
Expertise
- Scholarly Article Reporting
- Free-Tuition Colleges
- Student Financial Aid
- College Closures
Education
- BA Journalism, BA Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Evan Castillo is a news reporter covering colleges and universities in North Carolina and beyond. He specializes in student-driven stories and speaks with researchers and university admins about studies regarding underserved populations.
Evan regularly updates our lists of colleges offering free tuition, recently closed colleges, and the largest donations to colleges and universities.
Evan joined BestColleges as an associate writer in 2022 after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a BA in Journalism and a BA in Psychology. As a student, he covered university policy and student stories in the student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel.
While at BestColleges, Evan’s work has been featured in multiple news outlets, such as AOL, the Charlotte Observer, the Washington Post, Forbes, and the Miami Herald, as well as by schools like Purdue University, Ohio State University, and Gonzaga University. Two research journals highlighted his list of colleges requiring the COVID-19 vaccine.
Read Evan Castillo's Latest Articles

These Colleges Offer Free Tuition to Students
Looking for a free college? Here are the undergraduate and graduate schools offering free tuition and fees to qualifying students.
September 15, 2025
WGU's New Tool Helps Nearly 600K Students, Alumni Track Career Progress
The WGU Achievement Wallet lets students log their verifiable and self-reported skills, generates resumes, and matches students with real jobs.

Tracking College Closures and Mergers
Close to 80 private nonprofit colleges closed or merged between 2020 and 2024. Find historical data about college closures and a list of closed colleges and mergers.
September 11, 2025
These Are the Largest Donations to U.S. Colleges and Universities
Donations from alums, philanthropists, and billionaires are piling up at institutions across the country. Here's how the colleges and universities are spending the money.
September 10, 2025
University of Phoenix Plans To Go Public
According to documents submitted for its initial public offering filing, the university will prioritize its students over short-term investor interest.