The costs associated with college start even before you go with standardized test fees, college visits and application fees. College application fees vary by school. The average range students can expect to pay in application fees is around $20-$85 per application. Depending on which colleges you are applying to (and you should be applying to at least 7-10 schools), these costs can add up quickly.
Fortunately, there are hundreds of 4-year colleges and universities that don’t require prospective undergraduate students to pay an application fee at all. Even better? Some of these colleges with $0 application fee are even in the top 100 colleges in the U.S!
This list of colleges with no application fee can help make your journey to college more cost-effective.
1. United States Naval Academy, #30 overall rank
- College type: Public, 4-year or above
- Location: 121 Blake Road Annapolis, MD 21402
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 9.3%
- Sticker price: $0
2. Wellesley College, #31 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: 106 Central St Wellesley, MA 02481
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- Sticker price: $83,071
3. Colby College, #45 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive Waterville, ME 04901
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Sticker price: $82,270
4. Carleton College, #51 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: One North College Street Northfield, MN 55057
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 22.5%
- Sticker price: $74,350
5. Grinnell College, #63 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: 1121 Park Street Grinnell, IA 50112
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 13%
- Sticker price: $78,939
6. United States Air Force Academy, #65 overall rank
- College type: Public, 4-year or above
- Location: 2304 Cadet Drive, Suite 3800 USAF Academy, CO 80840
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 14%
- Sticker price: $0
7. Smith College, #62 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: Elm St Northampton, MA 1063
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 20%
- Sticker price: $80,862
8. Tulane University of Louisiana, #64 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: 6823 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 15%
- Sticker price: $84,289
9. Bryn Mawr, #88 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: 101 N Merion Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 31%
- Sticker price: $78,840
10. Trinity University, #98 overall rank
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Location: One Trinity Place San Antonio, TX 78212
- Highest degree offered: Master’s degree
- Acceptance rate: 28.1%
- Sticker price: $63,986
Don’t see your school above? Use this table to sort and search for the schools on your list to see if they have no application fee. There are over 700 no application fee colleges on this list!
Why would a school have no application fee?
There are a few reasons that schools have no application fee. Any of the following could apply:
- The university wants to increase its number of applicants overall.
- They could want to show they are inclusive regardless of financial circumstance in receiving a more diverse applicant pool.
- The college could want to have more applications so they can receive more, better qualified applicants.
Other Ways to Save on College Application Costs
A great way to save on application costs is to narrow down your list of colleges. You can use a free tool like College Match to find colleges that a good fit for you and see your acceptance chances into those schools on your list.
Utilizing the Common App can also help make the college admission process more cost-effective for students. With the Common App, you fill out a single application with essential information that all schools ask for. Your completed application is submitted to all the colleges you’ve listed in the application. The Common App is partners with around 700 colleges around the U.S. Learn more about how the Common Application works and how you can use it to cut down your college application costs.
Lastly, if you are applying to schools that do have application fees and you demonstrate financial need, you could be eligible for a fee waiver. If you think that may be the case, reach out the school’s financial aid office to find out if you qualify and how to proceed.
Boosting Your Acceptance Odds to a College With No Application Fee
Colleges with no application fees tend to attract a lot of applications. But many of these schools also offer Early Acceptance and/or Early Decision. So, if your preferred choice of school has a no application fee policy, it could make sense to apply early to secure your spot. Only do this if you’re sure you want to attend. Make sure to read each school’s policy regarding Early Application or Early Decision.
And of course, keeping good grades, submitting high SAT/ACT test scores, and solid, well-rounded applications are all great ways to boost those acceptance chances as well.
Want to explore some more options? Enter your information into College Raptor’s college match tool! You’ll see your admission odds and potential financial aid packages for any college in the country!
