for up to eight semesters.
Students with household incomes less than $100,000 will receive grants and scholarships to cover full tuition and fees for up to eight semesters.
Students with household incomes less than $150,000 will receive a $2,000 Cornerstone need-based grant for up to eight semesters.
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Madison - https://financialaid.wisc.edu/types-of-aid/tuition-promise/
Schools offering assistance to all undergraduate students:
Brown University - https://finaid.brown.edu/basics/brown-promise
Students with a household income of $60,000 or less will receive scholarships to cover all expenses including tuition, housing, food, and books.
Brown fully covers tuition for families with household incomes of $125,000 or less.
The Brown Promise initiative eliminates all loans from financial aid offers for undergraduate students.
Carnegie Mellon University - https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2024/november/new-cmu-pathway-program-to-provide-significant-financial-relief-to-undergraduate-students
Students with a household income below $75,000 will receive tuition coverage under the CMU Pathway Program.
Students with a household income below $100,000 will not have to take out federal student loans to finance their school.
Colgate University - https://www.colgate.edu/admission-aid/financial-aid/colgate-commitment
Tuition will be fully covered for students with a household income of $80,000 or less.
Students with a household income between $80,000 and $175,000 will pay a percentage of annual income toward tuition.
Demonstrated need will be met with a financial aid package that does not include loans for students with a household income of up to $175,000.
Columbia University - https://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/affordability
Students will receive free tuition if they come from a household with an income of less than $150,000.
Cornell University - https://finaid.cornell.edu/cost-to-attend/affordability
Students with household incomes under $75,000 will receive aid offers without loans.
Students with household incomes $75,000 to $125,000 will receive aid offers with a maximum of $2,000 in loans.
Students with household incomes $125,000 to $175,000 will receive aid offers with a maximum of $4,000 in loans.
Students with household incomes above $175,000 will receive aid offers with a maximum of $6,000 in loans.
Dartmouth College - https://home.dartmouth.edu/financial-aid
Students with a household income below $125,000 will have 0 parent contribution towards tuition.
Harvard University - https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/why-harvard/affordability
Students will have all tuition and costs covered if they come from a household making $100,000 or less.
Students will receive free tuition if they come from a household making $200,000 or less.
Haverford College - https://www.haverford.edu/admission/tuition-and-aid
Students with family income below $60,000/year will not have loans included in their financial aid package
Lafayette College - https://admissions.lafayette.edu/financial-aid/
For students with a household income of $200,000 or less, federal loans will be replaced with grants.
New York University - https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/financial-aid-and-scholarships/applying-as-a-prospective-undergraduate-student/first-year-applicants.html
Students with household incomes less than $100,000 will not have to pay tuition.
Princeton University - https://www.princeton.edu/admission-aid/affordable-all
Students with households incomes $100,000 or less will receive grants to cover tuition and room and board.
Rice University - https://financialaid.rice.edu/rice-investment
Students with household incomes of less than $75,000 will receive free tuition, fees, and living expenses.
Students with household incomes of $75,000 to $140,000 will receive free tuition.
Students with household incomes of $140,000 to $200,000 will have half of their tuition covered.
Stanford University - https://admission.stanford.edu/afford/
Tuition, housing, and food will be covered for students with a household income of $100,000 or less.
Students with household incomes $100,000 to $150,000 will not have to pay tuition.
There is a sliding scale of financial support for students with household incomes over $150,000.
Tufts University - https://admissions.tufts.edu/tuition-and-aid/tuition-and-aid/
Students with an annual family income of less than $60,000 will typically receive a financial aid package with no student loans.
United States Coast Guard Academy - https://uscga.edu/admissions/cost-and-tuition/
There is no cost for tuition or room and board for all students.
United States Merchant Marine Academy - https://www.usmma.edu/admissions/fees-and-expenses
All students receive tuition, room and board, uniforms, and textbooks at no cost.
United States Military Academy (West Point) - https://www.westpoint.edu/admissions/tuition-and-service-commitment
Tuition is free for all students, West Point also does not charge for room, board, or medical and dental coverage.
University of Chicago - https://financialaid.uchicago.edu/undergraduate/
Students with a household income below $60,000 will have tuition, fees, housing, and meals fully covered by financial aid.
Students who are the first in their families to attend college and families with household incomes below $125,000 will receive free tuition.
University of Pennsylvania - https://srfs.upenn.edu/quaker-commitment
The Quaker Commitment guarantees that your financial aid package will meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans.
For students with household incomes below $75,000, your financial aid package is guaranteed to cover tuition, fees, housing, and dining.
For students with household incomes up to $200,000, your financial aid package is guaranteed to cover at minimum full tuition.
Vanderbilt University - https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/affordability/opportunity-vanderbilt/
Students with household incomes of $150,000 or less will have full tuition covered.
For additional aid there is a sliding scale based on income range.
Washington and Lee University - https://www.wlu.edu/admissions/financial-aid/the-w-l-promise
The W&L Promise guarantees a minimum grant of full tuition to students with household incomes below $150,000.
Wesleyan University - https://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/affordability-and-aid/index.html
Loans will not be included in any financial aid packages.
Yale University - https://news.yale.edu/2025/02/10/yale-announces-2025-26-term-bill-reaffirms-financial-aid-commitments
Students with household incomes less than $75,000 will not have to make any contributions toward the cost of their education.
Any student with demonstrated need receives a financial aid offer with a Yale Scholarship grant.
