Do All Colleges Have Application Fees?

Hey fellow applicants! Just curious, do all colleges have application fees? It seems like almost every college I'm interested in applying to has one. Are there any colleges out there without fees, or is it pretty standard across the board?

Hi there! While many colleges do charge application fees, not all of them require it. There are definitely schools that have no application fees or that waive fees under certain circumstances. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:

1. Some colleges have no application fees at all. This is often the case with smaller or less well-known schools, which might waive the fee to encourage more applicants. However, even a few well-known institutions offer a no-fee application.

2. Fee waivers are available for eligible students. If you're facing financial hardship, you could qualify for a fee waiver, which essentially waves the application fees for a certain number of colleges. To obtain a fee waiver, you'll have to work with your guidance counselor and meet eligibility criteria, such as being eligible for the Free and Reduced Lunch program or participating in a government assistance program. The College Board, Common App, and Coalition App all offer fee waiver options.

3. Some colleges will waive their application fees based on specific conditions such as visiting their campus, attending a virtual information session, or if you're a first-generation college applicant. Make sure to research each college's policy, as the conditions can vary.

4. Applying to colleges using certain application portals may save you some money. For example, using the Coalition App could lead you to colleges without application fees, as one of the Coalition's aims is to make college more affordable. Still, you'll need to do some research and verify whether each college on your list has no fees or offers waivers through the Coalition App.

I recommend creating a list of schools you're interested in and then researching their application fee policies. You might find a few with no fees or that offer waivers based on your qualifications. Good luck with your applications!