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. 

Overview of College 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. 

College Application Fee Waivers 

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:

• 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, a foster home, or are homeless
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan

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. 

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 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?

Colleges with No Application Fees 

National Universities with No Application Fees

Liberal Arts Colleges with No Application Fees

Regional Universities with No Application Fees

Before you begin the college application process, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing calculator and to take the guesswork out of college admissions. Our data-driven calculator will help you better understand your odds of getting accepted at over 500 colleges and universities. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account to gain access today!