Clinton College, a South Carolina HBCU, is giving all full-time students free tuition for the 2021-22 school year and a free Microsoft laptop.
Clinton College President Lester McCorn made the announcement in a YouTube video, adding that vaccinated students who live on campus will still have to pay room and board. Full-time students who live off-campus and are still taking classes virtually will also receive free tuition.
“As we have had to deal with the challenges of COVID-19, it has been taxing for each and every one of us, and at Clinton College, we have done our best to keep the school moving forward and providing a quality education even in a virtual environment,” McCorn said. “For all enrolled students for the 2021-22 academic year, Clinton College is going to offer you free tuition.”
Clinton College decided earlier this summer to cut tuition in half for the 2021-22 school year, but with this announcement, full-time students will have the opportunity to learn free of charge. McCorn also added every full-time student would also receive a
According to its website, Clinton College has been educating its students for 120 years and was established during Reconstruction “to help eradicate illiteracy among freedmen.”
While Clinton College is one of a few HBCUs to offer free tuition, more than 20 HBCUs have canceled the debt of its students using $5 billion in Higher Education Emergency Relief federal pandemic funds. The schools include South Carolina State, Wilberforce University
, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and many others.Many HBCUs have made a move to cancel tuition and student loan debt to give Black American students a leg up after college. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, Black American graduates have an average of $52,000 in student loan debt and on average owe $25,000 more than white graduates.