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Duke University
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 UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

Complete List of Colleges With No Application Fee in 2023

What’s Covered:

 

The cost of college often looms in the minds of many students preparing to pursue higher education. However, the expense of school doesn’t start with tuition—even the costs of applying to colleges can add up fast. For example, the strategy of applying to 2-3 safety schools, 3-4 target schools, and 2-3 reach schools can cost hundreds of dollars!

 

If you’re trying to control costs through the college application process, keep reading to learn more about application fees and discover colleges with no application fees.

 

Overview of College Application Fees

 

According to U.S. News, the average college application fee is approximately $45. 64 schools have application fees exceeding $75, including many top schools such as Stanford ($90), Columbia University ($85), Harvard University ($85), Cornell University ($80), and Dartmouth College ($80).

 

A 2015 report from the Higher Education Research Institute found that 80% of students had applied to at least three colleges, and that 35% of high school seniors applied to seven schools or more—using the average application cost, that adds up to $132-$308 in just application fees.

 

Furthermore, the report shows that, in that year, the number of colleges students applied to had doubled over the previous decade, and had nearly tripled over the course of the previous 15 years. If this trend continues, students can plan on spending even more on college applications in the future.

 

The expense of applying to college isn’t solely in application fees; there’s also the cost of sending test scores to schools. Included in the price of the SAT are four free score reports—however, whether or not you should take advantage of this merits some thought (check out our article Should You Send SAT Scores Straight to Colleges on Test Day? to learn more).

 

Even if you take advantage of the four free reports, with 35% of students applying to more than seven schools, they’ll still end up paying $12 for each additional score report they need. Similarly, the ACT includes four free score reports as well, but they charge $13 for each additional report requested.

 

College Application Fee Waivers

 

Colleges are aware of the financial hardships some students face, so they offer fee waivers to students with financial need. College application fee waivers, in general, follow the same requirements needed to qualify for a fee waiver from the SAT or ACT:

 

  • You’re enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program 
  • Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service
  • You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families
  • Your family receives public assistance
  • You live in federally subsidized public housing, live in a foster home, or are homeless
  • You are a ward of the state or an orphan

 

If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver but face financial hardships, ask the admissions office for one—the worst they can say is no. Some colleges also offer fee waivers through their email lists, which makes signing up for emails from the colleges you’re interested in a smart strategy.

 

If your dream school has an application fee, even an expensive one such as Stanford’s, don’t be discouraged from applying if you can afford to. If you don’t apply, you’ll very likely regret it down the road. Also, looking at the big picture, the cost of applying to college is a very small fraction of overall college expenses.

 

However, if your plan is to apply to a bunch of schools, one way to cut down on the cost is to consider some schools that don’t charge an application fee. Remember though, don’t just apply to these schools because it’s free. Make sure that they offer classes and extracurriculars you’re interested in, that you like their community, and that they’ll help prepare you for the future you’re dreaming of.

 

How to Determine If a College is a Good Fit

 

You might be wondering how to determine if a college is a good fit, and how to use our list of colleges with no application fees to find the best-fit colleges for you. Here are some important considerations:

 

Size: Do you want to go to a small school with intimate class sizes, or a large university with large lecture halls? Or maybe something in-between?

 

Type: Research university or liberal arts college? If you’re not sure what a liberal arts college is, see our article What Is a Liberal Arts College, and How Are They Different? Basically, LACs are smaller colleges (<3,000 students) that don’t offer graduate degrees. The professors generally focus on teaching rather than research, and students are taught a broad range of disciplines beyond their major. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to this, though.

 

Location: Which region of the country (or world) do you want to be in? Is the school close or far from home? Do you want to be in a large city, the suburbs, or a more remote location?

 

Weather: Are cold weather and snow your thing, or do you prefer sunshine and warmth? Do you want to experience the four seasons?

 

Difficulty: Is the school a target, reach, or safety for you? Look primarily at the middle 50% range of SAT/ACT scores, average GPA, and acceptance rate to determine this. You can also use our free chancing engine.

 

Cost: Can you and your family afford the school? Are there generous financial aid packages or merit-based scholarships? Does the school meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, and is it a need-blind or a no-loan school?

 

Academics: Does the school offer the majors you’re interested in? Is there pre-professional advising? Are there specific programs you’re looking for? Can you easily study abroad? Is it hard to change majors? Can you go in undecided and declare a major later?

 

Extracurriculars: Are there activities that you want to join? If not, can you easily begin your own club? Are there communities on campus you could see yourself being part of?

 

Colleges With No Application Fees

 

College 

State 

Acceptance Rate

Brandman University

California 

N/A

University of the Pacific

California 

79%

Regis University

Colorado

81%

University of Hartford

Connecticut

79%

Florida Institute of Technology

Florida

66%

Aurora University

Illinois

86%

Illinois Institute of Technology

Illinois

66%

Loyola University Chicago

Illinois

77%

University of Indianapolis

Indiana 

78%

Valparaiso University

Indiana 

93%

Drake University

Iowa

69%

Baker University

Kansas

99%

Loyola University New Orleans

Louisiana 

78%

Tulane University

Louisiana 

10%

Lesley University

Massachusetts

87%

Simmons University

Massachusetts

84%

Michigan Technological University

Michigan 

86%

Oakland University

Michigan 

92%

University of Detroit Mercy

Michigan 

93%

Bethel University

Minnesota 

89%

College of Saint Scholastica

Minnesota 

74%

Metropolitan State University

Minnesota 

N/A

St. Catherine University

Minnesota 

75%

University of Saint Thomas

Minnesota 

76%

Jackson State University

Mississippi 

62%

Maryville University of St. Louis

Missouri 

92%

Saint Louis University

Missouri 

70%

William Woods University

Missouri 

68%

Creighton University

Nebraska 

78%

Clarkson University

New York

75%

D’Youville College

New York

92%

Daemen College

New York

78%

St. John’s University

New York

85%

Russell Sage College

New York

73%

Touro College

New York

77%

University of Dayton

Ohio

81%

The University of Findlay

Ohio

84%

Chatham University

Pennsylvania 

73%

Duquesne University

Pennsylvania 

84%

Gannon University

Pennsylvania 

84%

Robert Morris University

Pennsylvania 

94%

Baylor University

Texas

57%

Texas Wesleyan University

Texas

58%

University of Texas at El Paso

Texas

100%

University of Texas—Rio Grande Valley

Texas

94%

Liberty University

Virginia 

99%

Cardinal Stritch University

Wisconsin 

89%

Marquette University

Wisconsin 

86%

Mount Mary University

Wisconsin 

62%

Northland College

Wisconsin 

58%

 

Liberal Arts Colleges With No Application Fees

 

College 

State

Acceptance Rate

Spring Hill College

Alabama 

72%

Hendrix College

Arkansas

68%

Williams Baptist University

Arkansas

64%

Thomas Aquinas College

California 

83%

United States Air Force Academy

Colorado 

12%

Ave Maria University

Florida

64%

Agnes Scott College

Georgia

70%

Oglethorpe University

Georgia

81%

Wesleyan College

Georgia

62%

Berea College

Kentucky 

33%

Centre College

Kentucky 

69%

Transylvania University

Kentucky 

92%

University of Pikeville

Kentucky 

N/A

The College of Idaho

Idaho 

56%

Augustana College

Illinois 

69%

Illinois College

Illinois 

75%

Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois 

45%

Lake Forest College

Illinois 

64%

Monmouth College

Illinois 

66%

DePauw University

Indiana 

65%

Earlham College

Indiana 

69%

Franklin College

Indiana 

95%

Hanover College

Indiana 

73%

Saint Mary’s College

Indiana 

83%

Central College

Iowa

75%

Coe College

Iowa

73%

Cornell College

Iowa

81%

Grinnell College

Iowa

11%

Luther College

Iowa

76%

Simpson College

Iowa

91%

Wartburg College

Iowa

83%

Centenary College

Louisiana 

63%

Colby College

Maine 

9%

St. John’s College

Maryland

53%

United States Naval Academy

Maryland

8%

Emmanuel College

Massachusetts

74%

Mount Holyoke College

Massachusetts

52%

Smith College

Massachusetts

30%

Wellesley College

Massachusetts

16%

Albion College

Michigan 

69%

Aquinas College

Michigan 

89%

Hillsdale College

Michigan 

24%

Kalamazoo College

Michigan 

80%

Bethany Lutheran College

Minnesota 

61%

Carleton College

Minnesota 

18%

College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University

Minnesota 

92%

Concordia College—Moorhead

Minnesota 

72%

Gustavus Adolphus College

Minnesota 

73%

Saint John’s University

Minnesota 

89%

Millsaps College

Mississippi 

68%

Rust College

Mississippi 

38%

Westminster College (Missouri)

Missouri 

97%

Doane University—Crete

Nebraska 

77%

St. John’s College

New Mexico 

63%

Colgate University

New York

17%

Hartwick College

New York

96%

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

New York

67%

United States Military Academy

New York

11%

Guilford College

North Carolina

82%

Salem College

North Carolina

90%

Warren Wilson College

North Carolina

77%

College of Wooster

Ohio

61%

Denison University

Ohio

28%

Kenyon College

Ohio

37%

Oberlin College

Ohio

34%

Ohio Wesleyan University

Ohio

74%

Wittenberg University

Ohio

92%

Lewis & Clark College

Oregon 

79%

Linfield College-McMinnville Campus

Oregon 

85%

Reed College

Oregon 

44%

Albright College

Pennsylvania 

76%

Allegheny College

Pennsylvania 

75%

Bryn Mawr College

Pennsylvania 

39%

Elizabethtown College

Pennsylvania 

79%

Juniata College

Pennsylvania 

74%

Lycoming College

Pennsylvania 

75%

Marywood University

Pennsylvania 

82%

Mercyhurst University

Pennsylvania 

82%

Moravian College

Pennsylvania 

78%

Susquehanna University

Pennsylvania 

77%

Ursinus College

Pennsylvania 

83%

Washington and Jefferson College

Pennsylvania 

84%

Westminster College (Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania 

82%

Presbyterian College

South Carolina 

71%

Lane College

Tennessee

N/A

Rhodes College

Tennessee

57%

Sewanee: The University of the South

Tennessee

60%

Austin College

Tennessee

43%

Southwestern University

Texas

51%

Emory & Henry College

Virginia 

87%

Hampden-Sydney College

Virginia 

37%

Hollins University

Virginia 

75%

Randolph College

Virginia 

94%

Randolph-Macon College

Virginia 

84%

Roanoke College

Virginia 

80%

Sweet Briar College

Virginia 

80%

Beloit College

Wisconsin

67%

Lawrence University

Wisconsin

75%

St. Norbert College

Wisconsin

85%

 

Regional Universities With No Application Fees

 

College

State

Acceptance Rate

Auburn University at Montgomery

Alabama 

97%

Huntingdon College

Alabama 

69%

Miles College

Alabama 

N/A

Alaska Pacific University

Alaska

96%

Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas 

94%

College of the Ozarks

Arkansas 

21%

Henderson State University

Arkansas 

75%

Southern Arkansas University

Arkansas 

63%

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Arkansas 

68%

Deep Springs College 

California 

N/A

Dominican University of California

California 

93%

Holy Names University

California 

N/A

La Sierra University

California 

66%

Notre Dame de Namur University

California 

N/A

Pacific Union College

California 

58%

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado 

N/A

Mitchell College

Connecticut

78%

University of Saint Joseph

Connecticut

78%

United States Coast Guard Academy

Connecticut

19%

Wesley College

Delaware

59%

Florida Gateway College

Florida 

N/A

Indian River State College

Florida 

N/A

Polk State College

Florida 

N/A

Saint Leo University

Florida 

71%

Santa Fe College

Florida 

N/A

Berry College

Georgia

70%

Piedmont University

Georgia

67%

Savannah State University

Georgia

46%

College of Southern Idaho

Idaho

N/A

Bradley University

Illinois

76%

Elmhurst College

Illinois

72%

Eureka College

Illinois

87%

Greenville University 

Illinois

80%

McKendree University

Illinois

78%

Millikin University

Illinois

75%

Rockford University

Illinois

67%

St. Augustine College

Illinois

N/A

Anderson University (Indiana)

Indiana

62%

Butler University

Indiana

81%

Calumet College of Saint Joseph

Indiana

N/A

Grace College and Seminary

Indiana

N/A

Holy Cross College

Indiana

86%

Indiana Wesleyan University

Indiana

92%

Manchester University

Indiana

76%

Marian University (Indiana)

Indiana

73%

Trine University

Indiana

79%

University of Evansville

Indiana

75%

University of Saint Francis

Indiana

99%

Buena Vista University

Iowa

66%

Graceland University—Lamoni

Iowa

67%

Grand View University

Iowa

100%

Iowa Wesleyan University

Iowa

82%

Loras College

Iowa

72%

Morningside University

Iowa

74%

Mount Mercy University

Iowa

81%

Northwestern College

Iowa

83%

Upper Iowa University

Iowa

65%

Saint Ambrose University

Iowa

72%

Bethany College (Kansas)

Kansas

72%

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Kansas

65%

Sterling College (Kansas)

Kansas

47%

Alice Lloyd College

Kentucky 

36%

Asbury University

Kentucky 

77%

Lindsey Wilson College

Kentucky 

N/A

Thomas More University

Kentucky 

96%

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine

Maine

81%

Unity College

Maine

91%

Capitol Technology University

Maryland 

N/A

Hood College

Maryland 

77%

Stevenson University

Maryland 

91%

Washington Adventist University

Maryland 

62%

Lasell University

Massachusetts

85%

Merrimack College

Massachusetts

80%

Nichols College

Massachusetts

85%

Adrian College

Michigan 

76%

Alma College

Michigan 

69%

Calvin University

Michigan 

75%

Ferris State University

Michigan 

85%

Finlandia University

Michigan 

78%

Kettering University

Michigan 

86%

Madonna University

Michigan 

52%

Olivet College

Michigan 

89%

Siena Heights University

Michigan 

68%

Augsburg University

Minnesota 

76%

Hamline University

Minnesota 

76%

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

Minnesota 

98%

Alcorn State University

Mississippi 

39%

Mississippi University for Women

Mississippi 

99%

Mississippi Valley State University

Mississippi 

79%

Avila University

Missouri 

68%

Culver-Stockton College

Missouri 

93%

Drury University

Missouri 

65%

Fontbonne University

Missouri 

78%

Northwest Missouri State University

Missouri 

86%

Rockhurst University

Missouri 

67%

Stephens College

Missouri 

64%

Truman State University

Missouri 

61%

William Jewell College

Missouri 

47%

Carroll College

Montana

84%

Chadron State College

Nebraska 

N/A

Concordia University—Nebraska

Nebraska 

72%

Hastings College

Nebraska 

71%

Midland University

Nebraska 

N/A

Union College (Nebraska)

Nebraska 

98%

Nebraska Wesleyan University

Nebraska 

82%

Wayne State College

Nebraska 

N/A

Colby-Sawyer College

New Hampshire

93%

New England College

New Hampshire

100%

Granite State College

New Hampshire

N/A

College of Saint Elizabeth

New Jersey 

74%

Saint Peter’s University

New Jersey 

93%

Eastern New Mexico University

New Mexico 

33%

Canisius College

New York

81%

Cazenovia College

New York

68%

College of Mount Saint Vincent

New York

82%

College of Saint Rose

New York

76%

Keuka College

New York

94%

Le Moyne College

New York

73%

Mount Saint Mary College

New York

91%

Medaille College

New York

70%

Mercy College

New York

86%

Nazareth College

New York

86%

Niagara University

New York

92%

Roberts Wesleyan College

New York

87%

St. Bonaventure University

New York

78%

United States Merchant Marine Academy

New York

25%

Sierra Nevada College

Nevada 

67%

Barton College

North Carolina 

99%

Belmont Abbey College

North Carolina 

99%

Catawba College

North Carolina 

56%

Queens University of Charlotte

North Carolina 

69%

University of Mount Olive

North Carolina 

83%

University of Jamestown

North Dakota

76%

Oklahoma Baptist University

Oklahoma 

56%

Ashland University

Ohio

70%

Baldwin Wallace University

Ohio

79%

Defiance College

Ohio

62%

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Ohio

68%

Hiram College

Ohio

93%

John Carroll University

Ohio

88%

Lake Erie College

Ohio

55%

Notre Dame College

Ohio

82%

Ohio Northern University

Ohio

69%

Shawnee State University

Ohio

N/A

University of Mount Union

Ohio

80%

Ursuline College

Ohio

82%

Wilmington College

Ohio

87%

Xavier University

Ohio

84%

Northwest Christian University

Oregon 

N/A

Pacific University

Oregon 

91%

Arcadia University

Pennsylvania 

82%

Carlow University

Pennsylvania 

92%

Cedar Crest College

Pennsylvania 

69%

Central Pennsylvania College

Pennsylvania 

N/A

Delaware Valley University

Pennsylvania 

93%

Gwynedd Mercy University

Pennsylvania 

91%

Immaculata University

Pennsylvania 

80%

King’s College —Wilkes-Barre

Pennsylvania 

96%

La Roche College

Pennsylvania 

98%

La Salle University

Pennsylvania 

81%

Lebanon Valley College

Pennsylvania 

78%

Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)

Pennsylvania 

80%

Neumann University

Pennsylvania 

84%

Point Park University

Pennsylvania 

82%

Rosemont College

Pennsylvania 

80%

Saint Francis University

Pennsylvania 

N/A

University of Scranton

Pennsylvania 

80%

Wilson College

Pennsylvania 

93%

Coker College

South Carolina 

98%

Columbia College (South Carolina)

South Carolina 

99%

Converse College

South Carolina 

82%

Limestone University

South Carolina 

88%

Augustana University

South Dakota

72%

University of Sioux Falls

South Dakota

77%

Freed-Hardeman University

Tennessee

88%

Martin Methodist College

Tennessee

92%

Maryville College

Tennessee

68%

Tusculum University

Tennessee

77%

Hardin-Simmons University

Texas

95%

Houston Baptist University

Texas

85%

Howard Payne University

Texas

59%

LeTourneau University

Texas

54%

Southwestern Adventist University

Texas

58%

Saint Edward’s University

Texas

92%

St. Mary’s University, Texas

Texas

88%

Trinity University

Texas

34%

University of Houston-Victoria

Texas

53%

University of St. Thomas (Texas)

Texas

98%

Champlain College

Vermont 

62%

Averett University

Virginia 

48%

University of Lynchburg

Virginia 

97%

Bridgewater College

Virginia 

75%

Pacific Lutheran University

Washington

88%

Saint Martin’s University

Washington

72%

Whitworth University

Washington

91%

Bethany College (West Virginia)

West Virginia 

74%

Bluefield State University

West Virginia 

N/A

Concord University

West Virginia 

96%

Davis & Elkins College

West Virginia 

78%

West Liberty University

West Virginia 

74%

West Virginia University—Parkersburg

West Virginia 

N/A

West Virginia Wesleyan College

West Virginia 

84%

Wheeling University

West Virginia 

78%

Alverno College

Wisconsin 

91%

Carroll University

Wisconsin 

70%

Lakeland University 

Wisconsin 

80%

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Wisconsin 

67%

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Wisconsin 

98%

Alderson Broaddus University

Wisconsin 

67%

 

What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at These Colleges?

 

Your chances at a college may be higher or lower than the acceptance rate depending on the strength of your profile. CollegeVine can help add clarity to your own unique odds of college admission. Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of metrics—like GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurricular activities—to estimate your chances of getting into hundreds of colleges across the country. It also sheds light on the strengths and weaknesses of your profile, providing valuable insight on areas where you can improve.


Short Bio
A graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in English, Tim Peck currently lives in Concord, New Hampshire, where he balances a freelance writing career with the needs of his two Australian Shepherds to play outside.