Colleges with No Essay or Application Fee?

Hey guys, does anyone know of any good colleges that don't require an essay or have an application fee? Just trying to keep my options open and save some cash at the same time.

Sure, there are indeed colleges that either waive the application fee or don't require an essay. Some colleges even do both. Keep in mind, however, that more selective colleges typically require essays and application fees. That said, there are still many solid options worth exploring.

Colleges with no application fee:

1. St. Olaf College (Minnesota)

2. Case Western Reserve University (Ohio)

3. United States Military, Naval, Air Force, and Coast Guard Academies

4. Marquette University (Wisconsin)

5. Reed College (Oregon)

Colleges with no essay requirement:

1. California State University system (keep in mind that they still ask for personal insight questions)

2. University of Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Southeast)

3. St. John's College (New Mexico)

Colleges with both no application fee and no essay requirement:

1. Evergreen State College (Washington)

Also, most colleges offer application fee waivers for low-income students or those who demonstrate financial need. You can usually request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application or Coalition Application. Your high school counselor may also be able to help you with this.

In terms of saving money, remember that applying to more colleges typically means spending more on additional score reports, so consider sending your scores only to your top choices.

Even if a college doesn't require an essay, take advantage of any optional essay or "additional information" section to showcase your abilities and provide more context about your background. This can help you give a stronger impression and possibly boost your chances of admission.

Best of luck in your college search and application process!