Free College Applications: Colleges With No Fees Or Fee Waivers

Most colleges charge an application fee of around $50 per school, and some charge $80 or more. UConn’s fee is $80, for example. That adds up fast when your college list has six or eight schools on it.

Plenty of college applications cost nothing if you know where to look. Free college applications come in three forms, and you can stack them as you work through your college application checklist.

• Fee waivers: The college drops the fee because you meet a requirement, such as qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
• Free application weeks: Many states waive fees at public colleges for a set week or month, usually in the fall.
• Colleges with no application fee: 302 colleges on our list never charge U.S. first-year applicants a fee.

Below you’ll find how to get a fee waiver, every 2026 free application week we could confirm and our state-by-state list of no-fee colleges. Pair it with the 2027-28 FAFSA, which opened September 23, 2026.

How To Get A College Application Fee Waiver

The fastest route to a college application fee waiver starts with the SAT or ACT. Students who qualify for an SAT fee waiver or an ACT fee waiver usually meet the requirements for college application fee waivers too. These waivers are aimed at low-income families, the same group the Pell Grant serves.

The SAT route is the most automatic. According to the College Board, students who test with an SAT fee waiver get college application fee waivers in their College Board account, good at more than 2,000 colleges. Plan your test date early with our list of the best SAT test prep options.

You typically qualify if any of these apply to you:

• You’re enrolled in or eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program
• Your family’s income qualifies for SNAP
• Your family receives public assistance or benefits from another low-income program
• You’re an orphan or a ward of the state
• You’re experiencing homelessness

Common App And Coalition App Fee Waivers

If you qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver, you can also request the Common App fee waiver and the Coalition App fee waiver. Each one covers applications to its member colleges, including early action and early decision applications.

You request the Common App waiver in the Profile section of your application. Your counselor confirms that you qualify, but you can submit without paying while that happens. More than 550,000 applicants (PDF File) used one in 2025-26, so it’s worth adding to your college application checklist.

Ask The College Directly

Many colleges will waive the fee if you ask, even when you don’t meet the formal criteria. Email the admissions office, explain your situation in a few sentences and ask for a waiver code. If you’re a first-generation college student, ask your school counselor to send the request with you.

State Fee Waiver Programs

Some states run their own fee waiver programs for public colleges. They follow similar income rules, but each one has its own form, and our student loans and financial aid by state pages cover each state’s other programs.

• California: The University of California and the California State University both waive application fees for eligible low-income students, for up to four campuses each. CSU reviews every Cal State Apply application for the waiver automatically.
• Minnesota: The University of Minnesota, Minnesota State and Minnesota Private College Council schools waive fees year-round for low-income students, according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
• Idaho and Montana: Both states offer a free application all year. Apply Idaho is free for Idaho seniors, and Apply Montana is free for Montana residents.

States With Free College Application Weeks (Or Days)

The table below covers 25 states and D.C. with free college application programs in 2026. Most windows ran in October, but Georgia’s runs all of November. Idaho, Montana and Utah keep their public college applications free all year. Some free weeks end after early action deadlines, so check both dates before you apply.

These programs usually cover public colleges, and many are limited to state residents or high school seniors. Read the “Who It Covers” column before you apply, since missing the window means paying the full fee. Free weeks fit best early in the college admissions process, once your college list is set.

We update this table as states post their 2027 dates. If your state isn’t listed, check its higher education agency on our state financial aid pages, then ask each college about a waiver.

Direct Admission Programs For The Class Of 2027

Direct admission programs offer students a spot based on their grades, before they apply. Six states run them for the Class of 2027, and five charge no application fee. Hawaiʻi added its flagship campus to Direct2UH in October 2026, so a 3.20 GPA now qualifies a public high school senior for all 10 UH campuses.

California’s program is the exception on cost. Under the CSU direct admission law, 17 CSU campuses guarantee spots to eligible seniors, but students still submit a Cal State Apply application. The CSU says the $70 fee still applies, though eligible students can apply to up to four campuses free.

A direct admission offer still has a deadline to accept, and you still need to file the FAFSA. That’s how you get a financial aid award to compare against your other offers.

Colleges With No Application Fee (By State)

302 colleges on our list charge no application fee to U.S. first-year applicants applying for fall 2027. We checked each school against the Common App’s 2026-27 fee list (PDF File) and the college’s own admissions pages. A free application doesn’t mean free tuition, so compare these schools with our list of tuition-free colleges too.

Some schools on the list still charge international applicants, usually $15 to $75. Before you apply, run each school’s net price calculator so a free application doesn’t lead you to a college you can’t afford.

Colleges That Waive The Fee Only At Certain Times

Some colleges charge a fee most of the year but drop it during set windows or for certain application plans. Apply inside the window and these schools cost nothing. If you’re applying in Georgia, our Georgia student loans and financial aid page covers the state’s grants and scholarships too.

• Brenau University (Georgia): $25 fee, waived automatically in March.
• Piedmont University (Georgia): $25 fee, waived March 1 – 31.
• Oglethorpe University (Georgia): $50 fee, waived for Early Action I and II applicants.
• Metropolitan State University (Minnesota): free only during Minnesota State Week in June.
• Southern Connecticut State University: $50 fee, waived for Connecticut seniors October 15 – November 15, 2026.
• Ohio State regional campuses: $60 fee, waived October 1 – December 1, 2026 with code RCW2027.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (New York): $70 fee, waived for applications submitted by December 1.
• Ripon College (Wisconsin): $30 fee, waived if you apply by January 15.
• Oral Roberts University (Oklahoma): $35 fee, waived when you apply online.
• Maryland private colleges: 13 schools, including Johns Hopkins and Loyola Maryland, waive fees on Private College Application Day, November 9, 2026.
• University of Delaware: free for Delaware seniors August 1 – December 31, 2026 who select Launch Into Your Future Month on the Common App.

Don’t See Your State Or College?

We update this list every fall. If you know of a free application week or a college with no application fee, let us know and we’ll add it once we verify it. You can also check your state’s higher education agency on our student loans and financial aid by state pages.

If your college isn’t here, email its admissions office and ask for a fee waiver before you pay. Skipping a $50 fee at six schools saves $300, which you can put toward the cost of college instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Is Free College Application Week In 2026?

There’s no single national week. Each state sets its own dates, and most 2026 weeks ran from late September through October, including Texas (October 12 – 18) and North Carolina (October 19 – 25). Georgia’s runs November 1 – 30, and our Georgia financial aid page covers the state’s other programs.

Is There A Week Where College Applications Are Free?

Yes, in many states. Public colleges in Texas, Kansas, Colorado and New York waive fees for a set window each fall, and Georgia waives fees at more than 60 colleges during November. Check the Texas student loans and financial aid page if you’re applying through ApplyTexas.

Does The Common App Have Fee Waivers?

Yes. Students who qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver, or who meet the Common App’s low-income criteria, can request a fee waiver in the application. It works at every Common App member college, and it pairs well with a Pell Grant if you qualify for one.

Can Out-Of-State Students Use Free Application Weeks?

Sometimes. SUNY’s Free App Weeks are open to any applicant, and South Dakota’s free period covers students from surrounding states. Texas, Kansas and Colorado limit theirs to residents, so out-of-state students should weigh the cost of an out-of-state school anyway.

Are Colleges With No Application Fee Less Selective?

Not necessarily. Carleton, Grinnell, Smith and Wellesley all charge no application fee, and each one admits a small share of applicants. Look at each school’s admissions process on its own merits.

Robert Farrington

Robert Farrington is the founder of The College Investor and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading voices on student loan debt and saving for college. He holds an MBA from UC San Diego Rady School of Management and has spent over 15 years researching, writing, and advising on student loans, 529 plans, financial aid programs, and saving and investing for young professionals.

Robert has been featured in the The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, NBC News, and Forbes, where he has been a regular personal finance contributor for over a decade. His work combines both professional expertise and personal experience – he successfully navigated his own student loan repayment journey and has helped thousands of readers do the same.

He is committed to making the intersection of personal finance and education transparent and accessible. You can learn more about Robert on the About Page or on his personal site RobertFarrington.com.