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 apply

Here’s where you can find each of these free college applications or fee waivers.

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 program
• Income eligibility for the SNAP program
• Receive public assistance or another low-income program from the local, state, or federal government
• Eligible orphans or wards of the state
• Homelessness

If you’re eligible for the SAT or ACT fee waiver, you’ll also be eligible for the following college application fee waivers:

You 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”. 

• Alabama: October 7 – 11, 2024
• Colorado: October 15 – 17, 2024
• Delaware: October and November, dates vary by High School
• Idaho: October, dates vary by high school
• Indiana: September 23 – 27, 2024
• Minnesota: June 24 – 28, 2024
• Montana: September 30 – October 11, 2024
• New York: October 16 – 29, 2024
• North Carolina: October 21 – 27, 2024
• Oklahoma: September 23 – 27, 2024
• South Dakota: October 1 – November 30, 2024
• Virginia: October 21 – 25, 2024
• West Virginia: October 28 – November 1, 2024

Colleges 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:

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.