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15 Great Grad Programs That Offer Free Tuition

Written by Grad School Center Team We are a passionate team of experienced educators and advisors at GradSchoolCenter.com, dedicated to guiding students through their graduate education journey. Our experts, with advanced degrees across various disciplines, offer personalized advice, up-to-date program information, and practical insights into application processes.

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Updated: March 19, 2025, Reading time: 24 minutes

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15 Tuition-Free Grad ProgramsFees are Soaring, and Students are Drowning (in Debt)What does "free tuition" mean exactly?Frequently Asked QuestionsKey Takeaways

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Who doesn’t love the idea of getting something for free? It’s even better when what’s free is something as expensive as graduate school tuition.

We’ve put together a list of the schools, colleges, and universities across the United States that offer free tuition for their graduate programs. But first, let’s delve into a short discussion of why free tuition matters and what it entails.

free grad school tuition college graduate

It’s common for many educational institutions across the United States to offer some form of financial assistance for their students; however, most of these are intended for students taking bachelor’s degrees. Financial support and low-cost or free tuition are harder to come by among graduate schools.

Still, there’s no need to fret – read on to find out the schools in the United States (in no particular order) that offer great graduate programs that won’t leave you saddled with student debt long after graduation.

Audio Summary of this article:

Overview:

Graduate studies are often pursued by students who seek to broaden their knowledge of a specific field and discover new concepts related to it. Whatever drives you to pursue a free graduate program will reward you with qualifications and more opportunities to land a stable career.

While graduate studies can be expensive, you can actually acquire this higher education for free! You can apply for financial aid and scholarships. Better yet, ask about and qualify for funding arrangements in your graduate program of choice to pay for little to no tuition and fees!

Great Grad Programs That Offer Free Tuition - Reasons Why Students Enroll in Grad Programs
Grad School Center is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

15 Tuition-Free Grad Programs

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University and its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) offer accessible education for students in its programs. Eligible graduate students can enjoy low-cost or free-tuition education thanks to generous financial aid packages. 

But we must emphasize that only the PhD programs offer free-tuition education. Students in master’s degree programs must consult directly with their financial aid office to develop their personalized aid package. 

The GSAS offers a tiered tuition structure, too.  In it, the cost of attendance lowers after every year completed by the student. This means a more affordable education through the years despite college inflation. 

Harvard’s financial aid program guarantees funding, including tuition grants and stipends for the first five years. All doctoral degree (i.e., PhD) students qualify for the guaranteed funding. This financial support would also cover living expenses, health insurance fees, and tuition.

Assistantships and fellowships as well as research support are also available. Each Ph.D. scholarship recipient will have a financial aid officer who will support them in their acceptance and processing. 

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

BREAKING NEWS: HARVARD EXPANDS FINANCIAL AID INITIATIVE FOR AY 2025-2026

Committed to making Harvard education accessible, the college announces an expansion of its financial aid program. Undergraduate students whose families earn $200,000 annually can enjoy tuition-free Ivy League education, plus other forms of assistance if they qualify.

The following financial aid packages will take effect in the 2025-2026 academic year:

Undergraduate Financial Aid PackageAnnual Family IncomeFinancial Aid Coverage
Free Tuition$100,000 and below* Tuition, fees, food, and housing (all billed expenses)
* Health insurance, travel costs, winter gear, and event fees
* $2,000 start-up grant
* $2,000 launch grant (junior year)
Free Tuition Plus$200,000 and below* Full cost of tuition
* Fees, food, and housing based on individual financial circumstances
Tailored Financial Aidabove $200,000 * Coverage will depend on individual circumstances
* An evaluation will be conducted to match the family’s financial situation

Under the new financial aid plan, approximately 86% of families in the US, particularly those in the middle-income range, are eligible for a tuition-free Harvard education.

The Harvard Financial Aid Initiative, which has awarded $3.6 billion to undergraduate students, started in 2004. Prior to the latest program expansion, the financial aid threshold was set to $85,000 in 2023.

Currently, about 55% of Harvard college students receive financial assistance.

University of the People

Pasadena, California (office)

Not all people who want to get into graduate school have the time and luxury to do full-time, on-campus programs. Many are juggling work and family duties simultaneously. 

If you are looking for a graduate school that has both flexibility and tuition-free as its strongest points, then the University of the People (UoPeople) should be at the top of your list.

The University holds the impressive distinction of being the first-ever fully online American university to provide free tuition fees to all of its students. It’s one of the rare types of schools that offer free tuition without conditions like annual income or performance.

Students only need to pay $60 upfront upon application. At the end of every course, students pay an assessment fee as follows: 

Scholarships and grants can cover the minimal fees for those with strictly limited financial capacity. This is possible thanks to the University of the People’s many partnerships and donors from companies and institutions.

Despite its affordability, the University of the People has maintained the quality of its education. It is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).

At the same time, its President’s Council, Advisory Boards, and Deans all come from prestigious academic institutions all over the world, such as New York University, the Academy of Paris, and UC Berkeley.

Application and enrollment to the UoPeople is done online, ensuring accessibility to applicants all over the country.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Weill Cornell Medical College

New York City

Many students who dream of becoming doctors must face the reality that medical school is among the most expensive degrees. According to the Data Education Initiative, the average cost of medical school is $59,605 per year. 

Fortunately, more medical schools and colleges are working towards providing affordable – or even downright free – medical programs. Foremost of them is the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. The college has been serving the community for more than five decades.

Weill Cornell awards substantial financial aid to its graduate program students based on demonstrated financial need. Students are evaluated based on their capacity to pay for tuition. Factors considered in the evaluation include their family income and assets. Direct and indirect costs will be covered.

Weill Cornell deducts the amount that the student is capable of paying (based on their status) from the program’s total cost of attendance. The remaining amount is considered financial need and covered by the College. The financial aid covers tuition and fees as well as miscellaneous expenses, such as health insurance and housing.

Also, Weill Cornell provides sizable annual stipends for its Ph.D. students for living expenses. Scholarships that cover the full tuition and other fees are also awarded. Comprehensive health insurance coverage and allowances for travel and lodging for official events are provided, too. 

The broad scope of financial support provided by the Weill Cornell Medical College earns them a well-deserved spot on our list.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Curtis Institute of Music

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you want a graduate education in music but hesitate about the cost, consider the Curtis Institute of Music.  The prestigious school offers a generous all-scholarship policy that covers the complete cost of tuition. Need-based and merit-based scholarships are available.

Both undergraduate and graduate students qualify for the full-tuition scholarship regardless of their financial need. The scholarship for graduate students is worth $67,502 for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

But the Curtis Institute’s commitment to accessibility doesn’t stop there. The school also provides: 

They also offer programs that can be tuition-free. 

Curtis’s small student population is among the reasons for the sustainability of its all-scholarship policy. There are only about 160 students currently enrolled in their programs. This also allows for smaller class sizes and more hands-on instruction and opportunities for every student.

The Curtis Institute is truly a one-of-a-kind school that anyone with a musical talent would love to be a part of. A comprehensive fee of $3,500 is the only fee that new students should be mindful of upon admission.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

New York University Grossman School of Medicine

New York, New York

The New York University (NYU) Grossman School of Medicine also offers tuition-free medical education. This is a need-based, debt-free scholarship opportunity. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the full tuition coverage is worth $64,250 per year. The full-tuition scholarship also includes coverage for the $6,378 per year student health insurance. 

In total, students receive scholarships up to $280,124 during their four-year medical education. This translates to more accessibility to students from low-income households.

The Grossman School of Medicine does not require proof of financial need or academic merit for a student to qualify. Eligible students, however, must meet the conditions set in the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. Note that the scholarships don’t apply during research years.

Students can apply for the following aid to cover their other expenses: 

The Grossman School of Medicine is an institution known for its academic excellence. Admission is on a highly selective basis. According to the U.S. News & World Report, it’s among the top five Best Graduate Schools in the country.

Graduate Program with Free Tuition:

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University, an Ivy League institution, also offers generous financial aid opportunities for its graduate students. Indeed, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) offers PhD students the opportunity for tuition-free education. As a result, most PhD students earn their degrees without incurring student loans. 

PhD students can receive more than $500,000 in financial aid, including fellowships, stipends, and health insurance. Their financial aid package for the  2024-2025 academic year includes: 

Aside from these financial aid options, Yale also offers external fellowships and grants to graduate students. They also have access to a Dean’s Emergency Fund for unexpected emergency expenses. Advanced PhD students can apply for coverage of their Continuing Registration Fee, too. 

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University, also an Ivy League institution, is known for its selective admission and emphasis on academic excellence. But the cost of attendance can be prohibitive with doctoral programs charging nearly $75,000 per academic year in tuition and fees alone. 

But don’t despair either because Brown University offers its PhD students guaranteed funding support for five years. The guaranteed support includes:

Note that doctoral students pursuing degrees in humanities and social sciences receive six years of guaranteed support. 

PhD students also earn extra money for their studies through: 

Aside from these internal offerings, students who require additional coverage and funding can also apply for external funding. In the case of doctoral students in their sixth year, it’s still possible to receive funding through the Dissertation Completion Proposal (DCP) initiative. Brown University also covers student’s travel expenses incurred for research.

Furthermore, the Graduate School at Brown University has launched the Black at Brown Graduate School Grant, which is a pilot grant intended to address the Black diaspora in the Brown University community.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

UNC-Chapel Hill doesn’t have precisely zero tuition options. Still, it makes up for it with the many financing options and stipends for graduate students. It’s also located in one of the country’s most affordable college towns. 

These are the funding options available for students in graduate programs: 

The fellowships and assistantships for doctoral students include: 

Eligible students receive the funding for a single nine-month academic year. Additionally, graduate students can also take advantage of some other grants and scholarships such as Graduate Tuition Incentive Scholarship, Graduate Student Transportation Grant, and Graduate Student Opportunity Fund.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina

If you’re looking for a prestigious university that offers exceptional financial support packages, check out Duke University’s Graduate School. Doctorate students are eligible for its guaranteed funding package for five years. In order to support Ph.D. students, The Graduate School, the departments, and outside financial institutions source such grants from the government or commercial sectors.

The package includes the following:  

Plus, PhD programs have other forms of financial support for areas not covered by the guaranteed funding. Doctoral students can apply for: 

For master’s degree takers, however, Duke University only offers federal financial aid in general. Still, students can inquire with their specific department to check other financial support packages that are specific to their degree program.

Duke also has a Medical Expense / Financial Hardship Degree Program. This is intended to support PhD students who are struggling to pay their tuition. Eligible students can get up to $5,000 in grants; higher coverage must have the Dean’s approval. 

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Cambridge, Massachusetts

MIT offers tuition-free education for families earning less than $90,000 a year. This is significant because full regular tuition for doctoral degree students is $30,995 per term (2024-2025). The tuition-free education is made possible through a loan, a part-time job, or both.

For master’s programs in the field of science and engineering, most expenses are paid for by: 

However, students at the Sloan School’s MBA programs pay the regular tuition.  But they can get their money back from management consulting and Wall Street firms.

Some of these firms offer a “tuition-rebate” signing bonus. Most of the financial support is granted for merit, while others are provided for financial needs or a combination of both. Summer tuition subsidies are made available for students with approved thesis work or research subjects in the summer.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Columbia University

Manhattan, New York City, New York

Columbia University offers world-class graduate education, but it comes at a cost. Graduate students pay $2,370 per credit; exemptions apply. PhD tuition is $27,592 per Residence Unit (i.e., full-time registration per semester). 

But it’s also possible to enjoy significant discounts on tuition and fees through financial aid. Graduate students must explore these options: 

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Texas A&M University

College Station, Texas

TAMU has a comprehensive list of grants, fellowships, awards, travel funds, and scholarships for those pursuing their master’s degrees. With effective financial aid planning, you can earn a graduate degree for little to no tuition payments. 

While TAMU has affordable tuition and fees, financial aid is a must to keep your costs low. At the Bush School of Government, for example, a graduate student can pay $5,170.01 per term in tuition and mandatory fees (resident). Nonresidents pay up to  $9,953.60 per term. 

Many of these grants are merit-based, but some consider the student’s needs. Some of the notable grants include: 

Students can also avail of graduate assistantships.

If they want to get financial assistance without rendering service, then applying for graduate fellowships is the best way to go. The fellowship packages vary from $1,000 to over $30,000. Some even include funds for insurance, tuition, and fees.

As for external fellowships, graduate students can reach out to external sources such as professional and academic associations, federal and state offices, and non-profit organizations.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Stanford University

Stanford, California

Stanford University may not be an Ivy League university, but it’s also among the world’s best universities. Graduate tuition and fees reflect its prestigious status, too.  

Students pursuing their master’s and doctoral degrees pay $13,240 per quarter in tuition (8-10 units; 2024-2025). However, many graduate students pay higher tuition, too, such as MBA students charged $27,485 per quarter. Indeed, effective financial management planning is vital to keep your costs as low as possible. 

Fortunately, graduate students can avail of free tuition through various financial support, including: 

Students are not expected to render service or repay the funding. Tuition fellowships at Stanford for master’s students are usually merit-based, awarded along with the offer of admission. There are also need-based grants available. Many assistantship programs are also available.

Apart from the university-based fellowships, grants, and scholarships, there is also financial assistance from external fellowships. There is also a GSE Student Emergency Fund for graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses.

The four schools come with their designated financial aid offices so students can be assisted further.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University, a private Ivy League institution, offers world-class education in its graduate programs, too. But the tuition and fees are prohibitive for many interested individuals, especially low-income families.  

Graduate tuition and fees are $62,400 for the 2024-2025 academic year. All graduate students must pay the $3,510 per year Student Health Plan Fee, too. The total cost of attendance, which includes direct and indirect costs, can be as high as $103,260 every year. 

Fortunately, Princeton offers a generous financial aid program that enables students to afford its education. For one thing, PhD students can apply for a guaranteed full first-year fellowship that covers: 

For another thing, PhD students in their second year and beyond can combine funding options, including: 

Specific examples include first-year students of the Humanities and Social Sciences Division receiving a University Fellowship. Students receive full tuition coverage and a 12-month stipend.  First-year graduate students in the Natural Sciences and Urban Planning and Engineering Division are also eligible. 

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

SNHU, a private nonprofit university, encourages its current and prospective students to file their current FAFSA for financial aid purposes.  Besides federal and state financial aid, students can also apply for these financial aid options:  

These financial aid options are vital in reducing the cost of attendance for graduate students. Master’s degree students can pay up to $11,325 per academic year (i.e., 15 credits). Doctoral students pay between $680 and $1,025 per credit for their courses (i.e., without financial aid). 

Scholarships are available for both online and campus programs. As for grants, they offer federal, state, and campus grants. They also boast their Financial Literacy Team who can support you in your financial decisions while studying.

Graduate Programs with Free Tuition:

Fees are Soaring, and Students are Drowning (in Debt)

Fees are Soaring, and Students are Drowning (in Debt)

Colleges and universities inevitably raise their tuition rates and fees yearly as college costs continue to increase. For graduate programs in public schools, based on the academic year 2024-2025, the average tuition for State residents is $11,417 and $20,752 for out-of-state students. For private grad school programs, the tuition is $19,616.

In turn, a college education is becoming more of a privilege. Even graduate school attendees, who mostly already have jobs that can support them, can still struggle to afford the tuition fees.

Thus, many student hopefuls find their choices limited significantly by how much they can afford unless they take on student debt. And many of them do.

At the end of 2023, figures show that roughly 43.5 million people in the United States have student debt that they still need to pay off. So now more than ever, students are turning to schools with free or subsidized tuition for their graduate programs.

What does “free tuition” mean exactly?

Free tuition doesn’t always mean that you don’t have to spend a single penny for graduate school, though a couple of the schools on our list commit to providing completely free education, except for some small fees.

Free tuition can be conditional (e.g., based on a student’s family income or consistent performance); it can also be in the form of scholarships, fellowships, grants, or tuition work programs that need to be applied for first.

Some graduate schools provide substantial stipends, allowances, and subsidies for travel, housing, and health insurance. All these translate to substantially reduced tuition and nearly 100% free tuition!

The graduate schools we’ve selected provide a combination of one or more of these types of financial support.

Great Grad Programs That Offer Free Tuition - Masters vs PhD Debt

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of pursuing graduate studies?

Setting yourself apart from others can open better opportunities. Your competitive edge comes from your expert knowledge and skills and your extensive network. Both boost your career advancement opportunities. 

How challenging is it to complete a graduate program?

Like any academic pursuit, earning a graduate degree has its share of challenges. You must make time commitments, be motivated and disciplined, and develop your research and writing skills. If you’re concerned about flexibility and accessibility, consider online graduate degree programs.  As for affordability, explore your financial aid options.

Are universities that offer free graduate programs able to provide high-quality education?

Yes, of course. Accredited public and private colleges offer tuition-free graduate programs, as the list above shows.

Great Grad Programs That Offer Free Tuition - Masters Level Employment Growth Rate

Key Takeaways

Regardless of your motivation and reason, your decision to pursue graduate school will impact your future career. Graduate degree holders are usually the “highly qualified personnel” regarded as valuable assets in any work setting.

If you are strapped for cash and unable to afford the skyrocketing graduate tuition and fees but have what it takes to earn your master’s or doctoral degree, navigate free graduate degree programs offered by some of the country’s most prestigious schools!

Additional Resources:

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