Updated February 3, 2026
470 Colleges with No Application Fee
Bonus Material: 35 College Essays That Worked
Just hitting “submit” on your college applications can be a big expense for parents and students.
That’s because many colleges charge application fees of between $45-60, with some reaching $75 or even higher. Given that the College Board recommends applying to five to eight schools, you can do the math: you could easily be looking at anywhere from $250 to $600 in application fees.
Luckily, there are ways to avoid breaking the bank on college application fees. We’ve made an overview of 470 private and public universities and liberal arts colleges that charge no application fees, plus instructions on how you can apply for an application fee waiver for other schools.
Wherever you apply, you’ll want to submit the best application possible. As you get ready to write your application essays, take a look at our free collection of PrepMaven’s 35 College Essays That Worked by successful Ivy League applicants.
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How to Get Application Fees Waived
Colleges With No Application Fee
Next Steps
How to Get Application Fees Waived on the Common App
Even if you don’t see your dream school on the list below, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. A waiver exempts you from paying application fees for schools that do have a charge to apply.
If you’re applying through the Common App, you can request a fee waiver through the “Common App Fee Waiver” tab of your Common App profile once you’re logged in. Your counselor will be asked to verify your eligibility, but you can still submit your application if your counselor hasn’t submitted their verification yet.
To be eligible, one or more of these criteria must apply to you:
- You’re eligible for the federal free or reduced price lunch program.
- You’ve received, or are eligible to receive, an SAT or ACT fee waiver.
- Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program for students from low-income families (such as GEAR UP or TRIO programs).
- You live in a federally subsidized public housing or in a foster home, or you’re homeless.
- You are a ward of the state.
- You’re eligible for a Pell Grant.
- You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.
How to Get Application Fees Waived on the Coalition App
If you’re applying through the Coalition App, you can find schools that will waive your application fee through the Coalition App system. Unlike on the Common App, you don’t need your counselor to verify that you’re eligible; your fee will automatically be waived if you say that you meet the criteria.
All the schools on the Coalition App will waive your fee if:
- You’re eligible for the federal free or reduced price lunch program.
- You’ve received an SAT, ACT, or NACAC fee waiver.
- You’re eligible for a Pell Grant.
- You’re enrolled in a TRIO program.
If none of those apply to you, some schools on the Coalition App will also waive your fee if:
- You’re a veteran or active member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- You’re the first in your family to attend college.
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program for students from low-income families.
- You live in a federally subsidized public housing or in a foster home, or you’re homeless.
- You’re a ward of the state.
- You receive need-based scholarships elsewhere.
- You’re receiving assistance from any college access program.
Colleges With No Application Fee
These 470 colleges and universities currently don’t charge any application fee.
Keep in mind that some colleges may still charge application fees for transfer or international applicants, so if that applies to you, you’ll want to double-check the application fee policy for the schools you’re applying to.
Some state universities also have different application fees for different campuses, so it’s worth checking whether the specific location you’re applying to has an application fee.
And before you hit “submit,” it’s always a good idea to double-check the latest info for each college you’re applying to.
Adams State University-Duquesne University
Earlham College – Knox College
La Roche University – Prescott College
Queens University of Charlotte – Prescott College
Valparaiso University – York College of Pennsylvania
Next Steps
Ready to get started on your applications? Read our guide to making your college list, keeping in mind where you’ll be able to apply for free. Even if you apply to a mix of schools with and without college application fees, you could save hundreds of dollars.
Then, once you’re ready to start writing, read through our free collection of real Common App essays to see examples of successful applications to top schools.
If you’re feeling stuck or just want help taking your essays to the next level, contact us to get paired with a college essay expert. Our tutors aren’t just experienced essay coaches – as recent graduates, they also know what it’s like to be in your shoes.
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Ro
Rosamond graduated summa cum laude from Princeton. During college, she worked as a peer tutor for Italian, French, Greek, and academic writing. Since graduation, she’s continued to tutor students of all ages in French, Italian, Latin, English, and math, some of them for several years. She’s currently a graduate student studying the relationship between religion and secular law, and she works as a freelance journalist and translator.