5 Online Colleges that Pay You to Attend (2023 Updated)
College is expensive, especially if you want to attend a prestigious one. Tuition costs have been constantly rising over the years, making it difficult for students to afford an education. And, if you’re not able to get scholarships or financial aid, it can be even more difficult.
But what if I told you that there are actually colleges out there that will pay you to attend? That’s right, there are a few online colleges that will actually pay you to enroll and take classes.
Now, that might sound incredible. But, while sensationalistic, it’s actually true. There are a few colleges, all of them online and accredited, that will pay you to attend their school.
Just note that while most of these colleges are accredited and will give you a real college experience, some may not be as rigorous as others. But if your goal is to simply get a degree without spending any money, then these colleges are definitely worth checking out.
Getting Paid to go to School: A Pipe Dream?
The concept of not paying for your education is one that has been around for a long time. In the past, there were schools that would actually pay you to come and study with them. But, as college became more expensive and competitive, these types of programs began to disappear.
Or so we thought.
It turns out that there are still a few colleges out there that will pay you to attend their school. And, while most of these colleges are online, there are a few brick-and-mortar schools that have similar programs as well.
So, if you’re looking for a way to get a college education without spending any money, then you’ll want to check out these ten online colleges that pay you to attend.
Now, not all of these colleges will just pay you for the privilege of offering you an education. Most will require you to work for them, either as a teaching assistant or in some other capacity. But, even if you have to work while you’re going to school, you’ll still be getting paid to attend college. And with the costs of education today, that’s very appealing to many people.
Not everyone has the luck of being able to afford the crazy tuition costs that some colleges ask for. Take Harvard for example — do you really want to spend $50k/year for a degree? Of course, the job opportunities will be endless, but you must also take the economic calculus into account. Can you afford it? What about student loan debt?
The colleges on this list are excellent alternatives that won’t cost you a dime. You’ll still get an excellent education though.
Getting Into an Online College that Pays You
So, now that you know that there are online colleges that will actually pay you to attend their school, you’re probably wondering how you can get into one of these programs.
It’s actually not as difficult as you might think. While most of these schools have competitive admissions processes, they’re generally looking for a few specific things in their applicants.
First, they’re looking for students who are dedicated to their education and who are willing to work hard. They want students who will take their studies seriously and who will be able to complete their degree in a timely manner.
Second, they’re looking for students who are interested in the specific program that the school offers. They want students who will be able to take advantage of the unique opportunities that their program offers.
And finally, they’re looking for students who are willing to work for their education. They want students who are willing to put in the time and effort to make their education a success.
If you can show the admissions committee that you have these qualities, then you’ll be in a good position to get into one of these schools.
But, even if you don’t have all of these qualities, you should still apply. These colleges are looking for a specific type of student, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not willing to take chances on students who might not fit perfectly into their mold.
So, if you’re interested in getting a college education without spending any money, then you should definitely look into these ten online colleges that pay you to attend.
Who knows, you might just be the next student who gets paid to go to college.
What about the Quality of the Education?
Now, you might be wondering about the quality of the education you’ll receive at one of these colleges. After all, if they’re willing to pay you to attend their school, then there must be something wrong with the quality of the education, right?
Wrong.
Just because a college is willing to pay you to attend their school doesn’t mean that the quality of the education is any less than what you would receive at a traditional college. In fact, many of these colleges are able to offer a better quality of education than some traditional colleges.
This is because they’re not limited by the same constraints that traditional colleges are. They’re not bound by the same rules and regulations. They’re not held to the same standards.
And, because they’re not bound by these things, they’re able to offer a better quality of education. They’re able to be more innovative and they’re able to tailor their programs to fit the needs of their students.
So, if you’re worried about the quality of the education you’ll receive at an online college, then you shouldn’t be.
5 Online Colleges that Pay You to Attend
When it comes to online colleges, there are a few different options that will pay you to attend. You’ll get your degree, and you won’t have to spend a dime on it.
That’s a tempting offer — but it’s one you should be very careful about before you commit to anything.
There are a lot of scams out there, and a lot of programs that sound too good to be true. So, how can you tell the difference between a legitimate program and a scam?
Here are a few things to look for:
- Make sure the program is accredited. This is the most important thing to look for. If the program is not accredited, then it’s not worth your time or money.
- Make sure the program has a good reputation. You can check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against the program.
- Make sure the program requires you to complete coursework. If the program doesn’t require you to complete any coursework, then it’s probably a scam.
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So, if you’re looking for an online college that will pay you to attend, then make sure you do your research. There are a lot of great programs out there, but there are also a lot of scams.
Let’s see the best ones:
1. University of Missouri — Columbia
This is one of the best online colleges that pay you to attend. The University of Missouri — Columbia offers a full-tuition waiver for all students who are willing to work for their education.
This is the university with the highest amount of funds available in the forms of grants and scholarships.
So, if you’re looking for an online college that will pay you to attend, then the University of Missouri — Columbia is a great option.
In order to qualify for this program, you’ll need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and you’ll need to be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
But, if you qualify, you’ll be able to get your degree without having to pay a dime in tuition. What makes the University of Missouri special is that they offer a unique work-study program that allows students to work and earn their degree at the same time.
So, if you’re looking for an online college that will pay you to attend, then the University of Missouri is a great option.
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2. Lipscomb University
Lipscomb University is a private university located in Nashville, Tennessee. The university was founded in 1891 by David Lipscomb and James A. Harding.
Lipscomb University is a Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ.
The university offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs, and it also has an online college that will pay you to attend.
Now, David Lipscomb was a big-time Christian and very proficient anarchist philosopher. And specifically, the Christian part deeply resonates with the university’s environment. If you go to their website, you’ll see that one of their core values is “transforming the world through Christian higher education.”
So, if you’re looking for an online college that will pay you to attend and that’s also deeply rooted in Christianity, then Lipscomb University is a great option.
Note: But if you aren’t the spiritual type or think Christianity is baloney, then this is probably a poor choice.
3. Berea College
Berea College is another great online college that will pay you to attend. Berea College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college located in Kentucky.
Berea is one of the few colleges in the United States that actually pays its students to attend. Every student who attends Berea College receives a full-tuition scholarship.
Note: However, don’t expect to just sit back and relax. In order to qualify for this scholarship, you’ll need to be willing to work at least ten hours per week in one of Berea’s on-campus jobs.
But, if you’re willing to work hard, then Berea College is a great option for you.
Students working on campus and the college’s extensive network of donors are what allows Berea to keep its offering free.
Among the most impressive feats of Berea, it got ranked #1 as the best value college in 2019 by the New York Times as well as #1 ‘best bang for the buck’ college in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 by the Washington Monthly.
4. Barclay College
You’re probably noticing a recurring theme by now. Most of the colleges that pay you to attend are Christian.
Barclay College is a private, Christian college located in Kansas. The college was founded in 1917 by the Quakers. The college offers a full scholarship to every admitted student, which means you won’t have to worry about money while studying there.
Barclay offers online courses in:
- Biblical studies
- Business management
- Christian leadership
- Criminal justice
- Psychology
Much like Lipscomb University, Christianity is deeply rooted in Barclay College.
The college’s website says that its mission is “to develop men and women academically, spiritually, and socially to become Christ-like servant leaders in society.”
So, if you’re comfortable with that kind of environment, Barclay is a solid choice.
5. University of the People
This is definitely one of the most interesting colleges on this list. University of the People is a tuition-free, online university.
The university was founded in 2009 with the goal of providing access to higher education for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.
The university offers associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in:
- Business Administration
- Computer Science
- Health Science
- Law
And more.
The university has partnerships with a number of companies and organizations, which means that they offer internships and job opportunities to their students.
So, if you’re looking for an online college that’s tuition-free and provides access to many different kinds of jobs, then University of the People is a great choice.
Conclusions
Attending college and earning a degree for free is possible. You just have to be willing to look for colleges that offer these types of opportunities.
But, it’s important to remember that most of these colleges are Christian. So, if you’re not comfortable with that kind of environment, then you should probably look elsewhere. There are a couple secular ones though, like the University of the People, so you’re still able to attend college for free if you don’t care about religion.
All of the colleges on this list are great choices and will help you save a lot of money. It’s just up to you to decide which one is the best fit for you. They’re all accredited, so you can’t go wrong.
