Applying to college is a tricky, time-consuming, and at times frustrating process. There are so many decisions to make all at once, it’s difficult to keep your head on straight. From considering your major to figuring out if you’d prefer a small school or a big school, your brain gets quite the workout.
Among the biggest worries for incoming freshmen is the cost of college. With college tuition steadily on the rise, it’s becoming more of a struggle for students to find affordable, quality education. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City made headlines at the end of April when it announced that the institution would start charging for undergraduate admission, something that has not been done there for more than a century. While it is shocking to process after such a long history of full-tuition scholarships, it’s not the end of free education. If you’d prefer a college without a price tag attached, here are three colleges worth investigating.
1. Berea College: Berea, Kentuck
Berea College was founded in 1855 by abolitionists and is known for being the first interracial and coeducational institution in the South. Founded on firm Christian values that still guide the institution, Berea works toward its vision of the world by fostering an environment that values hard work, academic excellence, and an understanding and supportive community.
The campus is rural, allowing students to appreciate and learn from the natural beauty of the area. With an enrollment of approximately 1600 students, attendees benefit from small class sizes and individualized attention, keeping the focus on active learning, a standard that the college strives for. There are a variety of academic majors to choose from, including performing arts, languages, the sciences, mathematics, business, and philosophy.
When students aren’t studying, they participate in Berea’s unique Labor Program. All full-time students are required to work in one of the college’s labor departments, which are assigned during a student’s freshman year with the help of a student questionnaire. After that first year a student can interview for a placement in a different department, and there are over one hundred departments to choose from. Some options include admissions, the science library, nursing, the internship office, and campus life. The student minimum for Labor Program work is ten hours per week, though the student average is closer to 13. Additionally, students are compensated for the work they complete with hourly wages. This money can help to defray the costs of some non-academic fees of college life, including housing, meals, and textbooks. Berea is also highly selective, admitting around twelve percent of its applicants every year.
Students say that the experience at Berea is difficult to describe, because it’s so different from anything else they have been exposed to. The work ethic is certainly something to be admired, and students feel that the people they meet and the experiences they have really help to prepare them for the real world. In addition to working, students can also participate in numerous clubs and organizations or study abroad, which the college encourages students to explore.
2. Webb Institute: Glen Cove, New York
Calling all engineers! If a major in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering sounds interesting, and a 100% job placement rate sounds appealing, Webb Institute is your educational paradise.
Webb enrolls fewer than one hundred students and demands the very best from them. Webb acknowledges that students will need to put in hours of effort to succeed, and their rigorous curriculum attests to that fact. Coursework is comprehensive, challenging, and rewarding. Classes include ship design, thermodynamics, physics, material science, and marine transportation. Fortunately for students, Webb is situated right on the water, so they have access to a private beach, boats, and a 26-acre campus to explore when they’re not hitting the books.
Webb’s Winter Work Experience provides the opportunity for these aspiring engineers to get their sea legs under them and start using what they know in the professional world. Starting freshman year, students spend January and February in shipyards, on the ocean, or in design firms honing their skills. Webb graduates go on to a variety of fields after graduation, owing to the success of Webb’s singular academic major. Some “Webbies,” as they are called, go on to design boats and yachts or assist in building them. Others lend their expertise at naval architecture and marine engineering firms, and still others explore engineering research and analysis.
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3. Curtis Institute of Music: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
A world-renowned conservatory, the Curtis Institute of Music is the place for gifted musicians who want to turn their musical passion into a lifelong profession. With a four percent acceptance rate, Curtis only enrolls enough students to maintain a full orchestra and opera company. There are also special programs in piano, conducting, guitar, composition, harpsichord, and organ.
While Curtis does require standardized tests as part of the application, their focus is primarily on artistic ability. Honing in on student talent allows Curtis to break the barriers of what a traditional college education looks like. For example, there are no minimum or maximum age requirements to enroll, and students graduate when their teachers decide that they are ready. A typical Curtis degree is accomplished in three to five years, while some can go as long as twelve. Allowing students to enroll at any age means that young, impressionable musicians are given first rate instruction early, shaping them for later musical success. No maximum age allows any person with the talent and drive to succeed to attend Curtis and have that opportunity.
Performing is obviously a large part of the Curtis curriculum, and students are encouraged to perform as often as possible. Beyond student recitals, there are also opera, symphony, and chamber orchestra performances given by the students to expose them to a professional performance atmosphere. Visiting lecturers and visiting artists also add to the Curtis curriculum and offer students a look at life beyond their schooling.
Students can take courses that focus in performance, such as lessons with a private teacher, as well as courses to further their careers. One such course, “The 21st Century Musician,” gives students insight into the world of professional music, how to self-promote, what it’s like to freelance, and how to manage money and keep track of finances.
Student activities are orchestrated (pun intended) by Student Council. Two of these events date back to the days of the school’s founding in 1924. The first is an annual holiday party, held each December before exam week that features live entertainment, food and dancing. The second serves to contribute to the community feeling of the Curtis student body. Every Wednesday afternoon, students, faculty, and staff gather for afternoon tea, where everyone can mingle and take a breather from all of that work in a relaxing setting. Sounds like one classy study break!
If you’re beginning your college search, we hope you give these schools a look. It may be a long shot, but if you have the skills and drive, it makes sense to add these options to your list. For two more free universities, check out our article on the 4 Weirdest Colleges You’ve Never Heard Of. While Deep Springs College is currently all-male, College of the Ozarks may be another viable option for you! To all you pre-collegiettes out there, best of luck!
Already know where you’ll be attending college this fall? Don’t forget to check out our Pre-Collegiette Guide to see if your future college or university is listed. It’ll be worth exploring!