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2024 Best Colleges with No Application Fee in America

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About This List

The 2024 Best Colleges with No Application Fee ranking filters the <a href="https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/">2024 Best Colleges</a> ranking to only include colleges with free applications. Note that additional colleges waive application fees for low-income, minority, veteran, and other student types so be sure to check each school's website. This year's rankings have introduced an Economic Mobility Index, which measures the economic status change for low-income students. ACT/SAT scores have been removed from rankings to reflect a general de-emphasis on test scores in the college admissions process. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

Where Niche Grades come from and how Niche calculates rankings.

    Colleges With No Application Fee

    Paying for college is hard enough. You don’t want to pay to apply to schools. The easiest way to keep your application costs down? Apply to one of these colleges with no application fee, and save your money for tuition.

    What Is an Application Fee?

    Most colleges require applicants to pay a fee for consideration for admission. Application fees typically average around $50, but they can range anywhere from $20 - $90, depending on the college.

    Students generally apply to more than one college, and these fees quickly add up.

    Why Do Many Colleges Charge Application Fees?

    Colleges use fees to cover the cost of the admissions process. Colleges need to pay the individuals that take the time to read your applications, discuss prospective students, and perform any necessary follow-up.

    Many schools receive thousands of applications each year, which demand extensive—and expensive—work on their part. Instead of using the schools’ operating budgets, they pass the cost on to the applicants.

    Schools also want to eliminate students that aren’t interested in their programs. Some worry that free college applications will encourage people to apply to schools indiscriminately, creating extra work that wastes the time of the admissions department.

    Benefits of Applying to Colleges With No Application Fees

    Colleges that are free to apply to are often just as respected and selective as schools with application fees, although their tuition can be equally expensive. Therefore, it is always important to carefully research the schools you are interested in attending.

    Application fees aren’t the only costs associated with the admissions process. You’ll likely have to pay for standardized tests and additional score reports. Many students also invest in test preparation, and some try to visit their top choices.

    There’s no downside to free college applications, and it can help you make the most of your overall budget.

    Other Ways to Keep College Application Costs Down

    Interested in a school but scared off by the application fee? Try one of these strategies:

    1. Apply for fee waivers

    If you come from a low-income family, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. You can request these through the ACT and SAT boards or the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). The websites for these organizations allow you to search the colleges that interest you and see whether they accept this waiver.

    Some schools have processes and criteria for discounting fees, so check each school’s website. In addition to low-income applicants, they may accept requests from minority or veteran students.

    2. Apply early decision

    Know exactly where you want to go? Consider one of the . You will not only benefit from a smaller applicant pool, but you also won’t have to apply elsewhere if you get in.

    3. Be smart and selective

    While in the middle of the college admissions process, it can often feel as though the schools have all the power. They don’t. You decide which schools get your money and consideration.

    Limit the number of applications you submit. The  varies between people, but be selective with your list.

    Budgeting for college applications isn’t fun, but it is necessary. At Niche, we believe in helping you make the most of your college dollars.  The top-notch colleges on this list with no application fee can make the process easier.