Paying for college can be a monumental task. But if you're willing to move, some states offer programs that will cover the cost of tuition and other fees.
The average cost of college in the United States is $38,270 per student per year, including tuition, fees, room and board, books and supplies, according to the Education Data Initiative. That's $153,080 over four years.
If you're looking for a way to help manage that cost, you might want to start packing your things. A handful of states offer free college tuition for residents with no income requirements, according to Realtor.com.
Living in a tuition-free zone gives people the opportunity to earn college credits without incurring tuition expenses, which substantially lowers the total cost of an education, Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones noted.
Considering the average cost of tuition per year is $17,709, living in a tuition-free zone would save you $35,418 for two years, $53,127 for three years and $70,836 for four years.
To help potential degree seekers, the experts at Realtor.com analyzed the 15 states that offer free tuition regardless of income.
Arkansas
The Arkansas Future Grant covers tuition and fees for students enrolled in a STEM program or regional high-demand areas of study, for qualifying certificate and Associate degree programs at Arkansas' public institutions.
California
The California College Promise Grant waives the enrollment fees and tuition for eligible students attending public community colleges.
Connecticut
The Pledge to Advance Connecticut program allows first-time students to attend any of Connecticut's community colleges tuition and fee free.
Delaware
The Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) Scholarship offers free tuition for students enrolled in an associate degree program at Delaware Technical Community College or the University of Delaware's Associate in Arts program.
Indiana
The Workforce Ready Grant covers the tuition and fees of qualifying certificate programs across Indiana.
Kentucky
The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship provides funding for tuition and fees for up to 60 credit hours for students pursuing an industry recognized certificate, diploma, or associate of applied science degree.
Louisiana
The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students offers merit-based awards to cover tuition and certain fees at eligible Louisiana public colleges and universities.
Maine
The Free College Scholarship covers tuition and fees for recent high school graduates at one of Maine's seven community colleges.
Massachusetts
The MassReconnect and MassEducate programs cover the full cost of community college tuition and fees. Students may also qualify for a $1,200 allowance for books and supplies as well as an additional allowance (up to $1,200) to help with other costs.
Michigan
The Michigan Reconnect program provides free community college tuition for adults 21 and older who do not have a college degree.
Nevada
The Nevada Promise Scholarship offers last-dollar aid that covers up to three years of community college tuition, fees and books.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship covers full tuition, mandatory fees and course fees at any New Mexico public college or university.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Promise Scholarship covers the cost of tuition and fees for two years of continuous full-time enrollment to obtain an associate's degree.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Promise program covers tuition and fees at community or technical college.
West Virginia
The West Virginia Invests program covers tuition to any state community or technical college for a certificate or associate's degree in an in-demand, high-paying field.