A list of colleges that don’t take federal money

89 Replies to “A list of colleges that don’t take federal money”

1. I don’t know if they offer an engineering degree, but I am suprised to not see College of the Ozarks on this list: students at C of O do not take out student loans; they are required to work on staff while at school, and graduate debt-free.
   The school maintains a christian character and emphasizes service while learning.

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   1. Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately, College of the Ozarks permits students to apply for and receive federal financial aid. That makes it ineligible for this list.

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   2. The College of the Ozarks does accept Federal money. Their tuition is about 19K, the work portion of that bill covers about a fourth of that. The rest of the money is split between federal and state student grants and award and the College’s scholarship. Basically the Cost of Education scholarship is a last dollar paid scholarship, it makes up any shortfall left over from state and federal grants/awards and money generated from working for the College.

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2. I would really like to see an engineering school that doesn’t take federal money and that doesn’t participate in the federal aid programs – I’m not wealthy, just comfortable after 50 plus years of engineering and would like to leave part or all of my estate to such a school –

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   1. Grove City College has a great engineering department!

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      1. I echo that: Grove City College has excellent academics (including Engineering and other STEM programs), an amazing campus designed by the architect of Central Park and other Ivy League schools, and they don’t take any federal dollars. A hidden gem.

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         1. Hidden gem is exactly how I would describe Grove City!

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   2. Grove City College has one of the best engineering programs in the country. They offer Electrical, Mechanical, Management and Chemical Engineering programs. Their engineering graduates are sought after by companies all across the country. The school has NEVER accepted federal grants and, with Hillsdale, was part of a Supreme Court decision in 1984 that redefined Student Loans and Student grants as aid to the college – so the school raised a scholarship endowment from alumni and built a private lending program with a Pittsburgh bank. Jeff Prokovich leads the school’s development office and can help you if you are serious about gifting your estate to the school. He can reached at jdprokovich@gcc.edu

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   3. I echo the others on this thread: Grove City College has tremendous academics, including engineering, as well as great graduate outcomes and a beautiful campus. I have come across several Grove City grads in my professional career and have always been impressed by them.

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   4. Grove City college has an extraordinarily fine engineering program. You should contact the school to explore to your satisfaction what I’m mentioning.

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   5. There is no such school. Texas A&M is the mot conservative option for engineering. It is highly ranked as a pure engineering school. However, they are susceptible because they do take federal money. There is a list of viable options at this link beatruamerican.com. If you insist on a school that doesn’t take federal money,, I would look at Grove City, then Principia, then Gutenberg, which is next door to the University of Oregon for auditing classes. Others do not offer specialization at the undergraduate level. To go to a STEM career, they like for their students to start with a liberal arts degree.

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   6. I see your post is 3 years old. However, just in case you read this, I’d like to point out that Grove City College’s Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering programs were ranked in the top 100 in undergraduate studies in 2020 by U.S. News and World Reports. In 2017, the same program came 55th nationally. This small college is in the above list and does not accept federal aid money or allow the students to participate in student grant programs. Your donation would be much appreciated and much needed!

      Rankings for Grove City College and others have changed in 2021 in Niche, I’ve noticed. Spending a long day examining the reasons for these changes, I noticed that “Diversity” – which is its own category – is also a significant percentage in the rankings of everything from “Student Life” to “Academics” to “Professors.” It’s fair to have a Diversity category; it is not aboveboard to spread this ranking across so many of the other categories in a way that is hidden. It seems like schools are punished if they don’t go full out CRT. Anyway, if you notice low reviews on Niche (and possibly other sites) in 2021, I’d check back a few years and see how they scored.

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      1. Just because they are checking for diversity doesn’t mean they’re “going all CRT”. It means it’s good for different kinds of people to learn to live and work together. It means there isn’t 1 elite race so stop acting like there is.

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   7. Principia College has an engineering program. In partnership with University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.

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   8. GCC

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   9. Hillsdale doesn’t have an engineer ing program, but is a highly rated academic institution. It also offers needs based scholarships from their own funds to students. They don’t take a penny from fed or state.

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   10. Grove City, Penn

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   11. I have two sons who have graduated, or are about to graduate, from the Grove City College Department of Engineering. Both have had an amazing experience at GCC, playing on the lacrosse team and studying engineering. One son is already flourishing in his career, and the second son is set to begin work with a large, well-regarded company in about two months. My husband and I have been incredibly pleased and encouraged by Grove City College, and we prefer to give our donations there rather than our own alma mater, which has departed radically from the values we hold dear.

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   12. Maybe contact Hillsdale College and see if they can start at least basic requirements for an engineering degree. They could put it on their wish list and try to get donations for that specific degree. What an excellent idea.!

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   13. https://www.saylor.org/

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       1. Oops : currently offering Physics but not Engineering (although Physics served as a gateway to Mechanical Engineering for me in the sixties).

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3. That’s a pretty short list. I’m hoping to see more such schools spring up, because the feds are making a mess of education.

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   1. I think that Prager University should be added to the list.

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      1. Excellent suggestion Susan. Agree Prager U’s 5 minute free courses superior to 90% of college classes.

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   2. They have since government stuck their nose in.

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      1. Hillsdale College is incredible!

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         1. Bravo to your comment. Every student must also take courses in the U.S. Constitution.

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   3. This issue now is they have pulled the Veterans Affairs GI Bill (College) so now Veterans have to pay out of pocket to attend these colleges.

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      1. Most of these schools find a private way to help veterans fund school. Because even a single student on GI Bill makes EVERY SINGLE government rule, regulation, and nonsense string applicable to the school. And there are thousands of schools that will allow GI Bill students.

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      2. Hillsdale College has programs where Veterans don’t pay a cent. I met two Marine Veterans who are attending Hillsdale at no cost. I also met a couple who donated to Hillsdale to pay the full ride for a Veteran. Amazing school with a fantastic philosophy and wonderful supporters.

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         1. Hillsdale has awarded scholarships for children of veterans who would otherwise have been eligible for veterans benefits.

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