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Most colleges charge application fees of around $50 per application, but they can sometimes be as high as $90. This can really add up if you're applying to 4-7 colleges. However, there are also plenty of free college applications as well - you just have to know where to look.
These free college applications can take several forms:
Fee Waivers: Where the college charges no application fees for you, because you meet a specific criteria like being a low income student.Free College Application Weeks: Many states offer free college application weeks for their state university system, typically happening in October every year.Colleges With No Application Fees: There are also about 170 colleges that simply don't charge an application fee to applyHere's where you can find each of these free college applications or fee waivers.
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General College Application Fee Waivers
There are a few ways to get a college application fee waiver. The most common starting point is to apply for the SAT or ACT fee waiver, which requires any of the following:
Enrollment in a free or reduced-cost lunch programIncome eligibility for the SNAP programReceive public assistance or another low-income program from the local, state, or federal governmentEligible orphans or wards of the stateHomelessnessIf you're eligible for the SAT or ACT fee waiver, you'll also be eligible for the following college application fee waivers:
Common App Fee WaiverCoalition App Fee WaiverYou can also ask your college for a fee waiver, and they may provide you with a waiver code.
Some states also have their own fee waiver programs. While they all match the general criteria above, they may have different forms.
California: Provides a fee waiver automatically for low-income California residents, for up to 4 college applications (both UC and CSU combined)States With Free College Application Weeks (Or Days)
Many state college systems also offer free college applications by hosting "free college application week" or "free college application month". While not all colleges in these states may offer it, most of the state college systems will.
Alabama: February 23 - 27, 2026Colorado: October 20 - 22, 2026Connecticut: Typically October 15 - Novermber 1 (2026 Dates TBA)Delaware: October and November, dates vary by High SchoolGeorgia: November for Georgia ResidentsIdaho: October, dates vary by high schoolIllinois: October, dates vary by high schoolIndiana: September 21 - 25, 2026Kansas: October 5 - 9, 2026Michigan: October, dates vary by schoolMinnesota: June 22 - 26, 2026Montana: Always free for Montana residentsNew York: 2026 Dates TBANorth Carolina: October 19 - 25, 2026Ohio: OctoberOklahoma: September 21 - 25, 2026South Carolina: September and October, dates vary by schoolSouth Dakota: October 1 - November 30, 2026Tennessee: September, dates vary by schoolTexas: October 12 - 18, 2026Virginia: October 26 - 30, 2026West Virginia: TBD Oct 2026Colleges With No Application Fee (By State)
There are roughly 170 colleges in the United States that offer free college applications (yes, they don't even bother with an application fee -thank you!). Here's the list by state:
None!
None!
Concordia UniversityUniversity of Detroit MercyFerris State UniversityHillsdale CollegeKalamazoo CollegeKettering UniversityMadonna UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityNorthwood UniversityOakland UniversityRochester Christian University
The University of Olivet
None!
D'Youville CollegeDaemen University
Hilbert CollegeHobart and William Smith CollegeKeuka CollegeLe Moyne College
Mount Saint Mary CollegeNazareth UniversityNiagara UniversityRoberts Wesleyan UniversityRussell Sage CollegeSt. Bonaventure UniversitySt. John's UniversitySt. John Fisher UniversityTouro UniversityU.S. Merchant Marine AcademyU.S. Military Academy (West Point)University of Mount St. Vincent
Defiance College Denison University
Franciscan University of SteubenvilleFranklin UniversityHiram CollegeJohn Carroll UniversityKenyon CollegeLake Erie College
Oberlin CollegeOhio Northern UniversityOhio Wesleyan UniversityShawnee State UniversityUniversity of DaytonUniversity of FindlayUniversity of Mount Union
Ursuline CollegeWilmington CollegeWittenberg UniversityXavier University
Bryn Mawr College Carlow University Cedar Crest College
Chatham UniversityDelaware Valley CollegeDuquesne UniversityElizabethtown College Gannon University Gwynedd Mercy University Immaculata UniversityJuniata CollegeKing's College La Roche CollegeLa Salle UniversityLebanon Valley CollegeLincoln University of PennsylvaniaLycoming CollegeMarywood University Mercyhurst UniversityMoravian CollegeNeumann UniversityPoint Park UniversityRobert Morris University
Saint Francis UniversitySusquehanna UniversityUniversity of Scranton
Ursinus CollegeWashington & Jefferson College Westminster CollegeWilson College
Southwestern Adventist UniversitySouthwestern UniversitySt. Mary's UniversityUniversity of St. Thomas - Texas
University of Texas - El PasoUniversity of Texas - Rio Grande ValleyTexas Wesleyan UniversityTrinity University
Don't See Your State Or College?
We work hard to keep this list updated. If you know a state or college that has a free college application week or month, please let us know!
If you're not seeing your state and want to apply, it doesn't hurt to reach out to the financial aid office first to see if they can provide you an application fee waiver.
Also, don't forget to check out our guide to Student Loans And Financial Aid By State to see about any state-specific financial aid programs you may qualify for.
Editor: Colin Graves
The post Free College Applications: Colleges With No Fees Or Fee Waivers appeared first on The College Investor.
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