Top 7 Tuition-Free Online Colleges in Kentucky

There are a lot of free colleges in Kentucky that offer online programs to earn your certificate or degree in undergraduate or graduate studies.

The free colleges in Kentucky listed on this page are all accredited institutions by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

If you are searching for a free college, learn about a few of your options below.

Online Colleges and Universities with Free Courses

Find several free colleges in Kentucky below where you may be able to take courses online and earn a degree.

1. Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University offers merit scholarships that award an amount up to the total cost of in-state tuition.

Kentucky University also offers tuition waivers for its faculty and staff, foster and adopted children, police officers and firefighters, and more.

The academic common market waiver allows out-of-state students to pursue a degree that is not available in their home state at the in-state tuition rate.

2. Kentucky State University

You must complete a FAFSA to be considered for the scholarship opportunities featured on the Kentucky State University website.

Kentucky State University offers and accepts many military programs that cover or help cover the cost of tuition.

Example programs include:

• tuition assistance program
• military science program

Tuition waiver and benefit programs are also available at Kentucky State University for senior citizen students, dependents and spouses of veterans, teachers, and more.

3. Morehead State University

Morehead State University offers scholarships, state tuition waivers, tuition reduction graduate programs, and more to help lower the cost of tuition.

Several scholarships including incoming student scholarships for academic achievement and competitive student scholarships provide full tuition awards.

Tuition waivers are granted to foster or adopted children, police or firefighters, veterans, and MSU employees. Do not forget to submit a FAFSA to qualify for federal grants.

Consider all financial aid and tuition assistance options to make your college education free.

4. Murray State University

Kentucky residents enrolling in Murray State University as first-time freshman or new transfer students may be able, under the Murray State Promise tuition program, to complete college tuition free.

Other diverse, competitive, and academic achievement scholarships that provide funds up to the cost of tuition are offered at Murray State University as well.

MSU faculty and staff and elderly students may qualify for an education tuition waiver for six courses per academic year.

5. Sullivan University

You can complete four classes for free toward a degree at Sullivan University through the Sullivan University Jumpstart program if you are a senior in high school.

Sullivan University offers a Work Ready Kentucky scholarship program that awards up to the full cost of tuition to students who live in Kentucky and have not earned a degree.

Sullivan University also provides a 15% tuition discount to Kentucky Association of Manufacturers members, employees, and immediate family members.

6. University of Louisville

Earn your free online degree at the University of Louisville through one of the many scholarship opportunities listed on the University of Louisville website.

Example scholarships that offer full tuition awards for online programs include the:

• Cardinal Commitment Grant
• Evolve502 Scholarship

If you are interested in hybrid online programs, you may be eligible for scholarships such as the Regional Scholars and National Transfer scholarship that awards amounts that can reduce tuition costs.

7. Western Kentucky University

If you are a first-year freshman, you may be able to receive a free college education at Western Kentucky University through the Hilltopper Guarantee program.

The Hilltopper Guarantee program covers tuition for residents of Kentucky who receive a Pell Grant and have at least a 3.0 grade point average out of high school.

Tuition waivers are offered at Western Kentucky University to employees, foster and adopted youth, highly effective educators, and veteran families.

How To Make College Free

Attending free college in Kentucky or reducing the cost of your college education involves research and effort.

The following should be researched:

• accredited institutions with low-cost tuition rates
• tuition assistance options
• financial aid options
• free courses

Tuition assistance and financial aid options mainly consist of grants, scholarships, a tuition reimbursement program through your employer, or tuition and fee waivers.

You can also transfer college credits or take free college courses to save money on your college education.

Apply for Grants

Apply for grants to help make college free.

Grants are mostly awarded by the federal government, state government, colleges, or private or nonprofit organizations to assist students in financial need.

Federal grants include Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Iraq and Afghanistan Service grants, and Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education grants.

Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to learn about some of your grant opportunities.

Apply for Scholarships

You can also make college free through scholarship awards. You can apply for scholarships through colleges, your state government, or private or nonprofit organizations.

Scholarships are not all need-based and may involve submitting a formal essay.

Find examples of different types of scholarships below.

• academic achievement
• financial need
• personal situations
• employment or military affiliation
• major specific

Scholarships can save you up to the total cost of tuition and can often be combined with other financial awards to make college free.

Get Tuition Reimbursement from an Employer

Tuition reimbursement programs through employers are a great way to earn a college degree or take training courses for free. Full or partial tuition costs are covered.

Employers may offer upfront tuition disbursement options for students with excellence academic behaviors and an agreed upon grade point average.

Many colleges offer tuition reimbursement programs to their employees and the immediate family of their employees.

Look Into Tuition and Fee Waivers

Many colleges in Kentucky offer tuition and fee waivers for employees, military families, elderly students, and more to cover some or all the cost of tuition.

Find a Free or Low-Cost Degree in Kentucky Today

There are several free colleges in Kentucky to earn your degree or take college courses that are made possible through low-cost tuition rates, tuition assistance programs, and financial aid options.