Best Colleges in USA with No Application Fee 2023

What is a College Application Fee?

Students typically pay a fee when submitting an application to a college. It primarily serves to defray the cost of processing student application fees. During these times, the admissions committee conducts interviews, answers inquiries, and assesses applicants. Additionally, colleges charge this fee to assess applicants’ genuineness because, should they be rejected after being accepted, the university would lose valuable time and resources.

How Much Do Application Fees Cost?

The average application fee for the 936 colleges listed by US News is $44 (INR 3,586). On the other hand, the 62 institutions with the highest tuition fees impose an average fee of $78 (INR 6,358) per pupil. The University of California, San Diego comes in first with a $105 [INR 8,558] fee, followed by Arkansas Baptist College with a $100 [INR 8,151] fee.

Why Attend a Colleges in USA with no Application Fee?

You may feel that worrying about a recurring expense of less than $100 [INR 8,151] is ridiculous when you are already paying thousands of dollars on education. Keep with us, though. Applying to a few universities with free applications might be a viable choice when looking for safe schools. If the universities you are considering charge application fees, having a cheap backup plan could help you save money if things don’t work out as you had hoped.

Why Apply to US Universities Without Application Fee?

Even the cost of applying to institutions in the US can be pricey. Studying in a US university can be expensive. Standardized test costs, application fees, and travel costs associated with college visits are all things that could put a strain on your finances. You may have spent more than $100 (INR 8,151) before you ever arrived at the university. One way to alleviate this financial stress is to request a waiver of the application cost.

What You Must Know Before Applying to Colleges in USA with no Application Fee?

While application fees should be carefully considered, you shouldn’t let them influence your decision on a college. To get a true picture, take into account details like tuition costs and non-refundable enrollment deposit costs.

If a free education doesn’t meet your needs or doesn’t provide any opportunities or programs you’re interested in, don’t be afraid to look elsewhere. Several institutions offer generous grants and scholarships to defray the cost of tuition. Additionally, you might want to think about requesting federal financial assistance.

Other Options for Saving Money on College Application Fees

If an online application is unsuccessful, you can ask for a fee waiver. This is typically given to students that need financial assistance. However, it does have a list of requirements, 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

Using this information, incoming college students can successfully compile a list of potential colleges. Think of low-cost colleges, free community colleges, organizations that accept price waivers, or establishments that don’t collect application costs right away.

Colleges in USA With no 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, paper-application incurs 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 to Apply to these Universities?

You must adhere to a specific step-by-step procedure when starting the admissions process to make sure you don’t forget anything while filling out your application. The most crucial points to keep in mind as you get ready to enroll at institutions that don’t charge application fees are covered in the following advice:

Step 1:

Examine the certificate and degree programs offered in your area of interest at the colleges where they are offered. The majority of the universities on the above list provide courses in a range of specializations, including business, humanities, science, and technology. The first step is to select your preferred field of study as a result.

Step 2:

Get started on your application as soon as you can because applying to universities in the USA may take some time. The basic application requirements include transcripts and mark sheets for your academic records, language proficiency scores (IELTS Score for the USA), a letter of motivation, letters of reference (LOR), and a Statement of Profit (SOP).

Step 3:

Once you’ve decided on your favorite subject, check the university’s official website for the admission requirements. Some of the most crucial elements to verify are academic requirements, work experience criteria, intake information, and so on.

Step 4: 

Start registering for accounts on university websites right away in order to submit your application.

Step 5: 

After the institution has approved your application, you can start putting together your visa application. You should begin your visa application as soon as you can because it typically takes 60 days and requires a lot of paperwork.

FAQs

Don’t let the expense of your application keep you from attending a school where you would thrive. Almost sure, you’ll come to regret your choice afterwards. Similarly, you should refrain from choosing institutions solely because they have cheaper application fees even though they do not meet your needs. Make a sensible choice by doing extensive research on universities before applying!