Truly free universities are rare in the United States. Almost every accredited school charges tuition.
University of the People describes itself as tuition-free, but students still pay application and course assessment fees. It is low cost, not free.
A very small number of US colleges cover tuition for the students they admit, usually through work programs or large endowments. Seats are few and admission is highly competitive, so this is not a plan most students can count on.
Some students study at very low cost abroad instead. Most public universities in Germany, for example, charge international students no tuition beyond a small semester contribution.
For most students, the realistic path is low cost rather than free: community college, public universities, scholarships, and assistantships. See whether Harvard is free for international students, ways to save money on college tuition, and work-study programs.

