Complete List of Colleges With No Application Fee
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—just the expense of applying to college 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 to discover colleges with no application fees.   According to U.S. News, the average college application fee is $44. Sixty-one schools have application fees exceeding $75, including many top schools such as Stanford ($90), Columbia University ($85), Cornell University ($80), Dartmouth ($80), and Harvard ($75).  A 2015 report from the Higher Education Research Institute found 80% of students applied to at least 3 colleges, and that 35% of high school seniors applied to 7 schools or more—using the average application cost, that adds up to $132-$308 in just application fees. Furthermore, the report shows that the number of colleges students apply to has doubled in the past decade, and nearly tripled over the course of the past 15 years. If the 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 4 free score reports—however, whether or not you should take advantage of this merits some thought (check out our blog Should You Send SAT Scores Straight to Colleges on Test Day? to learn more). Even if you take advantage of the 4 free reports, with 35% of students applying to more than 7 schools, they’ll still end up paying $12 for each additional score report they need. Similarly, the ACT includes 4 free score reports as well, but they charge $13 for each additional report requested.   Colleges are aware of the financial hardships facing some students and offer waivers to students in financial need. College application fee waivers, in general, follow the same requirements needed to qualify for a fee waiver from the SAT or ACT:   If your dream school has an application fee, even an expensive application fee such as Stanford, don’t let that deter you from applying, if you can afford it (if you can’t you likely qualify for fee waivers). You’ll likely regret not applying if you don’t, and in 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 prepare you for the future you dream about.   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 best-fit colleges. Here are some main 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 post: What is a liberal arts college, and how are they different? Basically, LACs are smaller colleges (<3,000 students) with no graduate degrees. The professors focus on teaching (not research), and students are taught a broad range of disciplines beyond their major.  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? Is there generous financial aid or merit scholarships? Does the school meet 100% demonstrated need, and is it need-blind or no-loan?  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?   Â
   Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
Overview of College Application FeesÂ
College Application Fee WaiversÂ
How to Determine if a College is a Good Fit
Colleges with No Application FeesÂ
National Universities with No Application Fees
College
Location
Acceptance Rate
Aurora University
Aurora, IL
87%
Baker University
Baldwin City, KS
88%
Baylor University
Waco, TX
52%
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN
71%
Brandman University
Irvine, CA
79%
Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI
71%
Chatham University
Pittsburgh, PA
55%
Clarkson University
Potsdam, NY
71%
College of Saint Scholastica
Duluth, MN
66%
Creighton University
Omaha, NE
71%
D’Youville College
Buffalo, NY
100%
Daemen College
Amherst, NY
54%
Drake University
Des Moines, IA
68%
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
72%
Florida Institute of Technology
Melbourne, FL
65%
Gannon University
Erie, PA
81%
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
58%
Jackson State University
Jackson, MS
69%
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
76%
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
56%
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
68%
Loyola University New Orleans
New Orleans, LA
75%
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI
82%
Maryville University of Saint Louis
St Louis, MO
95%
Metropolitan State University
Saint Paul, MN
56%
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MI
74%
Mount Mary University
Milwaukee, WI
62%
Northland College
Ashland, WI
51%
Oakland University
Rochester, MI
84%
Regis University
Denver, CO
60%
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA
85%
Saint John’s University
Queens, NY
73%
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO
58%
St. Catherine University
Saint Paul, MN
70%
Simmons College
Boston, MA
70%
Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, TX
36%
The Sage Colleges
Troy, NY
93%
Touro College
New York, NY
87%
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
17%
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH
72%
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
83%
University of Findlay
Findlay, OH
73%
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT
75%
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
81%
University of Saint Thomas
Saint Paul, MN
82%
University of Texas—El Paso
El Paso, TX
100%
University of Texas—Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
81%
University of the Pacific
Stockton, CA
63%
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
89%
William Woods University
Fulton, MO
64%
Liberal Arts Colleges with No Application Fees
College
Location
Acceptance Rate
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, GA
70%
Albion College
Albion, MI
68%
Albright College
Reading, PA
62%
Allegheny College
Meadville, PA
64%
Aquinas College
Grand Rapids, MI
69%
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL
72%
Austin College
Sherman, TX
55%
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL
83%
Beloit College
Beloit, WI
56%
Berea College
Berea, KY
38%
Bethany Lutheran College
Mankato, MN
78%
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
34%
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
20%
Centenary College
Shreveport, LA
60%
Central College
Pella, IA
70%
Centre College
Danville, KY
73%
Coe College
Cedar Rapids, IA
67%
Colby College
Waterville, ME
13%
Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
25%
College of Idaho
Caldwell, ID
49%
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University
Saint Joseph, MN
83%
College of Wooster
Wooster, OH
54%
Concordia College—Moorhead
Moorhead, MN
61%
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA
61%
Denison University
Granville, OH
34%
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN
63%
Doane College—Crete
Crete, NE
68%
Earlham College
Richmond, IN
65%
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA
76%
Emmanuel College
Boston, MA
77%
Emory and Henry College
Emory, VA
69%
Franklin College
Franklin, IN
75%
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
24%
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC
64%
Gustavus Adolphus College
Saint Peter, MN
66%
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA
59%
Hanover College
Hanover, IN
79%
Hartwick College
Oneonta, NY
80%
Hendrix College
Conway, AR
72%
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, MI
36%
Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY
57%
Hollins University
Roanoke, VA
64%
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL
76%
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL
59%
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
70%
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, MI
73%
Kenyon College
Gambier, OH
36%
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL
58%
Lane College
Jackson, TN
–
Lawrence University
Appleton, WI
62%
Lewis & Clark College
Portland, OR
74%
Linfield College-McMinnville Campus
McMinnville, OR
81%
Luther College
Decorah, IA
63%
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PA
66%
Marywood University
Scranton, PA
75%
Mercyhurst University
Erie, PA
87%
Millsaps College
Jackson, MS
59%
Monmouth College
Monmouth, IL
69%
Moravian College
Bethlehem, PA
73%
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
51%
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH
36%
Oglethorpe University
Atlanta, GA
62%
Ohio Wesleyan University
Delaware, OH
69%
Presbyterian College
Clinton, SC
69%
Randolph College
Lynchburg, VA
87%
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA
67%
Reed College
Portland, OR
36%
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN
51%
Rhodes College
Memphis, TN
45%
Roanoke College
Salem, VA
72%
Rust College
Holly Springs, MS
53%
Saint John’s College
Annapolis, MD
58%
Saint John’s College
Santa Fe, NM
67%
Saint John’s University
Collegeville, MN
80%
Saint Mary’s College
Notre Dame, IN
82%
Salem College
Winston-Salem, NC
41%
Sewanee—The University of the South
Sewanee, TN
65%
Simpson College
Indianola, IA
84%
Smith College
Northampton, MA
31%
Southwestern University
Georgetown, TX
45%
Spring Hill College
Mobile, AL
66%
St. Norbert College
De Pere, WI
78%
Susquehanna University
Selinsgrove, PA
72%
Sweet Briar College
Sweet Briar, VA
76%
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, CA
78%
Transylvania University
Lexington, KY
89%
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY
10%
University of Pikeville
Pikeville, KY
100%
Ursinus College
Collegeville, PA
71%
US Air Force Academy
USAF Academy, CO
11%
US Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
9%
Warren Wilson College
Asheville, NC
83%
Wartburg College
Waverly, IA
76%
Washington and Jefferson College
Washington, PA
48%
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
20%
Wesleyan College
Macon, GA
47%
Westminster College
Fulton, MO
94%
Westminster College
New Wilmington, PA
66%
Williams Baptist College
Walnut Ridge, AR
56%
Wittenberg University
Springfield, OH
90%
Regional Universities with No Application Fees
College
Location
Acceptance Rate
Adrian College
Adrian, MI
65%
Alaska Pacific University
Anchorage, AK
86%
Alcorn State University
Lorman, MS
89%
Alderson Broaddus University
Philippi, WV
43%
Alice Lloyd College
Pippa Passes, KY
8%
Alma College
Alma, MI
64%
Alverno College
Milwaukee, WI
67%
Ancilla College
Ancilla College
100%
Anderson University
Anderson, IN
65%
Arcadia University
Glenside, PA
64%
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville, AR
90%
Asbury University
Wilmore, KY
67%
Ashland University
Ashland, OH
68%
Auburn University—Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
93%
Augsburg College
Minneapolis, MN
41%
Augustana College
Sioux Falls, SD
65%
Averett University
Danville, VA
61%
Avila University
Kansas City, MO
39%
Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, OH
74%
Barton College
Wilson, NC
40%
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA
60%
Becker College
Worcester, MA
69%
Belmont Abbey College
Belmont, NC
80%
Berry College
Mount Berry, GA
68%
Bethany College
Lindsborg, KS
70%
Bethany College
Bethany, WV
91%
Bluefield State College
Bluefield, WV
76%
Bradley University
Peoria, IL
67%
Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, VA
66%
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, IA
58%
Butler University
Indianapolis, IN
68%
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Whiting, IN
20%
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, MI
79%
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY
79%
Capitol Technology University
Laurel, MD
75%
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA
87%
Carroll College
Helena, MT
78%
Carroll University
Waukesha, WI
69%
Catawba College
Salisbury, NC
52%
Cazenovia College
Cazenovia, NY
72%
Cedar Crest College
Allentown, PA
57%
Central Pennsylvania College
Summerdale, PA
72%
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE
100%
Champlain College
Burlington, VT
75%
Coker College
Hartsville, SC
63%
Colby-Sawyer College
New London, NH
90%
College of Mount Saint Vincent
Bronx, NY
78%
College of Saint Elizabeth
Morristown, NJ
64%
College of Saint Rose
Albany, NY
87%
College of Southern Idaho
Twin Falls, ID
100%
College of the Ozarks
Clarksville, AR
90%
Colorado Mountain College
Glenwood Springs, CO
100%
Columbia College
Columbia, SC
96%
Concord University
Athens, WV
89%
Concordia University—Nebraska
Seward, NE
68%
Converse College
Spartanburg, SC
59%
Culver-Stockton College
Canton, MO
46%
Davis and Elkins College
Elkins, WV
42%
Deep Springs College
Big Pine, California
8%
Defiance College
Defiance, OH
52%
Delaware Valley College
Doylestown, PA
66%
Dominican University of California
San Rafael, CA
87%
Drury University
Springfield, MO
68%
Eastern Nazarene College
Quincy, MA
64%
Eastern New Mexico University
Portales, NM
60%
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, IL
67%
Eureka College
Eureka, IL
57%
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
81%
Finlandia University
Hancock, MI
36%
Fisher College
Boston, MA
70%
Florida Gateway College
Lake City, FL
100%
Fontbonne University
Saint Louis, MO
81%
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH
77%
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, TN
93%
Grace College and Seminary
Winona Lake, IN
82%
Graceland University
Lamoni, IA
58%
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA
92%
Granite State College
Concord, NH
100%
Greenville College
Greenville, IL
48%
Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA
92%
Hamline University
SaintPaul, MN
67%
Hardin-Simmons University
Abilene, TX
84%
Hastings College
Hastings, NE
64%
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR
91%
Hiram College
Hiram, OH
58%
Holy Cross College
Notre Dame, IN
88%
Holy Names University
Oakland, CA
70%
Hood College
Frederick, MD
71%
Houston Baptist University
Houston, TX
70%
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, TX
58%
Huntingdon College
Montgomery, AL
58%
Immaculata University
Immaculata, PA
81%
Indian River State College
Fort Pierce, FL
100%
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, IN
68%
Iowa Wesleyan College
Mount Pleasant, IA
60%
John Carroll University
University Heights, OH
83%
Johnson & Wales University—Denver
Denver, CO
84%
Johnson & Wales University—North Miami
North Miami, FL
78%
Kettering University
Flint, MI
70%
Keuka College
Keuka Park, NY
86%
King’s College
Wilkes-Barre, PA
78%
La Roche College
Pittsburgh, PA
99%
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
81%
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA
49%
Lake Erie College
Painesville, OH
60%
Lakeland College
Plymouth, WI
52%
Lasell College
Newton, MA
80%
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY
69%
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, PA
78%
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX
46%
Limestone College
Gaffney, SC
14%
Lincoln University
Lincoln University, PA
81%
Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, KY
95%
Loras College
Dubuque, IA
93%
Lynchburg College
Lynchburg, VA
97%
Madonna University
Livonia, MI
78%
Manchester University
Manchester, IN
59%
Martin Methodist College
Pulaski, TN
–
Maryville College
Maryville, TN
55%
McKendree University
Lebanon, IL
67%
Medaille College
Buffalo, NY
75%
Mercy College
Dobbs Ferry, NY
79%
Merrimack College
North Andover, MA
83%
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, KS
59%
Midland University
Fremont, NE
64%
Miles College
Birmingham, AL
26%
Millikin University
Decatur, IL
61%
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee, WI
63%
Mississippi University for Women
Columbus, MS
98%
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS
86%
Mitchell College
New London, CT
78%
Morningside College
Sioux City, IA
56%
Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, IA
63%
Mount Saint Mary College
Newburgh, NY
94%
Nazareth College
Rochester, NY
64%
Nebraska Wesleyan University
Lincoln, NE
72%
Neumann University
Aston, PA
69%
New England College
Henniker, NH
100%
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY
87%
Nichols College
Dudley, MA
82%
Northwest Christian University
Eugene, OR
62%
Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO
79%
Northwestern College
Orange City, IA
71%
Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH
89%
Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA
82%
Ohio Northern University
Ada, OH
68%
Oklahoma Baptist University
Shawnee, OK
64%
Olivet College
Olivet, MI
71%
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA
80%
Pacific Union College
Angwin, CA
49%
Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR
63%
Piedmont College
Demorest, GA
60%
Point Park University
Pittsburgh, PA
65%
Polk State College
Winter Haven, FL
100%
Queens University of Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
79%
Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester, NY
65%
Rockford University
Rockford, IL
49%
Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO
66%
Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA
65%
Saint Augustine College
Chicago, IL
100%
Saint Edward’s University
Austin, TX
86%
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA
75%
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, FL
84%
Saint Martin’s University
Lacey, WA
95%
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Winona, MN
92%
Saint Peter’s University
Jersey City, NJ
74%
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA
63%
Saint Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY
73%
Saint Joseph’s College
Standish, ME
80%
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
100%
Savannah State University
Savannah, GA
57%
Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, OH
74%
Siena Heights University
Adrian, MI
69%
Sierra Nevada College
Incline Village, NV
69%
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia, AR
65%
Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, TX
55%
St. Mary’s University
San Antonio, TX
75%
Stephens College
Columbia, MO
53%
Sterling College
Sterling, KS
52%
Stevenson University
Stevenson, MD
73%
Thomas More College
Crestview Hills, KY
90%
Trine University
Angola, IN
73%
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX
34%
Truman State University
Kirksville, MO
65%
Tusculum College
Greeneville, TN
89%
Union College
Lincoln, NE
62%
Unity College
Unity, ME
94%
University of Arkansas—Pine Bluff
Pine Bluff, AR
44%
University of Evansville
Evansville, IN
69%
University of Houston-Victoria
Victoria, TX
49%
University of Jamestown
Jamestown, ND
62%
University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, NC
49%
University of Mount Union
Alliance, OH
96%
University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, C
72%
University of Saint Francis
Fort Wayne, IN
93%
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
73%
University of Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, SD
91%
University of St. Thomas
Houston, TX
82%
Upper Iowa University
Fayette, IA
81%
Ursuline College
Pepper Pike, OH
90%
US Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
13%
US Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
15%
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD
52%
Wayne State College
Wayne, NE
100%
Wesley College
Dover, DE
62%
West Liberty University
West Liberty, WV
69%
West Virginia University—Parkersburg
Parkersburg, WV
–
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Buckhannon, WV
70%
Wheeling Jesuit University
Wheeling, WV
91%
Whitworth University
Spokane, WA
91%
William Jewell College
Liberty, MO
46%
Wilmington College
Wilmington, OH
85%
Wilson College
Chambersburg, PA
92%
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Milwaukee, WI
80%
Xavier University
Cincinnati, OH
74%