Top 3 Tuition-Free Online Colleges in Colorado

Did you know that there are free colleges in Colorado?

You can earn free certifications, take free training, and possibly earn your bachelor's degree for free through several colleges in Colorado that offer low-cost tuition rates.

Earning your college degree for free involves exploring financial aid opportunities such as grants, scholarships, tuition waivers, employer reimbursement programs, and more.

If you are interested in earning free college credit or pursuing free training courses, learn about online colleges and universities in Colorado with free options below.

Online Colleges and Universities with Free Courses

A list of Colorado's online accredited institutions with free courses can be found below.

1. Colorado Mesa University

The Saccomanno Higher Education Foundation at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) awards up to the cost of tuition to degree-seeking students who can prove financial need each year.

There is also a Care Forward Colorado program offered at CMU that provides free training courses that lead to certifications in healthcare professions.

Examples of free certifications through the Care Forward Colorado program include:

• paramedic
• pharmacy technician
• medical office assistant
• certified nursing assistant

2. Colorado State University Global

Colorado State University (CSU) Global offers several scholarship opportunities that award tuition and fees up to 24 undergraduate credit hours to cover or lower the cost of tuition.

The cost of tuition at CSU Global may also be covered by available military benefits such as the tuition assistance benefit for Colorado National Guard members.

If you do not want to pursue a degree, CSU's Global Learn platform offers several free online courses that include:

• K-12 Best Practices for Teaching Online
• Introduction to Data Analytics
• Business Intelligence and Analytics

There are also several inexpensive courses that only cost $19:

• Operational Stress Management for First Responders
• Emotional and Social Intelligence for First Responders
• Introduction to Instructional Design
• The Virtual Classroom and Universal Design for Adult Learning

3. Pikes Peak State College

The Kane family foundation scholarship opportunity at Pikes Peak State College may cover tuition, fees, and required books or significantly lower the cost of your tuition.

Pikes Peak State College also highlights several external scholarship opportunities that help lower the cost of your tuition and encourages you to submit a FAFSA to qualify for grant opportunities.

The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative also provides tuition assistance scholarships to help you finish your certificate or degree.

How To Make College Free

Many people think it is impossible to make college free, but there are opportunities to take courses, earn certificates, and even get degrees through accredited colleges for free.

The information on the free colleges in Colorado listed above gives examples on how to make college free. The following steps can be used to make college free for earning a degree:

• choose a low-cost accredited college
• look into tuition and fee waivers
• submit a FAFSA
• submit other grant and scholarship opportunities
• consider your employer tuition reimbursement program

If you are unable to make college free, the steps taken to make college free will more than likely largely reduce the cost of tuition to allow you to meet your educational goals.

Apply for Grants

You may be eligible for federal or state grants. Most colleges require you to submit a Free Application for Financial Student Aid to take advantage of your federal, state, and college grant options.

Amounts that cover the full or partial cost of tuition are usually awarded through grants and can be combined with other opportunities such as scholarships, tuition waivers, and reimbursement programs.

Use the Federal Student Aid website to search for more grant options.

Apply for Scholarships

Explore scholarship opportunities to cover or further reduce the remaining cost of your tuition after submitting your FAFSA for grants.

Scholarships can be found through the college you are attending, through private organizations, and more. Award amounts vary, but usually can be combined with other awards to help pay for your degree.

Get Tuition Reimbursement from an Employer

If you are seeking free college classes or a free college degree as an employee, your employer may be able to assist you with the cost of your tuition through a tuition reimbursement program.

Tuition reimbursement programs generally include completing an accredited college program with an acceptable grade point average for reimbursement of expenses paid for your education.

Look Into Tuition and Fee Waivers

Colleges often provide tuition and fee waivers for different situations. Tuition and fee waivers may apply to the following:

• college employees
• teachers
• out-of-state students
• military families
• elderly persons

Find a Free or Low-Cost Degree in Colorado Today

Earn your undergraduate online certificate or degree at one of the free colleges in Colorado using financial aid opportunities to assist in covering or reducing the cost of any tuition requirements.