130 Best Colleges With No Application Fees (2025-2026)

We all know college is expensive. Being smart with your money is an important skill to learn early on, and the best way to start is by developing a college funding plan to help afford your college experience—and avoid debt.

Ready to start? Application fees are one of the very first costs you’re going to face as a college applicant. While common, these fees are not universal, and there’s little harm in applying to schools that don’t charge.

So, which colleges and universities in the US don’t charge application fees?

What Are College Application Fees?

First off, what exactly are college application fees?

College application fees are charges that universities and colleges require when you submit your application. These fees help institutions manage the costs of processing applications, reviewing credentials, and maintaining their admission systems. 

Essentially, these fees cover the administrative costs associated with evaluating each applicant.

How Much Do College Applications Cost on Average?

So, how much do these fees typically cost?

On average, college application fees range from $50 to $90. However, some prestigious universities can charge up to $100 or more per application. For example, Stanford University and Duke University both have application fees of $90. If you’re applying to multiple schools, these fees can quickly add up, making fee-free applications an attractive option for budget-conscious students.

Are There Any US Colleges With No Application Fees?

Now, the big question: Are there any US colleges that don’t charge application fees?

Yes, there are! Many colleges across the United States waive application fees to make higher education more accessible. Here’s a comprehensive list of some US colleges that don’t charge application fees or offer waivers, to get you started:

1. Agnes Scott College
   1. State: Georgia
   2. Admission Rate: 68%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $45,064
2. Alaska Pacific University
   1. State: Alaska
   2. Admission Rate: 91%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $20,760
3. Albion College
   1. State: Michigan
   2. Admission Rate: 74%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $52,570
4. Alice Lloyd College
   1. State: Kentucky
   2. Admission Rate: 36%
   3. Essay Requirement: Required
   4. Tuition: $13,520
5. Allegheny College
   1. State: Pennsylvania
   2. Admission Rate: 62%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $53,610
6. Aquinas College
   1. State: Michigan
   2. Admission Rate: 77%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $35,340
7. Asbury University
   1. State: Kentucky
   2. Admission Rate: 60%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $32,652
8. Auburn University at Montgomery
   1. State: Alabama
   2. Admission Rate: 93%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $19,744
9. Augsburg University
   1. State: Minnesota
   2. Admission Rate: 73%
   3. Essay Requirement: Optional
   4. Tuition: $41,664
10. Augustana University
    1. State: South Dakota
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $36,084
11. Avila University
    1. State: Missouri
    2. Admission Rate: 53%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $21,900
12. Baker University
    1. State: Kansas
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $30,300
13. Barton College
    1. State: North Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $31,106
14. Baylor University
    1. State: Texas
    2. Admission Rate: 68%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $50,232
15. Belmont Abbey College
    1. State: North Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 81%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $36,660
16. Beloit College
    1. State: Wisconsin
    2. Admission Rate: 61%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $55,206
17. Berea College
    1. State: Kentucky
    2. Admission Rate: 33%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: No tuition (students work on campus to cover costs)
18. Bethany College
    1. State: West Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 78%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $29,000
19. Bethany Lutheran College
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 77%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $28,580
20. Bethel University
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 89%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,134
21. Bradley University
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $36,960
22. Bridgewater College
    1. State: Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 66%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $38,920
23. Bryn Mawr College
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 38%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $55,980
24. Buena Vista University
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 72%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $35,540
25. Butler University
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $44,460
26. Carleton College
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 17%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $60,225
27. Catawba College
    1. State: North Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $32,000
28. Cazenovia College
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 90%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $37,436
29. Cedar Crest College
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,448
30. Central College
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 67%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $19,750
31. Centre College
    1. State: Kentucky
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $48,070
32. Chadron State College
    1. State: Nebraska
    2. Admission Rate: 100%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $4,900
33. Champlain College
    1. State: Vermont
    2. Admission Rate: 85%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $42,860
34. Chatham University
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,220
35. Clarkson University
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 75%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $54,180
36. Coe College
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 69%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $48,640
37. Coker College
    1. State: South Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 61%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $31,380
38. Colby College
    1. State: Maine
    2. Admission Rate: 8%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $61,220
39. Colby-Sawyer College
    1. State: New Hampshire
    2. Admission Rate: 88%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $47,182
40. Colgate University
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 22%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $61,305
41. College of Mount Saint Vincent
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 94%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $40,980
42. College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 80%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $51,702
43. College of Saint Elizabeth
    1. State: New Jersey
    2. Admission Rate: 83%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $34,300
44. College of the Atlantic
    1. State: Maine
    2. Admission Rate: 76%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $42,694
45. College of Wooster
    1. State: Ohio
    2. Admission Rate: 57%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $54,000
46. Colorado College
    1. State: Colorado
    2. Admission Rate: 14%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $62,070
47. Colorado Mountain College
    1. State: Colorado
    2. Admission Rate: 100%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $4,920 (in-state), $10,400 (out-of-state)
48. Columbia College
    1. State: South Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 100%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $9,600
49. Concordia College
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 65%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $42,000
50. Cornell College
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 81%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $47,800
51. Creighton University
    1. State: Nebraska
    2. Admission Rate: 64%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,740
52. Culver-Stockton College
    1. State: Missouri
    2. Admission Rate: 60%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $29,000
53. Davis & Elkins College
    1. State: West Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 42%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $32,970
54. Delaware Valley University
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 65%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $40,740
55. Denison University
    1. State: Ohio
    2. Admission Rate: 28%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $57,480
56. DePauw University
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 64%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $54,000
57. Doane University
    1. State: Nebraska
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $37,400
58. Dominican University of California
    1. State: California
    2. Admission Rate: 85%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $49,660
59. Drake University
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 67%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $45,912
60. Drury University
    1. State: Missouri
    2. Admission Rate: 65%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $31,100
61. Earlham College
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 65%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $48,170
62. Eastern New Mexico University
    1. State: New Mexico
    2. Admission Rate: 60%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $8,125
63. Elizabethtown College
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 75%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $34,000
64. Elmhurst College
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 68%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $37,600
65. Emmanuel College
    1. State: Massachusetts
    2. Admission Rate: 72%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,152
66. Emory & Henry College
    1. State: Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 80%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $34,000
67. Eureka College
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 69%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $28,000
68. Ferris State University
    1. State: Michigan
    2. Admission Rate: 87%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $13,100
69. Finlandia University
    1. State: Michigan
    2. Admission Rate: 61%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $23,390
70. Franciscan University of Steubenville
    1. State: Ohio
    2. Admission Rate: 74%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $33,440
71. Franklin College
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 95%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $33,405
72. Freed-Hardeman University
    1. State: Tennessee
    2. Admission Rate: 92%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $32,250
73. Gannon University
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,000
74. Grace College and Seminary
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 83%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $28,160
75. Graceland University
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 59%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $30,260
76. Greenville University
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 63%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $26,000
77. Grinnell College
    1. State: Iowa
    2. Admission Rate: 19%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $58,648
78. Guilford College
    1. State: North Carolina
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $40,000
79. Gustavus Adolphus College
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 67%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $50,010
80. Gwynedd Mercy University
    1. State: Pennsylvania
    2. Admission Rate: 66%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $46,000
81. Hamline University
    1. State: Minnesota
    2. Admission Rate: 67%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $50,000
82. Hampden-Sydney College
    1. State: Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 58%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $47,000
83. Hampshire College
    1. State: Massachusetts
    2. Admission Rate: 63%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $52,068
84. Hanover College
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 74%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $46,000
85. Hartwick College
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 76%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $20,000
86. Hastings College
    1. State: Nebraska
    2. Admission Rate: 64%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $12,800
87. Henderson State University
    1. State: Arkansas
    2. Admission Rate: 80%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $25,000
88. Hendrix College
    1. State: Arkansas
    2. Admission Rate: 80%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $51,000
89. Hillsdale College
    1. State: Michigan
    2. Admission Rate: 36%
    3. Essay Requirement: Required
    4. Tuition: $50,000
90. Hiram College
    1. State: Ohio
    2. Admission Rate: 58%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $38,000
91. Hobart and William Smith Colleges
    1. State: New York
    2. Admission Rate: 65%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $47,000
92. Hollins University
    1. State: Virginia
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $47,000
93. Holy Cross College
    1. State: Indiana
    2. Admission Rate: 73%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $30,000
94. Holy Names University
    1. State: California
    2. Admission Rate: 90%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $40,000
95. Hood College
    1. State: Maryland
    2. Admission Rate: 71%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $43,000
96. Houston Baptist University
    1. State: Texas
    2. Admission Rate: 36%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $35,000
97. Howard Payne University
    1. State: Texas
    2. Admission Rate: 59%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $40,000
98. Illinois College
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 61%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $46,000
99. Illinois Institute of Technology
    1. State: Illinois
    2. Admission Rate: 60%
    3. Essay Requirement: Optional
    4. Tuition: $45,000
100. Illinois Wesleyan University
     1. State: Illinois
     2. Admission Rate: 61%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
101. Immaculata University
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 100%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $8,000
102. Indian River State College
     1. State: Florida
     2. Admission Rate: 67%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $40,000
103. Indiana Wesleyan University
     1. State: Indiana
     2. Admission Rate: 71%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $32,000
104. Iowa Wesleyan University
     1. State: Iowa
     2. Admission Rate: 70%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $32,000
105. John Carroll University
     1. State: Ohio
     2. Admission Rate: 75%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $44,000
106. Juniata College
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 74%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $47,500
107. Kalamazoo College
     1. State: Michigan
     2. Admission Rate: 73%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $54,372
108. Kenyon College
     1. State: Ohio
     2. Admission Rate: 36%
     3. Essay Requirement: Required
     4. Tuition: $66,240
109. Kettering University
     1. State: Michigan
     2. Admission Rate: 65%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
110. Keuka College
     1. State: New York
     2. Admission Rate: 66%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
111. King’s College
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 70%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
112. La Roche College
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 78%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
113. La Salle University
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 83%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
114. Lake Erie College
     1. State: Ohio
     2. Admission Rate: 91%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
115. Lakeland University
     1. State: Wisconsin
     2. Admission Rate: 58%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
116. Lane College
     1. State: Tennessee
     2. Admission Rate: 81%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
117. Lasell University
     1. State: Massachusetts
     2. Admission Rate: 73%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
118. Lawrence University
     1. State: Wisconsin
     2. Admission Rate: 62%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $55,206
119. Lebanon Valley College
     1. State: Pennsylvania
     2. Admission Rate: 70:
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $45,000
120. Lewis & Clark College
     1. State: Oregon
     2. Admission Rate: 72%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $57,404
121. Linfield University
     1. State: Oregon
     2. Admission Rate: 82%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $46,900
122. Loyola University Chicago
     1. State: Illinois
     2. Admission Rate: 67%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $49,498
123. Macalester College
     1. State: Minnesota
     2. Admission Rate: 39%
     3. Essay Requirement: Required
     4. Tuition: $60,225
124. Maryville University
     1. State: Missouri
     2. Admission Rate: 91%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $27,958
125. Smith College
     1. State: Massachusetts
     2. Admission Rate: 32%
     3. Essay Requirement: Required
     4. Tuition: $58,768
126. St. John’s University
     1. State: New York
     2. Admission Rate: 72%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $46,230
127. Trinity University
     1. State: Texas
     2. Admission Rate: 29%
     3. Essay Requirement: Required
     4. Tuition: $47,392
128. Tulane University
     1. State: Louisiana
     2. Admission Rate: 13%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $60,814
129. University of Dayton
     1. State: Ohio
     2. Admission Rate: 72%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $44,890
130. University of South Florida
     1. State: Florida
     2. Admission Rate: 49%
     3. Essay Requirement: Optional
     4. Tuition: $17,324 (in-state), $32,324 (out-of-state)
131. Wellesley College
     1. State: Massachusetts
     2. Admission Rate: 21%
     3. Essay Requirement: Required
     4. Tuition: $58,448

This list is not exhaustive, and more colleges may change their application fees in the future. Be sure to research and verify the application policies of each college you’re interested in.

What Are Fee Waivers, and Who Qualifies for Them?

Worried about these costs? Let’s talk about fee waivers.

Fee waivers are available for students who demonstrate financial need. They can significantly reduce the burden of application costs. To qualify, you typically need to meet certain criteria, such as:

• Being enrolled in or eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
• Living in a foster home, homeless shelter, or being a ward of the state
• Receiving public assistance
• Participating in an Upward Bound program
• Meeting the income eligibility guidelines set by the College Board or ACT

You can request fee waivers through your high school counselor or directly from the colleges to which you are applying. The College Board organization, which administers the SAT and the ACT, offers fee waiver programs for both exams. 

This video offers a fun introduction to fee waivers:

Additionally, many colleges and universities have their own fee waiver policies, so it’s worth checking with each institution.

Final Thoughts: Top Colleges Without Application Fees

The cost of a degree comprises many different educational fees along the way. Being intelligent and strategic about your spending is the smart way to go. Choosing to apply to colleges without application fees can help you overcome one of the very first obstacles to your college dreams. Every little bit counts.

Ready for more tips? Empowerly has helped our students land over $21.5 million in scholarships over four years, in the 2024 graduating class alone. If you would like to talk to an expert and take advantage of all the resources available to you, consider working with a college counselor. Student wellness is our goal, and that encompasses financial well-being. Let’s make a plan to set your child up for success.