By Alison Damast

The Best College Deals Money Can't Buy

As the cost of attending college spirals upward each year, parents are finding it harder than ever to find money to send their children to school. Those looking for alternatives may want to take a closer look at the country’s tuition-free colleges and universities, which offer students full-tuition scholarships—and in some cases, even free room and board. Not surprisingly, these schools are competitive to get into and often have stringent admission requirements. Students who enroll at them can save as much as $51,000 a year, which can add up to over $200,000 in four years of college.

Tuition-free institutions in the U.S. range from liberal arts schools with work-study programs to those specializing in marine engineering, architecture, religion, and music. The latest player on the tuition-free scene is the University of the People, an online school that launched this fall with the lofty goal of educating thousands of students around the world for free.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek has assembled a list of 11 colleges that offer students free education. Except where noted, room and board are not included.

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