SCHOLARSHIP/TUTION FREE SCHOOLS

BETTER YET ,NO TUTION FREE
More programs offer students free schooling
Ashley Robins of Bellwood, Ill., turned down Columbia University, New York University, Washington University in St. Louis, and even Bradley University close to home to attend the University of Virginia. It wasn't the warmer weather that drew her south. For Robins, "it was all about the money."
Robins chose to attend Virginia because of its AccessUVa program. For all students, it caps the amount of needed loans at about 25 percent of the in-state cost of attendance over four years. The rest it covers with grants. "They covered what federal grants didn't cover," says Robins, who did take out some loans. For low-income students, the plan replaces need-based loans with grants.

The University of Virginia is one of a growing number of institutions offering some form of free tuition in an effort to attract talented low-income students. The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Michigan State University, Miami University in Ohio, the University of Pennsylvania, and Rice University have all eliminated loans from the financial aid packages of low-income students. Princeton University offers loan-free packages to all students who qualify for financial aid. Other schools, like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford universities, eliminate the parental contribution for low-income students but retain the student contribution. So the student may still require loans to cover tuition
Beyond tuition. Yet, says Sandy Baum, an economist at Skidmore College and the College Board, the reason that low-income students can't afford to go to community college is not the tuition, which is often covered by Pell grants, but because they can't afford not to work. "Free tuition at a community college pays only a fraction of the cost of going," Baum says. "If you can't live with your parents, then you have a very big cost to cover."

Other programs offer merit-based free tuition to top scholars who agree to go to college locally. A full tuition waiver to any of Arizona's three state universities is available for Arizona students who exceed standards on tests in math, reading, and writing, receive a B or better in 16 core subjects, and have either a 3.5 overall grade-point average or are otherwise in the top 5 percent of their class. "It's a good motivator," says Matt Wharton, a freshman at Arizona State University who had planned to join the Marines. Plus, Wharton can save on room and board by living at home and commuting to college. Room, board, and fees often make up half or more of the cost of attending public schools.