Cooper Union was founded in 1858 by inventor Peter Cooper, who believed that quality education should be free for all students willing to pursue excellence. The college currently offers degree programs in engineering, architecture and art. Approximately 900 students attend Cooper Union, and all receive four years of free tuition, which according to Hippocrates.com is worth approximately $130,000. Funds are supplied by nearly $600 million in endowments. Interested students must submit an application and schedule an interview for consideration. The Tuition Free Universities & Colleges Guide reports that of the 834 applicants in 2007, 7 percent were accepted into the institution.
In exchange for 10 hours of weekly work in any of the school’s 140 departments, Berea College’s 1,500 students receive full-tuition scholarships, although they must cover expenses for books and housing. Founded in 1855, Berea was the first racially integrated and coed college in the American South. It offers study majors in a vast array of fields, including economics, mathematics, music, physical education, computer science and sociology. Applicants must have a high school grade point average of 3.0 and score between 1410 and 1980 on the SAT. The Tuition Free Universities & Colleges Guide reports that of the 2,083 students who applied to Berea College in 2007, 28 percent were admitted into the institution.
Funded by a $400 million grant from the F.W. Olin Foundation, Olin College offers one of the premiere undergraduate engineering programs in the United States. All 300 students receive 4 years of free tuition. Philanthropy is important at Olin, and students are encouraged to pursue engineering projects that would greatly benefit society as a whole. Applicants must have scored at least 1370 on the SAT and earned a B average in high school mathematics, physics and chemistry. The Tuition Free Universities & Colleges Guide reports that of the 102 students who applied in 2007, 31 percent were accepted into the institution.