Top 6 Tuition-Free Online Colleges in Washington

A college education is a fantastic way to enter a field, begin a new career, or advance in your current career. If you are too busy for in-person classes, or commuting to a campus is difficult, online college is a great option.

However, another barrier to a college education is often the cost. Luckily, there are many options for students who worry they cannot afford college.

Here is our list of online colleges with free courses and low-cost degrees in Washington.

Online Colleges or Universities with Free Courses

Many universities offer a handful of free courses online, while other provide very inexpensive options that you can earn for free with scholarships and grants.

1. University of Washington

The University of Washington is located in Seattle and is almost as old as the city itself. It is one of the highest ranked universities in the world, and it offers many degrees and programs online.

The university also has many free and low-cost programs. They have partnered with the edX and Coursera platforms to develop these online courses and programs.

Many select courses can be enrolled in for free such as:

• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Programming Languages, Part A
• Social Media Data Analytics

Additionally, there are many certifications and specializations that can be completed at an extremely low cost. For example, a Professional Certificate in Essentials of Cybersecurity can be completed for $716.

2. Washington State University

Washington State University (WSU) is located in Pullman. One of the school's notable features is its Global Campus that aims to provide high quality online education to as many as possible.

WSU also offers some free online courses through the Modern States platform. Modern States Education Alliance is a non-profit organization that provides free online education.

On the Modern States website, students can complete a French language course and a natural sciences course from Washington State University for free.

3. Pierce College

Pierce College is a community college located in Washington. Students can pursue either an associate or a bachelor's degree at Pierce, either in person or online.

Pierce College offers degrees that lead to careers in:

• arts, humanities, and communications
• business
• education
• healthcare
• social and behavioral sciences
• STEM

The college is not only focused on quality education and variety, but also affordability. The quarterly tuition for a full-time student pursing a bachelor's degree online is $2,346 and $1,309 for an associate degree.

4. Central Washington University

Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university located in Ellensburg. It was established in 1891 and offers many online degrees and programs.

CWU has a vast offering of online programs. Students can complete bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and certificates completely online.

CWU is also relatively low cost when compared to other universities. Full-time quarterly tuition for undergraduates is $2,340 for Washington residents.

5. Peninsula College

Peninsula College is a community college located in Port Angeles. The college offers some degrees and programs that can be completed entirely online

Some of the degrees and programs that can be completed online at Peninsula College include:

• Bachelor of Applied Science in applied management
• Associate in Arts
• administrative office systems
• information technology
• business administration
• criminal justice
• cybersecurity and computer forensics
• paralegal

Full time tuition for a Washington resident at Peninsula College is $1,297.

6. Eastern Washington University

Eastern Washington University has multiple campuses in Washington, and they also offer many degrees online, including master's degrees and certificates.

Eastern Washington University offers over a dozen online master's degrees, and they also offer many graduate certificate programs that can be completed online.

The tuition for their master's programs is estimated around $14,000 for most, and the certificate programs are typically around $9,000 with some as low as $4,800.

How To Make College Free

The cost of even very affordable degrees can seem insurmountable. However, there are many options to drastically reduce the cost or even make the degree virtually or even literally free.

Apply for Grants

Grants are funds for college that you can apply for that do not need to be paid back. They are typically offered by the federal or state governments, organizations, or education institutions themselves.

Washington, for example, is home to Washington College Grant which provides funding for education to eligible people.

Grants are typically based upon need rather than merit.

Apply for Scholarships

Scholarships, like grants, also do not need to be paid back, and while some are need based, many are merit based and are not necessarily based on financial need.

There are many scholarships with seemingly limitless criteria.

Get Tuition Reimbursement from an Employer

It is becoming increasingly common for companies to offer their employees tuition assistance to attend college. They include Chick-Fil-A, Walmart, Starbucks, and many more.

Check to see if your company offers tuition assistance.

Look Into Tuition and Fee Waivers

A tuition and fee waiver is granted by the school you choose to attend, and they can have varying edibility criteria. Inquire at your school to see if you qualify.

Find a Free or Low-Cost Degree in Washington Today

While the cost of college can seem like a roadblock, there are many ways to pursue an education without an exorbitant cost. Find a free or low-cost degree or course in Washington today.