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How to Get College Application Fee Waivers

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Learn more about how much college could cost — and, how to afford it:

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The price of applying to colleges can add up fast, but getting a college application fee waiver can help.

Students and their families should expect to pay an application fee ranging from $35 to $60 for each college they apply to. Registering for the SAT test costs $60, and the ACT costs up to $93.

» MORE: How to make an affordable college choice

And that’s just the bare minimum. Many students go on campus visits, enroll in pricey college admissions test prep services and take the ACT and SAT multiple times in pursuit of stellar scores, adding even more costs to applying to college.

In many cases, you have to front these costs in order to apply to colleges. But if you can prove that you have a financial need, there are ways to get around some of them. Here’s how.

» MORE: How many colleges should I apply to, by application fee?

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1. Ask for ACT and SAT fee waivers

Costs related to college applications start with standardized testing fees.

You can get up to two SAT fee waivers and four ACT waivers, allowing you to take each test multiple times for free. To get either, talk to your high school college or guidance counselor. Each test company allocates only a certain number of waivers to each high school, and it’s up to the school’s counselors to distribute them based on need.

There are several ways to qualify. You may be eligible if you:

Live in a foster home or public housing or are homeless.

Are in a free or reduced-price lunch program or qualify for one based on your family’s income.

Receive public assistance, including Medicaid or food stamps, or are in a government program for low-income families, such as Upward Bound.

» MORE: How to pay for college

2. Request college application fee waivers

The SAT fee waiver is a gift that keeps on giving: In addition to letting you take the test for free, it also lets you skip the application costs for as many colleges as you need. If you get an SAT waiver, the College Board will send you application waivers in the fall of your senior year or when you get your SAT test scores.

» MORE: 3 reasons to choose a college based on price

If you didn’t get an SAT waiver, there are other ways to potentially get those application fees waived. You can request some application fee waivers directly through the college application, or apply for a fee waiver from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC).

Many college applications have a field where you can indicate that you want to be considered for a fee waiver. If a school’s application doesn’t have a fee waiver option, try the NACAC fee waiver request form. In both cases, you need to qualify based on your financial situation — the requirements are similar to the ACT and SAT waiver requirements. Your high school counselor may also need to verify that you have financial need, either electronically or with a signature.

However, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to get a fee waiver or that a college will honor it if you do; each campus can use its own discretion.

» MORE: Is college worth it? Here's how to do the math

3. Find colleges with no application fee

Not all hope is lost if you can’t get a fee waiver. Some colleges give out codes for a free application to students who attend certain college fairs or visit the school’s campus. And many colleges simply don’t charge application fees at all. For example, it’s free to apply to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota; Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio; and Reed College in Portland, Oregon. The College Board has a list of colleges with no application fee and colleges that accept fee waivers.

Many schools accept the Common App , a standard application which can be used to apply to more than 1,000 colleges. About half of all schools that accept the Common App don’t require an application fee, according to a 2023 NerdWallet analysis. The Common App also allows you to be considered for a fee waiver.

4. Ask the college to waive the fee

If all else fails, it doesn’t hurt to directly ask the college to waive an application fee. Call the admissions office yourself or ask your high school counselor to help advocate in your favor.

In your request, explain that paying the application fee would create a financial hardship for you or your family.

As you’re thinking about your college applications, start thinking about financial aid too. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA , to open the door to grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities and federal student loans.

On a similar note...

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to get a college application fee waiver: 3 approaches.

College Admissions

Most college application fees fall in the $40 to $50 range, with some costing as much as $90 (ahem, Stanford). For many students and their families, these fees present a serious obstacle along the already pricey path to college. If application fees are burdensome to you, you might qualify for college application fee waivers.

Just like SAT and ACT fee waivers, these college fee waivers allow you to send off your applications for free. This guide will go over how you can qualify for and use college application fee waivers; it'll also review how much college apps usually cost and how much you can save with fee waivers.

Here's the information we're going to be covering:

How Much Do College Applications Cost?

How to qualify for college application fee waivers.

• Common Application
• Coalition Application
• Alternative Fee Waiver Forms

How Do You Use College Application Fee Waivers?

This article is pretty hefty, so you might want to read through a few sections at a time and keep it bookmarked to use a reference, rather than trying to plow all the way through!

College applications cost, on average, around $50. Especially selective schools, such as NYU, Boston University, Harvard, Yale, and of course the pricey Stanford, ask for $75 or more. If you apply to just five of these expensive private schools, then you're already looking at application fees of more than $375!

Some public schools are less expensive; University of Arkansas and Michigan State University both have application fees of $40. Other schools are even cheaper with application fees of just $25 or $30. There's also a good number of schools to which you can apply for free !

But unless you're applying to primarily fee-free schools, the costs of applying can seriously add up, especially if you're looking at eight or more colleges.

Fee waivers can be a huge help, but they aren't available to everyone. Generally, fee waivers are only given to students and families who qualify. This can include international students as well. Read on to learn whether you're eligible!

First off, it merits saying that your fee waivers are actually fee waiver requests . Ultimately, each of your colleges must approve your request. For the most part, colleges will approve them if you have your school counselor's or another designated official's signature.

If your colleges have any doubts or questions, they might ask you to send along extra information demonstrating that you qualify—but this is rare. Mostly, this fee waiver process is done on the honor system. It's up to you and your counselor to determine whether you're eligible, so be sure to take a look at the criteria below.

There are a few criteria that must apply for you to be eligible for fee waivers. They're actually the same guidelines that apply to getting an SAT or ACT fee waiver . If you already got an SAT or ACT fee waiver, you should automatically be eligible for college application fee waivers. If you're using the Common Application and/or the Coalition Application , or your admission test of choice was the SAT, then the process should be especially easy.

Let's go over the qualifying guidelines . If any one of the following is true for you, then you qualify for an application fee waiver:

• You're enrolled in or eligible for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program
• Your family income meets the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service*
• You're enrolled in a program that aids students from low-income families, such as Upward Bound
• Your family receives public assistance
• You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or you are homeless
• You're a ward of the state or an orphan

*For most states, the Income Eligibility Guidelines are as follows:

Note that international students may be eligible for college application fee waivers as well, usually as long as they meet at least one of the criteria above.

So if you already got an SAT or ACT fee waiver or are eligible based on the criteria listed above, how do you go about obtaining your college fee waiver?

First, you'll need a shovel, some gloves, and a sturdy pair of shoes ...

How Do You Get College Application Fee Waivers?

The easiest ways to get your hands on application fee waivers don't involve archaeological adventures, unfortunately. Instead, you'll find it fairly simple to get an application fee waiver if:

#1: You're applying to colleges with the Common Application, and/or #2: You're applying to colleges with the Coalition Application, and/or #3: You took the SAT with a fee waiver

If none of these scenarios applies to you, then you might be able to get an alternative fee waiver form. (For instance, students who took the ACT and are applying to a non-Common App and non-Coalition App school might need to find these other forms.) If you have trouble obtaining any form at all, you can simply fax, mail, or email your college a letter of request.

Since there are a few different options, we'll break it down with instructions for each scenario, starting with students who apply through the Common Application.

Scenario 1: You're Using the Common Application

The Common App streamlines the application process in a number of ways, one of which is asking for fee waivers. You can request fee waivers from any of your Common App schools!

To obtain a Common App fee waiver, you have to meet the same requirements as those described above. In your Profile section , you'll indicate whether or not you qualify for a fee waiver, and then you'll select your reason why. The screen will look like this:

If you select yes, you'll be prompted to select an indicator of economic need:

You'll electronically sign this section and receive the above reminder that your counselor will need to confirm your answer. If you already got an SAT or ACT fee waiver, then your counselor should be able to sign off on this automatically. If not, you might have to provide proof to your counselor that you qualify.

International students follow the same steps listed above. Be aware, however, that it's ultimately up to the school to decide whether they will accept your request for a waiver.

As previously mentioned, many schools use the honor system. As long as your counselor approves, you should be all set. If, for some reason, your school wants to see proof or has decided to deny your fee waiver request (this is rare!), they will contact you. If you don't hear from them, then everything should be good to go.

If your schools request a hard copy, they might accept a number of forms. The easiest would be a College Board fee waiver form , which you'll get automatically if you already took the SAT with a fee waiver. If you didn't, you can access other similar forms. I'll describe the different options below, starting with the College Board's application fee waivers.

Scenario 2: You're Using the Coalition Application

Like the Common Application, the Coalition Application streamlines the college fee waiver process to make it easier for you to get one each time you apply to a school.

To qualify for a fee waiver, you need to answer "yes" to at least one of the "Fee Waiver" questions, which are located in the "Profile" section of your MyCoalition account (and should be filled out as you make your account) .

Here's the page and questions you'll see:

After you check off the boxes that apply to you, you will be shown a list of Coalition App schools that will waive their application fees based on the answer(s) you selected. Here is what this list looks like, for example, when you check off "I am eligible for a Pell Grant" (note that you can scroll through this list of schools):

Once it's been determined that you're eligible for college application fee waivers, nothing more is required of you. Your counselor will receive your request for a fee waiver , and their approval will then be sent to the colleges you apply to through the Coalition App.

After your fee waiver request has been approved, you will just bypass the payment screen each time you apply to a college.

Scenario 3: You Took the SAT With a Fee Waiver

Maybe you need to send proof of your Common App fee waiver eligibility to a college. Or maybe you're applying to a college that doesn't use the Common App or Coalition App. For whatever reason, you need a separate college fee waiver form.

If you took the SAT with a fee waiver, you'll automatically get unlimited college fee waivers from the College Board (as long as the schools allow fee waivers to be used). These college app fee waivers will be available in your College Board account, where you can view them and—should your college request it—print out and send them to your schools.

If you took the SAT as a senior, you'll be able to access these waivers when your scores become available. If you took the SAT as a junior, however, you'll have to wait until the fall of your senior year.

You can also search for schools that accept application fee waivers or download this PDF of all the colleges that accept fee waivers to see whether your schools of interest allow you to use a waiver.

You also might need to use alternative forms if you didn't take the SAT and therefore didn't get any College Board waivers. Let's take a look at what these alternative fee waiver forms are.

Scenario 4: You Need Alternative Fee Waiver Forms

Fortunately, there are a few other forms you can use if you're applying to a school not on the Common App or Coalition App and you didn't get an SAT fee waiver.

You can always call admissions offices and ask for their advice on getting a fee waiver (always recommended, as colleges like to set unique policies). Your first stop, though, should be your high school counselor's office. Your counselor will have these forms so you don't have to go tracking them down yourself. Plus, you'll have to get his or her signature of approval anyway.

There are two main forms your counselor may distribute: the ACT waiver or the NACAC waiver. There used to also be a less common form that was sent directly to qualifying students called the " Realize Your College Potential" waiver. These forms are all pretty similar, but let's break each of them down so you can see where to find them and how to use them.

The ACT, Inc. Fee Waiver

Unlike the College Board, ACT, Inc. doesn't automatically grant its test fee-waiving students application fee waivers. However, it does have a fee waiver program! You can learn about the ACT fee waiver program on the ACT, Inc. website and find a copy of the fee waiver form on page 79 of this ACT User Handbook for Educators . 

This form is like most of the others: it asks for your basic information, such as your name, address, and high school, as well as your and your school official's (likely your counselor) signatures. You'll also indicate the college to which you're applying.

While the form doesn't clearly specify, it's probably safe to assume that you should only use this form if you took the ACT and, of course, qualified for an ACT fee waiver. However, you're not limited to this ACT waiver. You should use whichever form your counselor offers or your college requires.

The NACAC Fee Waiver

NACAC provides a useful fee waiver request form and a page of FAQs to help students. It's similar to the Common App page and the ACT waiver: it requires your basic information and asks you to specify an indicator of economic need. Y ou'll  also need your counselor or designated school official to sign it. Any student can use this form, regardless of the admission test they took. Just remember that NACAC recommends limiting your use of its fee waiver requests to four colleges.

International students who can justify their economic need can also use the NACAC fee waiver form. To fill out the form correctly, international students should check the “Other Request” box in the Economic Need section of the form and write an explanation of their financial barriers to paying the application fee in the space provided. NACAC provides more information about fee waivers for international students on their FAQ page . 

Individual College Fee Waivers

For most students in most scenarios, these forms, or a combination of them, should work to get their application fees waived. However, there are always unique circumstances that stand outside the typical process.

If you still have questions, contact the admissions offices of your prospective colleges. Find out whether they accept fee waivers and whether they prefer a specific form or simply a letter.

Some schools might suggest that you write and then mail, fax, or email a letter of request. Harvard , for instance, accepts Common App waivers, Coalition App waivers, and other waiver forms but also welcomes a personal letter if you can't obtain those forms for some reason:

"We are committed to making the application process accessible for all students. If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived. You can request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application or the Coalition application if you meet their respective indicators of economic need. If you do not meet these indicators, please fill out our Admissions Application Fee Waiver Request Form . This form is only open during the admission application period (August through March 1)."

Regardless of the form you use, the requirements are essentially the same: each form represents a request and usually asks for your basic info, signature, counselor's signature, and an indicator of economic need. Rarely do you have to provide supporting documentation, but you should have it on hand just in case.

Now that you have a sense of which fee waivers to use and how to get them, is there anything else you need to know about how to use them?

Don't worry, many colleges don't even ask to see your fee waiver!

We touched on this briefly, but let's review how to submit application fee waivers whether you're using the Common App, the Coalition App, a College Board waiver, or a different form.

How to Use Common App Fee Waivers

If you're applying through the Common App , all you have to do is indicate that you'll be using a fee waiver on your profile page , as pictured above, and give your reason. Your counselor will then be prompted to approve your request.

Both domestic and international students may apply for fee waivers this way.

If you already got an SAT or ACT fee waiver, you shouldn't have to do anything else since your counselor will have already double-checked your eligibility. If you didn't, then you might need to provide them with some supporting documentation , such as proof of income eligibility.

All Common App schools should accept fee waiver requests. For instance, here's what Cornell says:

"The Common Application will automatically send your fee waiver request to your high school counselor for confirmation. No additional documentation is needed after your counselor has approved your request."

Many colleges share this stance, though they reserve the right to ask for more info if they deem it necessary (more likely to happen if you're an international student).

If your college asks for more information, then you might have to fax or send your fee waiver form or whatever else they ask for.

How to Use Coalition App Fee Waivers

Coalition App fee waivers are pretty easy to use. All you need to do is make a MyCoalition account , go to your "Profile" section, and click "Fee Waiver" (pictured above) to check the boxes that apply to your situation and to determine which Coalition App colleges you can get a fee waiver from.

You don't need to submit documentation or proof of your eligibility, unless on the off chance your counselor won't approve your request without specific documents. If you've already gotten a fee waiver from the College Board or ACT, Inc., you shouldn't need to send in any other forms.

Most, if not all, Coalition App schools should accept fee waiver requests. For example, here's what Notre Dame says about fee waivers on its website:

"Your school counselor will receive notice of your intent to use the Fee Waiver, and will then need to verify that you meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the Common Application or Coalition Application. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Common Application or Coalition Application process will bypass the payment step."

The majority of colleges share this view, but they still have the right to ask for further info or documentation if they feel it's necessary.

How to Use College Board Waivers

Your College Board fee waivers will have a personalized code for you. If you're applying to a school that's not on the Common App or Coalition App, then it will likely ask you to enter this code or upload a scanned copy of your waiver in its online application.

If you used an SAT fee waiver, you should be familiar with this process. SAT registration also involves entering your personalized fee waiver code.

If you're applying by mail or if the college asks for an original hard copy, you'll want to send this signed form along with your application.

How to Use Other Fee Waiver Forms

If you're using an NACAC or ACT, Inc. form for non-Common App and non-Coalition App schools, you won't get a personalized code. In most cases, you'll be asked to upload a scanned copy of the signed form to your application. Again, if you're applying by mail or the school wants an original hard copy, you should mail this form.

If the school needs any more information, it will contact you and let you know. To prepare for this possibility, you should give them a call and ask about the process. A few colleges, like many in the California State system , only accept requests from in-state residents.

There are more than 2,000 colleges that approve fee waiver requests—you just have to figure out how your prospective colleges want you to submit your request.

Everyone's path to college is different. Similarly, there are several different options for requesting application fee waivers, some straightforward and others a little more complicated. To make sure you've got your bases covered, let's summarize the most important things to remember for students who want to waive the fees for applying to college.

What to Remember About College Application Fee Waivers

If and only if you're eligible, you can get your college application fees waived. All these college fee waiver forms constitute requests— ultimately, it's up to your colleges to approve your request.

For most schools, you shouldn't run into any roadblocks. It's probably safe to say most colleges welcome as many applications as they can get. The more applications they receive, the more selective they can appear to be!

The eligibility guidelines are much the same as they are for SAT and ACT fee waivers, with the most common being a certain yearly family income and/or being part of the Federal Free or Reduced Lunch program. If you already got a testing fee waiver, then your counselor can approve your college app request without any further input from you. If not, then you might have to show your counselor documentation that proves your eligibility.

Common Application and Coalition Application schools offer the easiest processes. For schools not on the Common App or Coalition App, you might need to enter your code and/or upload, fax, or mail your College Board, ACT, or NACAC fee waiver forms. A handful of schools only approve in-state residents' requests, so be sure to do the research on your prospective colleges.

If all else fails, simply send a request, signed by yourself and your counselor, to your college. Mail or fax this letter, and if you don't hear back from your college, give them a call and ask whether it was accepted. You might also be able to just email your request if the school allows it.

Hopefully, fee waivers remove any financial hardship standing in the way of your applications to your favorite colleges. Of course, all the colleges to which you apply should be ones you'd really like to attend !

What's Next?

Another huge step in college financial planning has to do with financial aid. Check out this guide that breaks down all the steps you need to take to apply for various kinds of financial aid. You can also learn in-depth about preparing your FAFSA application.

If you're still picking out your colleges, you might be considering tuition cost as a factor. Check out these colleges that offer the best financial aid .

Remember to apply for scholarships as well! Our list of the easiest scholarships to apply for is a great place to start.

Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT.

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What is a Common App fee waiver?

Jul 25, 2023 • knowledge, information.

Common App and our colleges want to make sure that application fees do not pose a barrier for any student. If you meet certain qualifications, you can request a Common App fee waiver.

• You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced price lunch program (FRPL).*
• You have 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 are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., GEAR UP, TRIO such as Upward Bound or others).
• You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless.
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
• You have received or are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.
• You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

*You must enroll or be eligible for the FRPL. Students who attend schools where all students receive free lunch do not automatically qualify for a Common App fee waiver.

Some of these government programs have websites that are hard to navigate. Please reach out to a counselor or another trusted adult if you're unsure if you qualify.

How do I get a Common App fee waiver?

You can use the Common App Fee Waiver section of your Profile to request a fee waiver. If you select that you are eligible for the Common App fee waiver, you will not be charged any application fees when you submit through Common App.

Can international students use a Common App fee waiver?

International students may be eligible for a Common App fee waiver.

Each college has varying policies, so it is not guaranteed that they will accept your fee waiver request as an international student. If a college does not accept your fee waiver, they may ask you to pay the application fee after you submit your application.

What can I do if I don't meet the Common App fee waiver criteria?

Almost half of all Common App colleges do not charge an application fee. You can use the application fee search filters in the College Search tab to find those schools.

Many colleges also offer a college-specific fee waiver. You can contact colleges directly or look for a fee waiver question on their application in the My Colleges tab.

Does it look bad on my application if I apply for a fee waiver?

Definitely not! Colleges don't want application fees to prevent you from applying to your desired school.

How to Get a College Application Fee Waiver

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Contributing Writer

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Updated September 6, 2023

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The cost of a college education gets a lot of attention these days, and for good reason: Simply applying to college can be an expensive undertaking. There's the cost of standardized tests, the application fee and travel costs for campus visits. Before you know it, you may have to spend $100 or more for each school you apply to. One way to reduce this financial burden is to obtain an application fee waiver.

What is a Fee Waiver?

Most college applications require a fee. The exact amount depends on the school, but the fees commonly hover around $50 to $60. The purpose of the application fee is to help the college or university you are applying to pay for the cost of reviewing your application and making an admissions decision.

The Cost of Applying to College

According to US News & World Report, the average college application fee in 2022 was $45, while $50 was the most common application fee amount. The most expensive schools have fees around $80 to $100, including Stanford University, Duke University and Arkansas Baptist College.

There are colleges that charge no application fee, such as Averett University, Kenyon College and Carleton College. Of the colleges that do charge a small application fee, such as Wofford College, you can expect to pay around $35.

The number of colleges students apply to depends on a variety of factors, such as financial ability and type of decision status a student is applying to. For instance, if you apply during the early decision process and get accepted, you may only apply to one school. But those who strive to get into their preferred schools but want a backup should apply to at least three schools. One school will be their “safety” school, one school will be their “probable” school and one will be their “reach” school. For students who obtain a fee waiver or can afford to apply to more schools, applying to six or 10 schools isn't uncommon. A student who applies to 10 schools (two safety schools, two probable schools and six reach schools) can easily spend over $500 on application fees, assuming no fee waivers were used.

Other Costs of Applying to College

At a minimum, students will need to spend around $55 for the SAT or ACT and another $12 to have their standardized test score sent to the college they are applying to. If the student intends to mail in a paper application, there will also be postage fees.

Students who want to go “all out” can expect to pay a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in test preparation, then there's the cost of an on-campus visit; depending upon how far you live from the school, this might be the cost of driving across town or the cost of a round-trip plane ticket and hotel room.

Which Students Qualify for Fee Waivers?

Fee waivers are generally given to students who demonstrate financial need. However, some schools will allow any student to avoid paying the application fee if they meet certain requirements, such as making an official on-campus visit.

For students who request a fee waiver based on financial need, the exact requirements to qualify will depend on the waiver process the student is using. For example, some schools have their own fee waiver application process. However, students can expect a fee waiver if they receive government assistance based on their participation in programs for low-income families.

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How to Get a Fee Waiver

There are several methods by which students can obtain college application fee waivers. Many of these will require students to complete a separate application process for each waiver.

The College Board's SAT fee waiver

Students eligible for the College Board's SAT testing fee waiver will automatically be eligible for four college application fee waivers. Students are eligible for SAT testing fee waivers if they are enrolled in the National School Lunch Program, have a family income that falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines , are enrolled in a government program for low-income students, are a member of family that receives public assistance, are living in federally subsidized public housing or living in a foster home, or are homeless, a ward of the state, or an orphan.

Apply online

Many colleges will waive the application fee if you apply online. Examples include:

• College of Southern Idaho
• Wesleyan College
• Manchester University
• Washington and Jefferson College

If students prefer not to apply online, they can mail in a paper application, although the regular application fee will apply.

Request one directly from the school based on financial need

Most schools with application fees will allow students to apply for an application fee waiver. The process will differ for each school, but often includes completing a separate form outlining the student's financial situation.

Legacy applicants

A few schools will grant a fee waiver for students who have parents or grandparents that attended and graduated from a particular school. One such school with this policy is Western New England University .

Visit the school

Many schools, such as the University of Pittsburgh , will provide an application fee waiver if you visit the school. The granting of this waiver does not require showing financial need. The exact process will depend on the school. For instance, the University of Pittsburgh application fee waiver requires a campus visit between June15 and August 31. Other schools do not advertise this type of fee waiver, so you may have to contact the admissions office directly and ask for details.

If you are eligible for the ACT test fee waiver , you may also be eligible for the Request for Waiver or Deferral of College Admission Application Fee. The requirements for the ACT test fee waiver are very similar to the SAT test fee waiver.

Simply ask for one

If you are a prized candidate with great test scores and a stellar high school GPA, ask for a fee waiver and you just might receive. This strategy will usually work best when you have numbers well above the average for accepted students.

Apply as an international student

If you're applying as an international student, some schools will waive the application fee. Ithaca College is an example of a college with this benefit.

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) fee waiver

The NACAC allows students to apply to up to four colleges without having to pay the application fee. A student will be eligible for a NACAC college application fee waiver if they meet the requirements for an SAT or ACT testing fee waiver. While most colleges and universities will accept a NACAC college application fee waiver, not all of them will.

Realize Your College Potential program

High school students in the top 10-15% of their class but bottom third in family income may be eligible to participate in the Realize Your College Potential program, sponsored by the College Board. Eligible students will receive special packets with information about choosing, applying and attending college, as well as application fee waivers.

Special invitation

Students who express interest in a school, such as by providing contact information at a college recruitment fair or considering playing a sport at the school, may receive a special invitation to apply for free. In other instances, the invitation to apply with a waived application fee can be unsolicited.

Avoid the application fee

One way to reduce the costs of applying is to choose schools that don't have an application fee. Some of these schools include:

• Grinnell College
• Centre College
• United States Naval Academy
• Oberlin College & Conservatory

An Expert Discusses Fee Waivers

Dr. michele scott taylor.

Dr. Michele Scott Taylor is the Chief Program Officer at College Now Greater Cleveland, the nation's oldest college access organization. She is an expert in college access and higher education policy and programming.

Some students fall into the unfortunate position of having too much family income to qualify for a waiver, but still being unable to afford it. What's the best way to ask the admissions office for an exception?

Students should write a special circumstances letter to the admissions representative at the school who is assigned to them. In the letter, the student should explain their personal situation and the difference between how things look on paper versus how they actually are in real life. Better yet, if the school is local, the student should go for an in-person interview with their admissions representative to make his or her case. It doesn't work 100 percent of the time, but the majority of the time, talking to someone works. And if the student is a strong applicant, a school usually does try to come through.

If the school itself doesn't offer a fee waiver, what can a student do to get help from other sources?

If a school doesn't offer a fee waiver, a student or family should reach out to the local college access organization (like College Now). There are many college access organizations across the country that work to guide students and families through the college application and financial aid process. Here is a list of college access organizations that are members of the National College Access Network (NCAN): NCAN Membership List .

Another resource is The College Board, which offers up to four free college application waivers to students who are income-eligible to receive an SAT fee waiver.

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How to Get a College Application Fee Waiver

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

College applications looking pricey? Luckily for you, if you meet just a few general eligibility criteria and demonstrate financial need, you may qualify for a college application fee waiver at the colleges you apply to! Keep on reading to find out what college application fee waivers are, how you can get them, and how to use them!

What is a college application fee waiver?

Great question! Simply, college application fee waivers allow you to apply to colleges without having to pay the usual fee. These are very beneficial as applying to colleges can be expensive and serve as a barrier to applying for some students. Before we get into common eligibility requirements for college application fee waivers, let’s go over the cost of college applications.

How much do college applications cost?

College applications vary in price by school. On the higher end if the $100 and over application fees for elite schools. On the lower-end, some applications are in the $30 range, and some are even free. Thus, applying to many (or even a few) colleges can be quite costly. This is where college application fee waivers come in. If you sense that applying to colleges will be a burden for you or your family, consider college application fee waivers. So, let’s get into it!

Do I qualify for a college application fee waiver?

Good question! First, knowing whether you qualify for fee waivers is of utmost importance. So, don’t waste any time applying in case you don’t meet the eligibility requirements. 

So, what are the criteria to qualify? Well, they’re actually the same as those needed to get a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT. In fact, if you’ve already gotten a fee waiver for one of those exams, you’re automatically eligible for college application fee waivers! However, for those who haven’t received a fee waiver for one of those exams yet, let’s review the criteria.

If any of the following are true for you, you qualify for a college application fee waiver:

• You’re eligible or enrolled in a Federal Free/Reduced Price Lunch Program
• Your family meets the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service Income Eligibility Guidelines , which are as follows (for most states):
• You’re enrolled in a program which helps students from low-income families (e.g. Upward Bound)
• Your family gets public assistance
• You live in federally subsidized public housing, live in a foster home, or are homeless
• You’re an orphan or a ward of the state

Once again, you only need to meet a single one of those criteria, and you qualify! International students are also eligible for these fee waivers, typically so long as they meet at least one of the criteria.

Now, let’s go over how you go about getting your fee waivers. Even for those of you who’ve already qualified for fee waivers when taking the SAT or ACT still have to go through the process of obtaining the college application fee waivers, so, let’s get into how you would do that.

How can I get college application fee waivers?

There’s a number of ways you can get college application fee waivers, as universities are unique and have different fee waiver processes. However, some of the easiest ways to get college application fee waivers are: 

• If you’re applying to schools on the Common Application
• Whether you’re applying to schools on the Coalition Application

If you took the SAT with a fee waiver

Keep in mind, if none of these apply to you, don’t worry! These are not the only ways to obtain college application fee waivers, as you can also request alternate fee waiver forms. Or, if you have trouble getting access to these forms online, you can also directly contact your prospective schools by email and ask for one.

Now, let’s get into the specifics! Keep on reading to find out how to get fee waivers on the common app, coalition app, and other common ways of requesting fee waiver forms.

While filling out college applications

On both the Common and Coalition Applications, there are questions which will ask you to select which college application requirements (yes, the ones we went over earlier!) apply to you. The processes are slightly different for each application, though, so we’ll go over the steps now.

Common Application: Steps to obtain a fee waiver

• In your “Profile” section, indicate whether or not you qualify for a fee waiver (click “Yes” or “No”)
• If you click “Yes”, you will be prompted to answer why you qualify (this is where you select which eligibility requirement(s) applies to you!) and will be asked to enter your signature

And that’s it (just don’t forget to hit “continue” or “submit”)! Keep in mind, though, that your counselor may also have to confirm your answer. If you have already received a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT, your counselor should be able to sign automatically. However, if this is not the case, you may need to provide additional proof to your counselor that you qualify for a fee waiver.

After your counselor approves, you should be all good to go! In the very rare case that your school wants additional proof or denies your request, they will contact you directly.

International students: all the above steps should be the same for you as well! 

Coalition Application: Steps to obtain a fee waiver

• When making your Coalition Application account , you will be prompted to select which of the fee waiver eligibility requirements apply to you once you reach the “Profile” section
• Once you select which requirements apply to you, you will be shown a list of Coalition Application schools that will waive their application fees according to the answer(s) you selected

Then, you’re done! Your counselor will receive a request for your fee waiver, and if they approve, it will be sent to the colleges you’re applying to through the Coalition Application.

Once this is done, whenever you apply to a college on the Coalition Application, you will be able to skip the payment screen.

If you’ve already taken the SAT with a fee waiver, you’re in luck! Doing so makes you automatically eligible to receive unlimited college application fee waivers from College Board, so long as the schools you’re applying to allow the use of fee waivers. These fee waivers are available in your College Board account, where they can be viewed and printed (if you need to send them out to colleges).

If you took the SAT with a fee waiver yet are unable to find the fee waivers in your College Board account yet, it may be because you’re in the wrong grade. These fee waivers only become available in your senior year. So, if you’re currently a junior, just wait until the Fall of your senior year, and you should be good to go!

Didn’t take the SAT? Don’t worry – There are alternate fee waiver forms available! 

Getting alternative fee waiver forms

In the case that you’re not applying to colleges through the Common or Coalition Application and haven’t taken the SAT, there are other ways of getting fee waiver forms.

If you’re in this situation, we recommend you first head to your counselor’s office. They likely have the forms themselves or can print them for you, and you’ll end up needing their signature anyway.

The two forms they’re most likely to hand to you are the ACT, Inc. and NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) fee waiver form. 

ACT, Inc. Fee Waiver

ACT, Inc., unlike College Board, does not automatically give application fee waivers to its students who received a test fee waiver. 

Although somewhat buried on the site, page 85 of this ACT User Handbook for Educators provides a fee waiver form for students who qualified for an ACT fee waiver. It asks you to fill out some information about yourself, including your name, address, high school, as well as your own and your counselor’s (or school official’s) signature. You will also need to note which university you’re applying to.

Note: Qualifying for a fee waiver on the ACT does not mean that this is the only fee waiver form you can use! Feel free to use whichever your counselor has on hand or whichever your prospective college(s) will allow.

NACAC Fee Waiver Form

Like the Common Application page and the ACT fee waiver request form, the NACAC fee waiver form also requests some basic information and asks you to specify which indicator(s) of economic need applies to you. After filling this in, you will need your counselor or a school official to sign off on these forms (in non-COVID times).

The NACAC form can be used by any applicant, no matter what standardized test they took. However, NACAC recommends that students only use their form for a maximum of four colleges. It is unclear whether or not international students can use this form.

If you need help filling out the NACAC fee waiver form or run into any issues, NACAC provides its own helpful FAQ for any questions you may have while filling it out. 

Individual college fee waivers

If, by chance, your prospective college(s) do not allow any of the fee waivers we’ve listed out so far, there are other ways you can go about getting your application fees waived. 

If this happens to you, you should first contact the colleges directly (through email, calling, etc.) and ask (1) if they accept application fee waivers and (2) what type or form of fee waiver they would prefer.

Although uncommon, some universities allow applicants to write a letter of request for a fee waiver instead of filling out a form. In your letter, you should include: why you want to attend that university, your future goals, your financial situation (the hardships that would qualify you for a fee waiver), your family’s annual income, how many people live in your household, and contact information for both yourself and your counselor.

How can I use my college application fee waivers?

Now, for the most important part – putting your fee waivers to use! The processes differ depending on what platform you’re using, so we’ll go over each individually.

However, first, it is important to note that fee waivers are fee waiver requests – and that it is up to each school to approve of your request. Luckily, colleges will typically approve of these so long as you have the signature of a counselor or another designated official.

Colleges may sometimes ask you for more information or proof that you qualify, but this is uncommon. The fee waiver process is largely based on an honor system, in which schools will take your word for it if you and your counselor deem that you’re eligible for a fee waiver.

Common Application fee waivers

The process is SUPER simple on the Common App! All that you need to do is go to your “Profile” page and indicate that you’ll be using a fee waiver. Then, you simply need to give your reason why, submit, and your counselor will be reminded to approve of your request. 

Yes, this is the same process we mentioned earlier (under “How Can I get College Application Fee Waivers”), so you may have already done it at this point.

If your counselor approves, you’re good to go (for both domestic and international students)! 

Similarly, if you’re already eligible for fee waivers as you qualified for an SAT fee waiver, you shouldn’t have to do anything else (your counselor has probably already checked your eligibility for that waiver).

All schools on the Common App should accept fee waiver requests, and typically don’t request any additional information after your counselor has approved. If they do, however, want more information, they will contact you directly (this is more common for international students).

Now, on to the Coalition App!

Coalition Application fee waivers

Just like the Common Application, these steps are the same as the ones we went over earlier (under “How Can I get College Application Fee Waivers?”)! If you need a refresher, simply set up your MyCoalition account, head to your “Profile” section, and check the boxes of the eligibility requirements that apply to you.

You likely won’t have to submit additional proof of your eligibility unless your counselor happens to request something. If you’ve already qualified for a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT, you also shouldn’t need to send in any additional forms.

Most colleges on the Coalition Application accept fee waiver forms, so you should be set once your counselor approves of your request.

College Board fee waivers

College Board fee waivers are unlike any of those previously mentioned, and give students a personalized code. If you’re applying to any schools that aren’t on the Common or Coalition Application, you will likely be asked to either (1) enter this code or (2) upload a scanned copy of your fee waiver form on your application.

When your college(s) require you to apply by mail or ask for a hard copy, send the signed fee waiver form with your application.

Have questions about the College Board fee waiver or are unsure if your college(s) accept them? Check out these helpful tools from the College Board itself:

• College Application Fee Waiver FAQ
• Search for Colleges that Accept (any) Application Fee Waivers – this also tells you which colleges you can apply to for free and if a college has any special instructions for accepting fee waivers!
• Directory of Colleges that accept the College Board fee waiver

Other fee waivers

If using a NACAC, Act, Inc., or any other alternate fee waiver form, you will likely be instructed to upload a signed copy of the form to your application (if your school(s) don’t request a hard copy).

If you have any questions about the fee waiver process at a particular school, we recommend giving them a call. Alternatively, if they have any more questions for you, they will likely contact you.

We should also note that some schools, though not many, only accept fee waivers from certain students. For example, many of the universities in the California State system only allow fee waivers for in-state students.

That just about covers it! Now, you should know everything you need to know about getting college application fee waivers. We wish you luck on your college application process, and more specifically, your college application fee waiver process. Have fun at college!

Keep reading:

• When should I apply for college?
• Scholarships360’s scholarship directory
• Top scholarships for high school seniors
• How to choose a college
• Finding a financial safety school

Frequently asked questions

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How to get college application fee waivers

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Students experiencing economic hardship often find it difficult to cover the cost of college application fees. The College Board recommends that students apply to five to eight colleges and universities to guarantee acceptance, but this can add up to $250 to $400, since most application fees are close to $50 each.

Costly application fees may initially deter students from applying to certain institutions, but college application fee waivers allow qualifying students to apply to college for free.

How to get a fee waiver for college applications

There are a few different ways to find fee waivers for college applications.

SAT and ACT fee waivers

Qualifying for SAT and ACT fee waivers automatically qualifies you for unlimited college application fee waivers through the College Board and on the Coalition, Common and Universal Applications.

Low-income high school juniors and seniors are eligible for the SAT fee waiver if one or more of the following conditions applies:

• Student participates in or is eligible for participation in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
• Student’s family’s annual income is within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Income Eligibility Guidelines .
• Student is enrolled in a federal, state, or local program providing aid to students from low-income families.
• Student’s family receives public assistance.
• Student is homeless or lives in a foster home or federally subsidized public housing.
• Student is an orphan or ward of the state.

Most of the time, you don’t need to complete any extra information to get an SAT or ACT fee waiver; your school counselor will identify eligible students and distribute waivers from there. If you haven’t gotten a waiver and you need one, talk to your guidance counselor.

NACAC fee waivers

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers fee waivers to those with an economic need. You’ll need to apply for these waivers using an online form that can be either printed or saved as a PDF. Once you complete the form, it must be signed by a school counselor, postsecondary support personnel, a principal at your school or an official from a community-based organization. From there, you’ll send the form to your college’s office of admissions. Students are encouraged to limit the number of forms sent to four.

While the NACAC lists basic eligibility criteria, you may qualify by getting a specific request from a principal, guidance counselor, financial aid officer or another similar official who can vouch for your circumstances.

College financial aid office

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for fee waiver programs, it’s worth reaching out to the financial aid offices of the colleges you’re applying to. Some colleges are willing to waive the application fee if you reach out directly and explain your circumstances.

Who qualifies for a college application fee waiver?

Most fee waivers require demonstrated financial need. If you don’t have any financial concerns or issues paying for college applications, you probably won’t be eligible for fee waivers. In general, waivers are available to:

• Students who currently or have previously gotten free or reduced lunch.
• Students who are enrolled in a government program for low-income families.
• Foster children.
• Residents of subsidized housing or students experiencing homelessness.
• Students in families with annual incomes that qualify for the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service.
• Students who receive public assistance.

If you don’t qualify for a waiver based on need, you could have a high school or college official vouch for you, saying that the application cost would cause financial hardship.

What happens if you don’t qualify for a fee waiver?

If you don’t qualify for a college application fee waiver, you can still try to limit the amount you have to spend to apply for schools. For one, you can narrow your search to schools that don’t charge you to apply; PrepScholar maintains a list of colleges without application fees that you can reference as you begin your search.

You can also curate your list of colleges to avoid applying to more than you need to. Research approval statistics and financial requirements beforehand to limit your applications to the top schools that you’re truly invested in and likely to be admitted to. Although the College Board recommends applying to five to eight schools, you can adjust this number as needed.

Bottom line

The cost of attending college doesn’t just include tuition, books and housing. Application fees are one of the first college expenses you will have, and they can get to be expensive. Although some institutions no longer charge application fees, including the University of Wisconsin System, which eliminated application fees for all but four of its schools, many colleges and universities expect this fee to be paid before an application is reviewed. Luckily, students can rely on application fee waivers to give them the chance to attend the school of their choice.

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How To Get College or Grad School Application Fees Waived

• By: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

College application season is upon us.

That means high school students, transfer students, and would-be graduate students all across the country will be busy during the months of November and December polishing their college applications.

Many college applications cost $50 and up, meaning if you or your child applies to 10 different schools, you could quickly shell out $500 just for the chance to attend the college or university of your choice.

In another article, I described in detail how to get a college application fee waiver based on economic need .

But that’s just one strategy.

A fee waiver will let you apply at no cost to your desired college or university, saving your hard-earned money for other needs.

As I explain in  College Secrets for Teens: Money-Saving Ideas for the Pre-College Years , students can get fee waivers for college applications in eight ways. 

The eight college application fee waiver strategies are:

• Get a fee waiver based on economic need
• Get a fee waiver for being a great student
• Get a fee waiver for visiting campus or going to a college fair
• Get a fee waiver for applying to or attending a “Fly-In” program
• Get a fee waiver for exceptional circumstances
• Get a fee waiver for service activities
• Get a fee waiver for applying early
• Get a fee waiver for being a child of a veteran or a college employee

Here’s an overview of each one of these strategies and how they can help you save hundreds of dollars in college application costs.

Get a Fee Waiver Based on Economic Need

Suppose you need a waiver to submit a college application. In that case, you can get one from one of three sources: the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the College Board (which administers the SAT), and the college or university where you want to apply.

Generally, you may qualify for an application fee waiver if your annual household income is about $45,000 or so, assuming a family of four. However, qualifying income levels can be more or less than that figure, depending on the number of people in your household.

You can obtain a NACAC fee waiver, called a “Request for Waiver of College Application Fee” form , from your high school counselor.

How to Prove Economic Need for a College Application Waiver

The NACAC form outlines a host of circumstances that make students economically qualified to get waivers for college application fees.

Among those circumstances:

• You are eligible to receive an SAT or ACT fee waiver
• You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the free or reduced lunch program at school
• Your family income falls within the income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service
• You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids low-income students (i.e., TRIO programs, like Upward Bound)
• Your family receives public assistance (such as food stamps — nationwide, about 47 million Americans, roughly 15% of all citizens, receive food stamps)
• You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan
• Do You face any other challenges that would make paying college application fees a financial hardship

If your school doesn’t have NACAC waiver forms, you can obtain a fee waiver form from the NACAC website .

You can find an online list of schools that accept SAT application fee waivers at the SAT Fee Waiver Directory of Colleges .

Additionally, if you plan to attend graduate school or apply to a professional degrees program — such as law school, business school, or medical school – you can also get fee waivers for your graduate school applications. For example, if you received a fee waiver to take an exam, you typically also qualify for fee waivers for graduate school applications.

Get a Fee Waiver for Being a Great Student

If you’re an academic standout, that status can also offer advantages when it comes to college admissions.

Stellar grades — like ranking in the top 10% of your class — will usually put your college application in or near the top of the pile when you’re applying to most colleges. Great test scores and academic honors get noticed, too, especially if they’re based on nationwide testing.

Fortunately, there’s one other benefit to being a scholarly student. You may find that some schools will reward you by waiving their application fees just to encourage you to apply.

For example, the University of Maryland grants fee waivers for National Merit, National Achievement, National Hispanic finalists or semi-finalists, and Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalists, semi-finalists, and honorable mention recipients.

Other campuses award application fee waivers to students with a certain minimum grade point average, such as a 3.5 GPA or higher or even a 3.0 GPA or better.

If you are an especially high-achieving student, peruse college websites or call the schools you’re interested in and ask whether fee waivers are available for select scholars.

Get a Fee Waiver for Visiting a Campus or Going to a College Fair

Simply visiting campus or attending a college fair may be enough to get you a fee waiver.

Often, college recruiters will pass out particular forms or codes you can use while applying to the school online to take advantage of the fee waiver.

So anytime you take a campus tour or participate in a college fair, don’t simply skip over the materials on the desks. Instead, see whether any of them are fee waivers for applicants.

Get a Fee Waiver for Applying to or Attending a “Fly-In” Program

Certain “Fly-In Programs” offer application fee waivers to students who attend early recruitment programs.

One example is the Future Achievers of Science and Technology, or FAST Programs, at Harvey Mudd College.

Not only are FAST programs free for selected seniors and juniors, but those program participants also receive a fee waiver, so they don’t have to pay the school’s usual $70 fee charged for first-year applications.

Even if you don’t get into a Fly-In program, simply applying to attend one of these free campus visits could make you eligible for a college application fee waiver.

That’s the case with Amherst, which gives a fee waiver for its $60 application to students selected to attend the school’s Diversity Open House, as well as students who apply to the Fly-In Program but who are not invited.

The fee waiver is intended to encourage that latter group of students to still consider Amherst and apply to the school.

Get a Fee Waiver for Special Circumstances

Suppose you or a key family member has recently experienced a great financial hardship or a major change in household or economic circumstances. In that case, many schools will waive their application fees as long as you explain and document those circumstances.

Fee waivers can be obtained for issues such as: recent job loss, a death in the family (of a main breadwinner), enormous medical bills, homelessness, personal tragedy, economic complications stemming from natural calamities or other disasters, and more.

These fee waiver requests are evaluated and granted on a case-by-case basis.

Schools also require a third party, such as a guidance counselor, teacher, or school official with knowledge of the student’s extenuating circumstances, to sign the NACAC form requesting the application fee waiver.

Get a Fee Waiver for Service Activities

You also may be eligible for a waived application fee if you’ve performed any number of service activities and are an alum of different service-based groups.

For instance, those who have been in Teach for America, the Peace Corps, Americorps/VISTA, CityYear, or in various fellowships, such as a Truman Public Service Fellowship, can have their college application fees waived.

As a practical matter, service-based fee waivers will typically be utilized by older individuals applying to college instead of teen students coming straight out of high school.

But if you fit the profile and qualify, seek your fee waiver as part of an overall strategy to control your pre-college expenses.

To get this kind of fee waiver, contact the schools you’re interested in directly. You won’t be able to use a fee waiver from NACAC.

Non-traditional students are not eligible to use NACAC’s fee waiver form.

This applies to gap year students, transfer students, as well as those opting to defer applying to college instead of immediately attending a college or university right after high school graduation.

Get a Fee Waiver for Applying Early

In the college application process, you can apply for admission at various times.

The college application season has a variety of distinct cycles, the most common of which are known as Regular Decision, Early Decision, and Early Action.

Regular Decision means submitting your application during the regular application cycle. This usually occurs in December or January for most schools.

Applying for Early Decision is done when you have a strong interest in one specific school and know with certainty that you want to attend that school above all others.

So when you apply for Early Decision, you are making a binding commitment that if a school accepts you, you’ll withdraw your other college applications and go to the school that has granted you admission via Early Decision.

Early Decision applications are usually due around November.

Early Action is a similar application process where a student opts to apply early to a school, typically around November or December, but isn’t bound to attend that school if accepted.

Get a Fee Waiver for Being a Child of a Veteran or a College Employee

Some students can qualify for fee waivers based on their parents’ affiliation or job.

For example, specific colleges grant application waivers to veterans and children of veterans.

Additionally, having a parent who already works at a college or university can be a bonus for college applications.

Several post-secondary schools give the offspring of faculty, staff, and administrative personnel a break on college application fees.

Case in point: Within the California State University system , those 23 campuses waive their customary application fees for children of full-time and permanent part-time university employees .

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to get college or grad school application fees waived.

Hopefully, saving money in this area will put you in the proper mindset to tackle college costs.

Savvy students and parents know that one of the biggest college secrets is that for every single cost you encounter – including pre-college expenses, upfront college costs, and hidden, back-end fees – there is a range of strategies to either slash those expenses or eliminate them.

What is a Common App fee waiver?

How do i get a common app fee waiver.

The Common App fee waiver program allows students to apply to college without paying the application fees. This fee waiver can be applied for by students who meet certain criteria, such as financial need, military service, or affiliation with a partner organization. If a student qualifies for the Common App fee waiver, they will not have to pay any of the application fees associated with their

Can international students use a Common App fee waiver?

Yes, international students can use a Common App fee waiver. The process for applying for a fee waiver is the same as for domestic students. However, there are additional criteria that international students must meet to qualify for the waiver. These include demonstrating financial need, being part of a partner organization or program, or have previously applied for financial aid from the institution to which they are applying. Additionally

What can I do if I don’t meet the Common App fee waiver criteria?

If you don’t meet the criteria to receive a Common App fee waiver, some options are still available to reduce or eliminate the cost of applying. Many colleges offer additional fee waivers if you can demonstrate financial need. To qualify for such waivers, students may have to provide proof of their family income or submit copies of tax returns from recent years. Additionally, some colleges waive fees for all students.

Does it look bad on my application if I apply for a fee waiver?

No, applying for a fee waiver does not look bad on your application. Colleges understand the financial burden of applying to college, and many are willing to assist students who need it. Applying for a fee waiver is simply a way to demonstrate that you need help with college costs, and it will not be held against you in the admissions process. In fact, some colleges even offer additional scholarships to those who request fee waivers.

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How to Find Free College Admissions Resources

No-cost resources for college admissions assistance extend to advising, test prep, finding scholarships and more.

Free College Admissions Assistance

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The admissions process can be a lot to unpack, but free resources are available to help students.

Applying to college can be a bit like putting a puzzle together – a challenge to find the right pieces and their proper places. For first-generation or low-income students, the process can feel like putting the puzzle together without the picture on the box for reference.

That's why many students seek out free resources for college admissions assistance.

While the high school counselor's office is a good start, students may have limited interaction with counselors who are stretched thin due to their large workloads. But a bevy of resources – offered both online and in person – can help guide prospective students down the right roads in their college admissions journey.

"We recognize that we need to make it easier for all students, but particularly first-generation and low-income students to be able to access, afford and attain higher education," says Jenny Rickard, president and CEO of the Common Application , a popular platform that makes it easy to apply to multiple colleges. "Certainly, there were already hurdles, and then the COVID-19 pandemic created many more."

To help students clear those various admissions hurdles, U.S. News compiled a list of free resources below, touching on topics such as standardized testing, essays, financial aid and more.

Access College Admissions Advising

The admissions process can be a lot to unpack. That's where personal advising comes in. Independent education consultants often charge staggering sums that are out of reach for many families, but free resources are available that can serve students in a similar way.

College Possible , a nonprofit organization under the AmeriCorps umbrella, offers free college admissions assistance to students in public high schools, generally concentrated in major metro areas, in seven states: Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin. College Possible functions as an after-school program, guiding students via a college access and success curriculum.

"At College Possible we aspire to close the college degree divide," College Possible President Craig Robinson says. "We do that through our near peer mentoring program, where recent college grads, through AmeriCorps, serve as coaches in high schools to help those students complete the college application process."

Mentors also help students navigate the enrollment and financial aid processes.

The Common App also recently entered the college advising world, partnering with College Advising Corps – a nonprofit focused on student advising – and ed-tech company AdmitHub to offer free admissions guidance to 500,000 low-income and first-generation students.

The Common App offers advising through chatbots, as well as admissions counselors who work with these students via text message and online video messaging platforms.

With the coronavirus pandemic shifting much of academic life online, Rickard says concerns around the lack of access to high school counselors prompted the creation of the Common App's virtual advising program, which is still in the trial phase.

"They weren't necessarily having access to their counselors, and first-generation college students and lower-income students in particular may not have had the resources to get additional counseling support," Rickard says. "We were really concerned about them and wanted to figure out a way that we could connect them to advice about how to navigate the process."

Common App aims to evaluate student success from the virtual advising effort in order to learn how the program may be modified to expand its availability, she adds.

Get Schooled is another free resource that provides a variety of college admissions services for prospective students, alongside other offerings such as coaching students on how to approach job interviews.

Services include advising via text message, college essay reviews and more.

"Our goal is to provide useful, engaging content where youth spend their time: texting, social media and the internet," John Branam, executive director of Get Schooled, wrote in an email. "We also provide content directly to college advisors and educators primarily in high schools who then pass our content along to youth and encourage them to follow us on social media and engage with us via text."

While these programs have limited capacity, prospective students should check with their high schools to see what other free admissions resources are available, experts say. Local charities and other organizations may also offer college admissions assistance.

One unofficial resource that may benefit students: college admissions forums . While the social media landscape is littered with misinformation, students can get good advice on certain forums, such as Reddit and Quora, where college admissions counselors are often active.

Find Resources to Tackle Test Prep

Though many colleges have gone test-optional due to the challenges of administering standardized tests during the pandemic, some students are still eager to take the ACT and SAT .

The good news for those students is that free resources are offered by both organizations.

The ACT Academy offers personalized practice. Students can access videos, simulations and other free practice tools through the online resource to prepare for the test.

The College Board partners with Khan Academy for its test prep offerings for the SAT. Students can visit the Khan Academy website to take full-length practice tests, set up personalized study plans and watch videos covering content on the exam.

Get Help With College Essays

Crafting a college essay is an important part of the admissions process. The top factors in admissions decisions, according to a 2019 report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling, are grades in all courses, grades in college prep courses, strength of high school curriculum, admissions test scores and then the college essay.

Since the admissions essay matters more than factors such as class rank and extracurricular activities, per NACAC, students should aim for their best effort when crafting a personal statement. Luckily, free resources can help students get started.

Robinson at College Possible nods to Story2 as an organization that can help students with their best essay efforts. According to the Story2 website, a free trial subscription includes access to a guided writing platform, interactive courses and daily practice sessions.

Free resources are also sometimes available through admissions counselors who charge for their work with private clients.

Ethan Sawyer, founder of the College Essay Guy website, offers a trove of free resources on his website to help students get started. Students can find guidance on how to brainstorm essay topics, write personal statements and tackle supplemental essays by engaging with prerecorded videos, free webinars and text-based media.

Once the essay is written, there are some free tools to get feedback such as Get Schooled, which Branam notes reviewed more than 1,000 college admissions essays in 2020.

Find Funds for College

Just getting admitted isn't enough – students need a plan to pay for college.

The Federal Student Aid website should be one of the first stops for prospective college students and parents trying to figure out funding. The website offers guidance on how and when to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA , as well as a breakdown of how grants, work-study, student loans and scholarships all fit into the formula to pay for college.

In addition to the information available on college websites, prospective students should know that colleges' financial aid offices are open to inquiries and are only a free call or email away.

Various scholarship websites can also get students off to a good start. For example, Scholarship Finder , a new and free tool developed by U.S. News, offers students the chance to search more than 8,500 scholarships and save their favorites.

The resources students need to help them find their way to college are likely available in one admissions program or another, and it's just a matter of finding those services, Robinson says.

"If there's a will, there's a way. Be encouraged that there are programs and resources out there to help you navigate your pathway to college and a career."

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College Application Fees: Understanding the Costs of Applying to College

college application fees, The college application process is an important milestone in a student’s educational journey, but it often comes with associated fees that can impact affordability and accessibility. In this essay, we will explore the topic of college application fees, examining their significance, factors influencing costs, financial considerations, and the importance of equitable access to higher education.

Table of Contents

• 1.1 The Significance of College Application Fees
• 1.2 Factors Influencing College Application Fees
• 1.3 Financial Considerations and Assistance
• 1.4 Equitable Access to Higher Education

college application fees

The cost of applying to college can vary depending on the school. Some schools charge a flat application fee, while others charge a fee that is based on the applicant’s income. The average cost of applying to college is around $45. However, there are some schools that charge much more than that. For example, Stanford University charges $90 to apply, and Harvard University charges $75.

Here are some of the factors that can affect the cost of applying to college:

• The type of school:  Private colleges and universities typically charge higher application fees than public colleges and universities.
• The number of schools you apply to:  If you apply to a lot of schools, the cost of applying to college can add up quickly.
• The application fee waiver:  Some schools offer application fee waivers to students who demonstrate financial need.

If you are concerned about the cost of applying to college, there are a few things you can do:

• Apply to fewer schools:  This will help to reduce the overall cost of applying to college.
• Look for schools that offer application fee waivers:  Many schools offer application fee waivers to students who demonstrate financial need.
• Apply for scholarships:  There are many scholarships available that can help to offset the cost of applying to college.

Applying to college can be expensive, but there are a few things you can do to save money. By doing your research and taking advantage of the resources available to you, you can reduce the cost of applying to college and make your dream of a college education a reality.

The Significance of College Application Fees

Administrative Costs: College application fees cover the administrative expenses incurred by institutions during the evaluation process, including application processing, document review, and admission decisions.

Quality Assurance: Application fees contribute to maintaining a high standard of applications by deterring individuals who may not be genuinely interested or committed to the institution. It helps ensure that serious applicants are considered.

Factors Influencing College Application Fees

Institution Type and Reputation: Different types of institutions (public, private, Ivy League, etc.) may have varying application fees based on their funding models, prestige, and resources. Institutions with higher reputations may have higher fees.

Number of Applications: Students applying to multiple colleges may face significant cumulative costs due to individual application fees. The more applications submitted, the greater the financial burden.

Financial Considerations and Assistance

Affordability and Financial Planning: Prospective students and their families should assess their financial situation and create a budget to determine the affordability of college application fees. This involves considering the number of colleges they plan to apply to and the associated costs.

Fee Waivers and Financial Aid: Many institutions offer application fee waivers for students with financial need. Additionally, students can explore financial aid programs or scholarships specifically designated for covering application fees.

Equitable Access to Higher Education

Addressing Financial Barriers: College application fees can create financial barriers, particularly for students from low-income backgrounds. Institutions and policymakers should strive to ensure that these fees do not hinder qualified students from applying to college.

Fee Waiver Programs: Institutions can implement fee waiver programs or partnerships with community organizations to provide fee assistance to students who may otherwise be unable to afford the application costs.

Streamlining Application Processes: Simplifying and centralizing application processes can help reduce the financial burden by minimizing the need for multiple application submissions and associated fees.

Conclusion : College application fees play a significant role in the admissions process and can impact a student’s journey to higher education. While these fees cover administrative costs and contribute to maintaining application quality, they can create financial barriers for some students. Institutions should prioritize equitable access to higher education by implementing fee waiver programs and simplifying application processes. Prospective students should explore their financial options, including fee waivers and financial aid programs, to alleviate the burden of application fees. By addressing the significance of college application fees and promoting affordability, we can foster a more inclusive and accessible higher education system for all aspiring students.

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The True Cost of Applying to College + Tips for Saving Money

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What’s Covered:

How much do college applications cost, how to get college application fee waivers, other ways to apply to college for free, what about other college admissions expenses.

Applying to college is a stressful (and fun!) process. While you’ve probably already thought about submitting your transcript, test scores, personal statement, and supplemental essays, many students are surprised to learn that there are often fees associated with college applications.

Most schools have application fees, and they vary. So, when you’re planning out your finances surrounding college, you have to factor these in. Luckily, there are ways to get application fees reduced or waived in order to save money. 

In this post, we’ll explore the average cost of application fees and provide tips on how you can save money when applying to college.

According to US News, on average, college applications cost about $44 each. In practice, how much applications cost depends on the school. Here are some examples:

Say you’re applying to the average amount of schools for a US student, between 7 and 10. You’re looking at spending upwards of $400 on applications alone.

Why does it cost money to apply to college? There are two main reasons:

• Colleges use application fees to pay the people who are reviewing them! College admissions offices often employ many people, and charging application fees helps them maintain a large staff.
• Application fees help to thin out the applicant pool, allowing schools to focus on qualified, enthusiastic students. Some schools, particularly selective, well-known schools, charge high fees to discourage applications from students who aren’t invested in their school. They want students who are serious enough about attending their institution that they’re willing to spend a large amount of money on the application.

Most of the time, students will need to demonstrate some form of financial need to qualify for a fee waiver. Even if you qualify, you will likely have to submit multiple applications establishing your eligibility. One of the most common ways to demonstrate this need is qualifying for an SAT waiver. If you qualify for an SAT waiver, you will likely qualify for a college application waiver.

Common eligibility requirements include:

• Qualifying for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program
• Demonstrating a family income below $45,000 for a family of four
• Being a ward of the state or an orphan
• Living in a foster home, federally subsidized housing, or being homeless
• Receiving public assistance

Some other ways you can get a fee waiver include:

• Applying directly through the school’s financial aid office
• Showing that you are a legacy applicant
• Touring the school

If you ask the financial aid office directly, and can demonstrate that you have financial need, it’s very possible that they can waive that fee for you! Many schools also have policies prioritizing applicants whose parents or grandparents are alumni, and you could possibly get a fee waiver as a perk. Finally, a lot of schools will offer a fee waiver as an incentive to get potential students to tour the campus and apply. All of these depend on the school you are applying to, so make sure to do your research on each individual school. 

Not everyone qualifies for fee waivers, but most of us still want to save money! So what can you do?

Apply to colleges without application fees

There are many colleges with no application fee . Some of these schools include:

• Baylor University
• Gannon University
• Liberty University
• Maryville University of St. Louis
• Oakland University
• Texas Wesleyan University
• Tulane University
• University of the Pacific

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

Sign up for the Student Search Service

When you take the PSAT, SAT, or an AP test, you will get the opportunity to sign up for the CollegeBoard’s Student Search Service . This resource will share your contact information with schools where your academic profile resembles their typical applicant. It’s a great way to learn about new schools and upcoming events with admissions officers in your area, but some schools also will send you application fee waivers in the mail or by email.

See if you qualify for QuestBridge

QuestBridge partners with 40 prestigious colleges and universities in the US to offer the National College Match scholarship. It covers the full attendance of each school with no parental contribution and no student loans. You may have to contribute through a work study program, but it’s better than student loans! Eligible students are high-achieving and come from low-income families.

Unfortunately, there are also fees associated with taking the SAT and/or ACT. The SAT costs $55 and the ACT is $60 without Writing and $85 with Writing. It’s recommended that you take the SAT or ACT at least twice to maximize your score, especially if your school superscores. These costs can add up quickly! However, there are fee waivers available for both the SAT and ACT.

You are eligible for an SAT waiver if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Your family income lies below Income Eligibility Guidelines (USDA)
• You take part in a federal, state, or local program aiding students from low-income families
• You receive public assistance
• You live in federally subsidized housing, a foster home, or are homeless
• You are a ward of the state or orphan

Many test takers that qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program qualify for a fee waiver as well. To get the waiver, you will need to apply with the SAT. 

The ACT has similar guidelines for their waivers . You should work with your high school counselor to determine if you are eligible and request a waiver from the CollegeBoard.

CSS Profile

The College Scholarship Service (CSS) is a profile managed by the CollegeBoard. Students can build this profile to help determine the institutional aid they may be eligible to receive. Unfortunately, it costs $25 to file the initial CSS Profile for one school, and $16 for each additional school. Luckily, there are fee waivers for this too! You qualify for a fee waiver if one or more of the criteria below apply to you:

• You received an SAT fee waiver
• The parental income you reported on your application is approximately $45,000 or less for a family of four
• You are an orphan or ward of the court under the age of 24

Visiting Colleges

First off, let’s be clear–you don’t have to visit EVERY college you apply to. That can get really costly, plus it may not be worth it for your backup schools. So, the first thing you need to do is decide your three top-priority schools, and check out their visiting policies. This is much easier, if you are planning on attending an in-state school, or a school close to you. If you’re planning on attending an out-of-state school, it may not be worth it to visit in person due to travel fees. 

With that said, some schools will cover costs for you to visit them ! If you are a low-income, first-generation, and/or student of color, you may qualify for a fly-in or diversity program. If that doesn’t work for you, many schools allow you to have a “virtual visit”. Usually, you can visit the school’s website and click your way across campus, all from the comfort of your home!

Private Counselors

Due to the increasingly competitive nature of the college admissions process, private college counseling is a rapidly-expanding industry. However, this industry is not well-regulated, meaning it is up to students and their families to properly vet the experience and credentials of any potential college counselor before paying large sums for their services. 

The job of a college counselor is to review your credentials, and compile a list of colleges and universities that are likely to meet your needs and accept you. They will also help you with your applications and essays. Then, depending on the service, they can assist in choosing majors, asking for recommendation letters, financial aid, and more. 

However, these services don’t come cheap. According to the Independent Educational Consultant Association, in 2017 the average hourly compensation for a private college counselor was $200. Based on that hourly rate, a comprehensive package could cost thousands of dollars. 

CollegeVine’s Free Resources

After reading about all the expenses that can be associated with college admissions, you may be wondering what free resources are available. Luckily, CollegeVine is here to help!

Here at CollegeVine, we want you to get into your dream school! To help you do that, we offer a bunch of free resources all geared toward helping you reach your goals. Here are some of our favorites:

Chancing Engine

When you sign up for a free account, you will also be able to tell your chances of acceptance based on grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and more! Our Chancing Engine uses all the data we’ve accumulated about college admissions to give you a clear idea of how likely you are to be admitted to hundreds of schools. Try it before you apply so you know if you want to pay that application fee!

The CollegeVine Communities

Our CollegeVine community forums include your peers as well as admissions experts. You can get expert advice on your pressing college questions, and not just about admissions! If you have questions about standardized tests, scholarships, or anything else related to your college journey, our (FREE!) community is here to help. 

CollegeVine Livestreams

We have hundreds of livestreams that cover all the topics you’re concerned about when it comes to college. We have Q&As with current students, essay-writing tips, Pre-Med track advice, admissions overviews, and more. We’ve compiled hundreds of hours of information to help you with any question you have, before, during, and after the college application process. 

Live Profile Reviews

On top of all these resources, we also offer LIVE reviews of your admissions profile! Our expert hosts review real, anonymized student profiles. For each profile we share our assessment of your academics, extracurricular resume, and overall profile and make recommendations for enhancements. We also have a whole playlist of past live reviews that you can use to refresh your profile!

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How Much Does It Cost To Apply to College?

Application Fees

How to get an application fee waiver, other costs to expect when applying to colleges, frequently asked questions (faqs).

The cost of applying to college may not be as much as you think because there are multiple fee waivers and deferrals available to many students. However, fees and costs can still add up, on top of future college expenses. 

Consider the following expenses when thinking about schools, which could help you better map out your strategy, such as how many schools to apply to and when to start the process. Learn how to save money on college applications, and where to find more information.

Key Takeaways

• Application fees generally range between $30 and $90 for each application, but vary depending on school.
• If you’re a student from a low-income family, you may be able to have application fees waived.
• Other costs of applying to college may include paying for required tests such as the SAT and ACT fees, in-person school visits or tours, and registration fees, but there are ways to cut these costs too. 

Each college or university you apply to generally charges an application fee. The Balance analyzed application fees at 14 public and private universities across the country, and the average fee was about $64, but ranged from $30 to $90.

In general, private institutions charge $75 or more. Stanford charges $90 for first-year applicants while Dartmouth charges $80 for first-time applicants and $90 for transfer students, for example. Public universities tend to charge less, but not always—the University of Washington charges $80 for freshman applications.

These application fees vary by institution and your enrollment status—for example, whether you’re applying as a first-time student or, for example, an international or transfer student. For grad students, fees may even depend on which school within the university you’re applying to—for example, business school versus law school. 

Typically, you can pay your fee by credit or debit card , electronic check, or by mailing in a check. Application fees are usually non-refundable.

More than 475 schools don’t charge an application fee.

Waivers cut the costs of college applications by eliminating the application fee. You can get waivers in a few ways—they’re often based on economic need. 

Common App Fee Waiver

Common App, a nonprofit organization that simplifies the application process, offers application fee waivers based on a student’s household income . As with many other waivers, you could qualify for these if you are: 

• Enrolled in a free or reduced-price lunch program at your high school
• Receiving or eligible for an ACT or SAT fee waiver
• Receiving public assistance or federally subsidized housing for your family

NACAC Fee Waiver

First-time students can apply for an application fee waiver through the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).  Transfer students eligible for a Pell Grant can qualify for a transfer fee waiver. Even homeschooled students and adults going back to school can apply for an application fee waiver. The catch with NACAC waivers is that all require the signature of someone who certifies your economic need.

College Board Application Fee Waiver

The SAT-administering College Board provides application fee waivers for students who qualify for an SAT fee waiver. You can get the waiver for as many school applications as you wish—as long as they’re one of the more than 2,000 schools accepting the waivers. But, remember, you must register for the SAT and get an SAT fee waiver to qualify. If you’d hoped to take the ACT or skip college entrance exams altogether, you won’t get the application fee waivers.

Find out if the school you’re applying to accepts waivers by reviewing the school’s profile via the College Board’s College search tool .

School and State-Based Application Waivers

Some application fee waivers are provided at the school or state level. For example, graduate schools may offer application fee waivers based on financial need. Other state university systems offer fee waivers. Once again, you might need to meet specific requirements.

For example, to qualify for a State University of New York (SUNY) fee waiver, you must be a New York resident or U.S. citizen, and meet income limits. Additionally, all students at more than 500 designated New York State public high schools can apply to up to seven SUNY schools for free via an automatic waiver.

College application costs involve more than shelling out for an application. Tests, optional school visits, and required registration deposits all tend to cost money.

Fees for Standardized Tests

If you take national standardized tests such as the College Board’s SAT and ACT, you could pay fees. However, more than 1,800 accredited, four-year colleges and universities now make standardized testing optional or have test-free admissions policies.

If you do decide to take the SAT or ACT, here’s a quick fee comparison:

SAT and ACT Fee Waivers

Both the SAT and ACT offer fee waivers. These waivers allow you to take two free SAT tests and four ACT tests. Additional benefits depend on the test and could include additional score reports for colleges, or allowing you to avoid late registration fees or cancellation fees. For the SAT, these waivers are available to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade U.S. students who qualify. However, fee waivers may not cover things like change fees or a request to rush your scores to a school.

College Visit Costs

If you decide to visit schools as you shop for college, consider how quickly costs will add up for:

• Meals and snacks
• Car rental and gas
• Transportation to and from the airport

To save money, consider visiting schools in one region all at once. Or, you can skip in-person visits altogether. Many schools offer virtual visits that include interactive campus maps, immersive virtual tours, or tours using YouTube. Live virtual information sessions are common, too. You can use these sessions to ask questions about academics, financial aid, and student life. You can also get a sense of student life on campus by reading the student newspaper or browsing hashtags on Instagram and Tiktok.

Registration or Enrollment Fees

When you decide on the college you want to attend, you’ll likely need to pay an enrollment deposit fee soon after acceptance. This fee reserves your spot for enrollment, and the cost varies by school: 

• Cal State East Bay charges a $110 pre-enrollment fee due 30 days after your acceptance, or by May 1 (fall semester) or November 1 (spring semester).
• The University of Texas at Austin’s $200 enrollment fee for admitted students goes toward your first semester’s tuition and fees .
• The University of Northern Iowa’s $320 acceptance fee is divided between $250 toward new student programs and orientation, with the remaining $70 acting as an advance payment on your upcoming university bill.

A registration fee might not be refundable or may be only partially refundable.

Fee deferrals and exemptions may be available at your school, so call the admissions office to discuss options.

In addition, NACAC offers an enrollment deposit fee waiver if you’re an undergraduate or transfer student experiencing “significant hardship.” Like the application fee waiver, you’ll need to meet income requirements and get the form signed by, ideally, a high school counselor.

When should you start applying for college scholarships?

Start looking for scholarships in your junior year of college, and create a spreadsheet of deadlines, websites, and requirements. Work backward from the college scholarship deadlines listed to start collecting documentation, letters of recommendation, and anything else you might need to get a scholarship. You can apply for scholarships before being accepted into college.

How long does it take to get accepted into college after applying?

Traditionally, college application materials are due in January for the fall semester, and you’ll hear back by March or April. If you apply through early decision, you’ll submit your application by mid-November, then receive word in December. Dates and requirements differ between schools, so make sure you’re tracking deadlines in some way, such as a spreadsheet.

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