Budgeting and having options are important factors to take into account when considering studying abroad. However, applying to many institutions in the hopes of increasing your acceptance prospects might rapidly become outrageously expensive. In fewer than ten applications, you may wind up paying over $1000 (INR 82,669). Fortunately, many colleges provide free applications, and many schools offer cost waivers to students who complete the process online. Applying to these universities can increase your chances of getting admission without having to pay the hefty application fee. There are several universities in the USA without application fees. Let’s learn about them in this blog.
This Blog Includes:
- What is a College Application Fee?
- List of Universities in USA Without Application Fee
- How Much Do Application Fees Cost?
- How to Obtain Application Fee Waivers for US Universities?
- Why Attend a College That Doesn’t Charge an Application Fee?
- Why Apply to US Universities Without Application Fee?
- What You Must Know Before Applying to a University Without Application Fee?
- Other Options for Saving Money on College Application Fees
- How to Apply to Universities in USA Without Application Fee?
- FAQs
What is a College Application Fee?
A college application fee is a charge that students usually pay when applying to a school. It’s mostly used to cover the expenses of reviewing student applications. The admissions committee conducts interviews, responds to queries, and screens students during these periods. Colleges also charge the cost to evaluate the sincerity of student applying, because if an applicant rejects after being accepted, the school would waste important time and money.
List of Universities in USA Without Application Fee
Here is a quick rundown of universities in the United States where you may apply without paying an application fee:
College | Location | Application Fee |
Yale University | New Haven, Connecticut | A charge of $80 [INR 6,519] is required, although it can be waived. |
Wellesley College | Wellesley, Massachusetts | – |
Carleton College | Northfield, Minnesota | – |
Milwaukee School of Engineering | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | – |
Smith College | Northampton, Massachusetts | – |
Case Western Reserve University | Cleveland, Ohio | A charge of $70 [INR 5,704] is required, although it can be waived through Common App |
Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley, Massachusetts | – |
Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Free online application, paper application costs a $50 [INR 4,074] fee. |
Grinnell College | Grinnell, Iowa | – |
Tulane University | New Orleans, Louisiana | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Colby College | Waterville, Maine | – |
Macalester College | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Reed College | Portland, Oregon | – |
Kenyon College | Gambier, Ohio | – |
Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado | There is a general obligation fee of $1,000 [INR 81,509]. |
DePaul University | Greencastle, Indiana | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Trinity University | San Antonio, Texas | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Denison University | Granville, Ohio | – |
SLU – Saint Louis University | St. Louis, Missouri | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Rhodes College | Memphis, Tennessee | – |
Union College | Schenectady, New York | A charge of $60 [INR 4,889] is required, although it can be waived. |
Illinois Wesleyan University | Bloomington, Illinois | – |
Drake University | Des Moines, Iowa | Online application is free. |
Sewanee – The University of the South | Sewanee, Tennessee | – |
St. Olaf College | Northfield, Minnesota | Application is free, through the Common App. |
The College of Wooster | Wooster, Ohio | Free online application, pape-application incurs a $45 [INR 3,667] fee. |
Hobart and William Smith Colleges | Geneva, New York | Free online application, pape-application incurs a $45 [INR 3,667] fee. |
Lawrence University | Appleton, Wisconsin | – |
Baylor University | Waco, Texas | Free online application, pape-application incurs a $50 [INR 4,074] fee. |
Ursinus College | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | – |
Gustavus Adolphus College | Saint Peter, Minnesota | – |
Ohio Wesleyan University | Delaware, Ohio | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Juniata College | Huntingdon, Pennsylvania | – |
Michigan Technological University | Houghton, Michigan | – |
Southwestern University | Georgetown, Texas | – |
Earlham College | Richmond, Indiana | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Beloit College | Beloit, Wisconsin | – |
Centre College | Danville, Kentucky | – |
University of Dayton | Dayton, Ohio | – |
Hendrix College | Conway, Arkansas | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Hampshire College | Amherst, Massachusetts | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Hampden Sydney College | Hampden Sydney, Virginia | Application is free, through the Common App. |
University of St. Thomas – Minnesota | Saint Paul, Minnesota | – |
Transylvania University | Lexington, Kentucky | Application is free, through the Common App. |
Creighton University | Omaha, Nebraska | – |
Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, Michigan | Free online application and paper-application incur a $35 [INR 2,852] fee. |
Lewis and Clark College | Portland, Oregon | – |
New Mexico Military Institute | Roswell, New Mexico | – |
Presbyterian College | Clinton, South Carolina | – |
St. John’s College | Annapolis, Maryland | – |
United States Merchant Marine Academy | Kings Point, New York | – |
United States Military Academy at West Point | West Point, New York | – |
How Much Do Application Fees Cost?
According to US News among 936 ranked colleges, the average cost of an application fee is $44 [INR 3,586]. The 62 institutions with the highest tuition charges, on the other hand, charge an average of $78 [INR 6,358] per student. With a $105 [INR 8,558] charge, the University of California, San Diego ranks first, followed by Arkansas Baptist College with a $100 [INR 8,151] cost.
Also Read: Universities Accepting Low IELTS Scores
How to Obtain Application Fee Waivers for US Universities?
There are certain steps you can follow for your application fee to be waived for US universities.
- For students who have received College Board Fee Waivers for ACT or SAT may also be eligible to obtain fee waivers on their applications. The eligibility can be checked on the college board website.
- Students can also directly contact the admissions office of the university to enquire about the certain application fee waiver programs that they might be eligible for.
- For universities that do not charge an application fee, to begin with, students can simply obtain a direct application fee waiver.
- Applying to colleges that accept the Common Application can be requested a fee waiver in the application itself. This is provided on the basis of financial need of the student.
Please Note: The application fee waiver for the universities that might charge an application fee ultimately depends on its particular set of criteria. You can check in with Leverage Edu counsellors or directly reach out to the university for better clarity.
Why Attend a College That Doesn’t Charge an Application Fee?
When you are already spending thousands of dollars on education, you might believe it’s foolish to be concerned about a regular cost of less than $100 [INR 8,151]. But bear with us. When looking for safe schools, applying to a few colleges with free applications might be a realistic option. If your potential universities charge application fees, having an inexpensive backup plan might help you save money if things don’t go as planned.
Why Apply to US Universities Without Application Fee?
The expense of studying in a US university can be an expensive affair and even applying to the universities may be costly. The cost of standardized exams, the application fee, and travel expenses for college visits are all factors that might pinch your pocket. Before you even get to the university, you might have paid around USD 100 [INR 8,151] or more. Obtaining an application fee waiver is one method to ease this financial burden.
Also Read: MD in USA
What You Must Know Before Applying to a University Without Application Fee?
While application fees should be closely examined, they should not be the determining factor in your college choice. Consider information such as school accreditation and non-refundable enrollment deposit costs to obtain an accurate view.
Don’t be afraid to seek elsewhere if a free education doesn’t fit your requirements or doesn’t offer any programs or opportunities you’re interested in. To help with the expense of tuition, several institutions provide generous grants and scholarships. You might also want to look into applying for federal financial help.
Other Options for Saving Money on College Application Fees
If an online application fails to yield results, you can request a cost waiver. This is usually provided to students who require financial support. It does, however, come with a set of prerequisites, which include:
- Having a cost waiver for the SAT or ACT
- Being a part of a federal, state, or local programme that assists low-income students
- Living in a foster home or any other government-funded housing
Incoming college students can successfully curate a list of potential colleges using this information. Consider inexpensive universities, free community colleges, institutions that accept fee waivers, or schools that don’t charge application fees from the start.
Also Read: ACT vs SAT
How to Apply to Universities in USA Without Application Fee?
To begin the admissions process, you must follow a certain step-by-step approach to ensure that you do not miss anything while completing your application. The following tips go over the most important things to remember while preparing to study in colleges that do not require charge application fees:
Step 1: Research the certificate and degree programmes available in your subject of interest, as well as the colleges that provide them. Almost all of the universities listed above offer courses in a variety of specialisations, including Science, Technology, Humanities, and Business. As a result, the first step is to choose your preferred field of study.
Step 2: Applying to universities in the USA may be a time-consuming process, so get started on your application as soon as possible. Transcripts and mark sheets for your academic records, language proficiency scores (IELTS Score for the USA), letters of motivation, letters of reference (LOR), and a Statement of Profit (SOP) are just a few of the fundamental application requirements.
Step 3: Check the university’s official website for entrance criteria once you’ve chosen the preferred subject. Academic-related specifications, requirements related to work experience, information about the intake, and so on are some of the most important things to ensure.
Step 4: Now is the time to start creating accounts on university websites in order to submit your application.
Step 5: You may begin preparing your visa application after your application has been accepted by the institution. It usually takes approximately 60 days and requires a large number of documents, so you should start your visa application as soon as possible.
Also Read: Best Bank Accounts for International Students in USA
FAQs
A college application fee is a charge that students usually pay when applying to a school. It’s mostly used to cover the expenses of reviewing student applications.
Consider information such as school accreditation and non-refundable enrollment deposit costs to obtain an accurate view.
The average cost of an application fee is $44 (INR 3,586).
Don’t let an application cost prevent you from going to a university that is a perfect fit for you. You’ll almost certainly come to regret your decision afterwards. Similarly, you should avoid selecting institutions that do not match your needs only because they offer reduced application costs. Do a thorough research of universities before applying and make a wise decision!
Want to study in USA? Check out Leverage Edu’s AI Course Finder to explore the right course for you. Sign up for a free career counselling session and take your career to the next level!
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I need guidance about studying abroad
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Hello Lamin! Glad that you want guidance for studying abroad as Leverage Edu has study abroad experts that help you throughout the application process. Call us at 1800-572-000 and book your first counselling session now.
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Hi,
I have taken ets test and waiting for the official score card. I have to apply for fall intake.. how much chances to get a admission for masters.
3 comments
I need guidance about studying abroad
Hello Lamin! Glad that you want guidance for studying abroad as Leverage Edu has study abroad experts that help you throughout the application process. Call us at 1800-572-000 and book your first counselling session now.
Hi,
I have taken ets test and waiting for the official score card. I have to apply for fall intake.. how much chances to get a admission for masters.