A list of colleges that don’t take federal money

In order to preserve their freedom and independence.

The following colleges in the United States, in order to preserve their liberty and independence, do not accept grants from the federal government or participate in any federal financial-aid or student-loan program.

Government aid comes with government strings, whether it goes directly to a school or directly to its students. To avoid these strings, a school must decline aid, both to itself and to its students, meaning it must decline to participate, or facilitate its students’ participation, in government funded or sponsored loan and grant programs.

Most of the schools on the list refuse state and local aid as well as federal.

The list only includes traditional bricks-and-mortar institutions (no online or purely digital entities).

To submit updates or corrections to this list, please contact us.

Updated 1 Nov 2024

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

Does Southeastern Baptist College & Seminary (NC) qualify for this list?

Dean Clancy says:

29 April 2022 at 10:55 am

It does not appear to qualify.

Reply

If I understand correctly these colleges do not accept FAFSA. I check this with the GA 529 college savings plan rep and she said we cannot use 529 (saved through our employer) to pay for college tuition of a college that does not accept FAFSA.

Do you know how it’s recommended to save up for our kids education in case they choose to go to one of these schools? Our first is planning on studying computer science, starting is 2 1/2 years.
Our employer says some other options include things like an ESA/Coverdell, UGMA/UTMA, and possibly even IRAs, mutual funds and/or savings bonds.

This would be most helpful to know for us to prepare.

Since these colleges do not accept FAFSA said we cannot use 529 college savings through our employer to pay for tuition. Do you know how it’s recommended to save up for our kids education in case they choose to go to one of these schools? Our first is planning on studying computer science.

Our employer will allow funds to be invested into any program approved by the US government for savings for children’s education. Other than a 529, some other options include things like an ESA/Coverdell, UGMA/UTMA, and possibly even IRAs, mutual funds and/or savings bonds.