Andrew Pentis
Updated on March 11, 2021
March 11, 2021March 11, 2021Featured, Paying for College, Student Loans1145
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A so-called “no loans college” is exactly what it sounds like: It helps students afford their cost of attendance without resorting to student loans. Campus financial aid offices accomplish this feat by connecting students with gift aid like grants and scholarships, as well as with work-study programs.
Fortunately, there are dozens of “no loan colleges” around the country, though each has its own unique criteria for receiving a loan-free financial aid package. Some institutions limit their policy to students based on their income or home state, for example.
The get a sense of the “no loans” landscape, let’s look at the following topics:
‘No loan colleges,’ explained
America’s collective student loan debt stands at $1.71 trillion and growing, and many colleges and universities have decided they want no part of increasing that figure.
Through no-loan policies, these schools’ financial aid offices promise not to employ federal, institutional or private student loans to help you meet your cost of attendance. They replace debt with scholarships, grants and work-study opportunities, plus parent contributions when possible.
To be clear: If you decide to borrow money, these “no loan colleges” won’t stop you. Stanford University’s financial aid office, for example, says that it will assist you in securing a loan if you decide you’d rather not spend the school year or summer working. (You might also resort to borrowing if your school’s no-loan package doesn’t cover the off-campus apartment or nonacademic expenses you might need to pay.)
Still, the following schools make the point that you don’t have to take on debt to take on higher education.
57 ‘no loan’ colleges and universities
Not all no-loan colleges have the same offering. Some promise to help all students bypass borrowing, while others assist only lower-income or in-state students avoid education debt.
‘No loan colleges’ for all students
These 21 no-loan colleges and universities — including some prestigious schools with need-blind admissions and healthy endowments — will help all incoming students avoid student debt.
| 1. Amherst College 2. Berea College 3. Bowdoin College 4. Brown University 5. Colby College 6. College of the Ozarks 7. Columbia University |
8. Davidson College 9. Grinnell College 10. Harvard University 11. Johns Hopkins University 12. Northwestern University 13. Pomona College 14. Princeton University |
15. Stanford University 16. Swarthmore College 17. University of Chicago 18. University of Pennsylvania 19. Vanderbilt University 20. Washington and Lee University 21. Yale University |
‘No loan colleges’ for low-income students
These 17 schools reserve their no-loans policy for their lowest-income students. Each policy sets criteria for qualifying, including:
Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) would give these schools the information they need to determine your eligibility for a loan-free aid package.
| No-loan colleges for low-income students | Household income limits and guidelines |
|---|---|
| 22. California Institute of Technology | $60,000 and under |
| 23. Colgate University | Up to $125,000 |
| 24. Connecticut College | Contact school for details |
| 25. Cornell University | Under $60,000, with assets below $100,000, (including primary home equity) |
| 26. Dartmouth College | Under $100,000, with “typical assets” |
| 27. Duke University | Under $40,000 |
| 28. Emory University | $50,000 or less |
| 29. Haverford College | Under $60,000 |
| 30. Lafayette College | Under $50,000 |
| 31. Miami University (Ohio) | $35,000 or less |
| 32. Michigan State University | Federal poverty threshold |
| 33. Rice University | $130,000 |
| 34. Tufts University | Under $40,000 |
| 35. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 200% of the poverty threshold or lower |
| 36. Washington University in St. Louis | $75,000 and under |
| 37. Wellesley College | Under $60,000 |
| 38. Wesleyan University | Under $60,000 |
‘No loan colleges’ for in-state students
Aside from chasing in-state tuition, there’s another reason to attend the college or university in your own backyard. It could also come with no strings — er, loans — attached.
If you don’t mind staying close to home, check out the no-loans requirements for these 19 schools, rounding out our overall list of 57:
Arizona
39. Arizona State University: Residents who are Pell Grant-eligible
40. University of Arizona: Residents with a household income $60,000 or less (or an EFC of 4,000 or less) who are eligible for a Pell Grant
California
41. University of California schools: Residents with a household income below $80,000
Connecticut
42. Fairfield University: Bridgeport, Conn., high school graduates with a household income below $50,000
Georgia
43. Georgia Institute of Technology: Residents whose parents earn less than $33,300 per year
Illinois
44. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Residents with a household income at or below $67,100 and assets up to $50,000
Indiana
45. Indiana University: Residents who completed the 21st Century Scholars application in middle school and fall within the income threshold for eligibility
Kentucky
46. University of Louisville: Residents with household income at or below 150% of the poverty threshold
Michigan
47. University of Michigan: Residents pursuing their first bachelor’s degree who have family income up to $65,000 and assets below $50,000
North Carolina
48. Appalachian State University: Residents attending school full time with a household income that is 100% of the federal poverty threshold (or less) and a zero EFC
Tennessee
49. Bryan College: Residents with a household income up to $36,000 who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree
50. University of Tennessee: Residents with a household income of less than $50,000
Texas
51. Texas State University: Residents with a household income of $25,000 or less who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree
52. Lamar University: Residents with a household income below $25,001 who are eligible for a Pell Grant
53. University of Texas at El Paso: Residents with a household income at $50,000 or less
54. University of Texas at Dallas: Residents with a household income $25,000 or less who are attending school full time and are eligible for Pell Grants
55. Texas A&M University: Residents with a household income of $60,000 or less
Vermont
56. University of Vermont: Residents who are eligible for a Pell Grant
Virginia
57. College of William and Mary: Residents with a household income below $40,000
How to qualify for the no-loans colleges on your list
The FAFSA is a crucial step to affording any college. It will set the benchmark of your EFC and potentially work in your favor as you seek financial aid not offered directly by schools, perhaps in the form of private scholarships and grants from your state.
Contact the financial aid offices of your preferred schools, whether they’re “no loan colleges” or not, to collect the latest information about their resources and support. You can determine what kind of aid you qualify for, and how to go about obtaining it.
If a handful of “no loan colleges” are on your college list and you’re eligible to benefit, you’re in luck. Keep in mind, however, that while generous aid could be handed out, gaining admission would still be up to you.
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