Tuition-Free Alice Lloyd – Service, Character and Academics

With the expense of a college education continuing to be a major challenge, students would do well to consider one of the many tuition-free colleges available.

For those students with a real interest in service and character education, tuition-free Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., represents an exceptionally affordable educational option.

Educating the Whole Person

Founded by Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd, a former publisher and editor of The Cambridge Press, the school is known for programming that transcends academics. With the help of June Buchanan, Caney Junior College was created in 1923 with a focus on preparing students for roles of leadership and service.

School programming was and remains designed to develop students’ lives “spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically.” The school features the Caney Convocation Series, a special leadership course required of freshmen students, and continuously seeks to integrate Christian principles into all aspects of campus life.

Set in Eastern Kentucky, Alice Lloyd, also known as Leadership U., has been the source for a brighter future for the people of Appalachia. In fact, its emphasis on character and service come in great part because of the school’s location and the needs of the people in that area.

Admission Criteria Based on More than Academics

The school’s academic admission criteria would not categorize the school as selective. Reserving its right to consider various criteria in addition to academics, the school requires only that freshmen score either a 17 on the ACT or obtain a 430 Verbal score and a 400 math score on the SAT, and have a minimum 2.25 GPA in high school. The school will even consider students without a high school diploma as long as other specific criteria are met.

In addition, the college insists it has never turned away a student because of financial need. Beginning with its initial foundation in 1923, the school was home to “penniless students” who “provided what they could in exchange for their education.”

Many of those students were in fact responsible for constructing some of the campus buildings still in use. Today, that tradition continues in the form of the student work program.

Fully accredited as a four-year college in 1980, ALC is one of just eight work colleges in America. The importance of work ethic began with Lloyd and remains a critical component of the school environment.

All full-time students must work at least 10 hours per week at the school to be eligible to graduate from ALC. However, in return for their service, each student receives free tuition to the school.

Students in need of additional funding support to help pay for room and board may request to work up to 15 hours per week during the school year or additional opportunities over the summer months. Work options include tutoring fellow students, working in the school kitchen, secretarial and maintenance.

Ultimately, instead of paying other adults to handle these responsibilities, the school prides itself in investing its money in its students. The school in turn believes that these work experiences are fundamental to helping students develop their leadership skills.

Cost Effective, Rewarding Academic Options

Since 1980, hundreds of students have earned baccalaureate degrees at Alice Lloyd, doing so at little or no personal financial cost. Despite being home to only 500-600 students, the school’s degree options are quite varied in number.

Bachelor of Arts Degree programs exist in Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, English and History as well as in numerous teaching areas (elementary, middle school, and Physical, English and Social Studies Education). Bachelor of Science degrees are available in Biology and Physical Science as well as a Biological Science Education program for teachers at the middle and high school level.

The school offers minors in Chemistry, Biology, Computer Information, Mathematics, Accounting and Sociology and a number of pre-professional programs in Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Veterinary Medicine.

And as for its attempts to control student debt loads, the school receives very high marks. Alice Lloyd College has been named by US News&World Report as one of America’s top colleges for graduating students with the least amount of debt.

Flickr photos courtesy of blueathena.