I know this may come as a surprise to you, but college tuition continues to rise at an alarming level around the country.

And if your child (or you) have the chops to get into tier 1, elite universities, then the cost can be down right astronomical.

The cost of an elite education at the University level in this country averages around $50,000/year. Not $50,000 total, but per year equaling over $200,000 for a four year degree. This is a mini-fortune without the guarantee that you will make enough money to pay that back in a reasonable time period.

With my son getting a 35 on the ACT last week (yes, I brag at every chance I get), these elite, tier 1 schools are on our radar, but the price point is a pure turn off. It just cost too much darn money.

However, last week, Stanford University announced that starting this fall students whose families make less than $125,000 a year will not pay any tuition to attend their school. This number is bumped up from $100,000 in this program just a year ago.

The decision Stanford has made makes it possible for more and more middle class families to consider sending their children to elite, tier 1 institution. And if your family is under $65,000 a year, then you can attend for free, including tuition, fees, room and board.

The great news is Stanford isn’t the first, nor the only school to offer programs like this. In fact there is a great list that includes many of the Ivy League schools and others around the country.

It should be noted that middle class is considered to range from $40,000 to $122,000 per year according to the Pew Research Center.

We wrote about Harvard’s program offering free schooling to students that quality to get in and meet certain income standards. You can find out more about that program here: Harvard FREE? Low Income Students Do Not Pay a Dime at Harvard I Called To Verify

Here are the elite, tier 1 schools that will offer tuition free for qualifying students. And remember, if you earn less than this, then it is possible to get tuition, fees, room and board for free to these schools, so be sure to make a few phone calls and inquire yourselves.

1. Princeton

Tuition for 2015-16: $43,450
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 6.99 percent
Policy: Families making less than $54,000 a year don’t pay tuition, room, or board, and families making less than $120,000 a year don’t pay tuition.

2. Brown

Tuition for 2015-16: $48,272
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 8.5 percent
Policy: Families making less than $60,000 don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

3. Cornell

Tuition for 2015-16: $48,880
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 14.9 percent
Policy: Families making less than $60,000 don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

4. Columbia

Tuition for 2014-15: $51,108
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 6.1 percent
Policy: Families making less than $60,000 don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

5. Duke

Tuition for 2015-16: $47,650
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 11.3 percent
Policy: Families making less than $60,000 don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

6. Harvard

Tuition for 2015-16: $45,278
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 5.3 percent
Policy: Families making less than $65,000 a year don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

7. Yale

Tuition for 2015-16: $47,600
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 6.5 percent
Policy: Families making less than $65,000 a year don’t pay tuition, room, or board.

8. Stanford

Tuition for 2015-16: $45,729
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 5.05 percent
Policy: Families making less than $65,000 a year don’t pay tuition, room, or board, and families making between $65,000 and $125,000 a year don’t pay tuition.

9. MIT

Tuition for 2015-16: $46,704 (includes mandatory fees)
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 8 percent
Policy: Families making less than $75,000 a year don’t pay tuition.

10. Dartmouth

Tuition for 2015-16: $48,120
Acceptance rate for the Class of 2019: 10.3 percent
Policy: Families making less than $100,000 don’t pay tuition.

SOUND OFF: Do you think more and more African American children will attend these schools as a result of programs like this? And will you be looking into it for your children?

Source: Bloomberg