Key Takeaways:
- The average undergraduate college application fee is about $47, but fees vary by college.
- College application fees range from $0 – $500, but most cost within the $30-$90 range.
- In addition to the application fee itself, you may incur other application related expenses like test registration costs (AP, SAT/ACT), fees for pulling transcripts, and costs incurred for college visits.
College expenses start even before you pay your deposit to enroll in a college. College application fees are one expense many students and families don’t account for. Granted, these costs can be negligible when compared to the cost of college, but it can still add up if you’re planning to apply to several colleges.
Paying for every application you send out can seem unfair – after all, why do colleges charge these fees? Why do some schools have no fee at all? And is it possible to get a fee waiver? We answer these questions and more below.
An undergraduate college application fees vary by college. Some schools don’t ask for any payment to apply, while others can ask for up to more than $100 application fee. In 2024, the average undergrad application fee was about $47.
For graduate student applications, the fee can easily be over $100. For example, Harvard University asks for $85 from undergraduate applicants and $105 from graduate students.
Each college and university uses its own formula to calculate its application fee. If you’re ever curious about what a school will charge you to apply, College Raptor’s College Match tool and each individual school page can tell you under the Admissions tab.
Can You Apply to College for Free?
Yes, in some cases you may be able to apply to your college or university for free.
- If you have a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT could also be eligible for college application fee waivers.
- Many colleges offer a fee waiver for students who qualify. Look on the schools website or contact the financial aid office to inquire.
- Several colleges have a $0 application fee – in fact it’s free to apply to over 700 of the top 1600 4-year colleges!
How to Apply for a College Application Fee Waiver?
Students who demonstrate financial need may be eligible for a fee waiver.
If you received a fee waiver for the SAT or ACT, you will generally be accepted for an application fee waiver. Students can also qualify if their family income falls within a specific amount or if they already receive low-income financial aid from the government. In addition, some schools will not require you to pay the application fee if you visit the school for a tour of the campus.
If you are not sure about your eligibility, be sure to reach out to the school’s financial aid office to inquire.
Why Do Colleges Have Application Fees?
There are two main reasons why most colleges charge application fees.
- They need to recover the cost of reviewing the hundreds of applications they receive. Depending on the size of the school, a single university can receive upwards of 50,000 applications a year. Reviewing every one of these applications, reading essays, and conducting interviews takes time and money. College application fees help to cover these costs.
- It helps ensure that the college only receives applications from students serious about attending their school.
Why Different Schools Charge Different Fees
Every school uses its own formula to calculate the cost of assessing applications. They then charge a fee that covers their costs. Some colleges base their fees on how many applications they receive and how selective their admission process is.
Additionally, some colleges don’t charge any application fee. Rather than limit the applications they receive, they welcome applications from all students. These schools believe that charging an application fee would limit the pool of students applying. On the other hand, eliminating their application fee offers greater access to a more diverse student cohort.
5 Tips for Lowering The Cost of College Application Fees
To reduce the amount you’re paying in college application fees, follow these tips.
1. Narrow Down Your List of Colleges
You might be tempted to apply to every college that interests you, but that can be both overwhelming and expensive. By creating a short list, you can find the colleges and universities that match your needs, wants, budget, and more – and really save potentially hundreds of dollars on application fees.
2. Apply for SAT/ACT Test and College Application Fee Waivers
Each time you sit for the SAT or ACT, costs you money. If you take each test multiple times, the fees will add up. However, you may be eligible for a fee waiver. You should apply for these if you think there is even a chance you will be approved.
3. Request a Fee Waiver for the Common App
The Common App is a great way to apply to several colleges at once and save money by doing so. If you’re financially eligible, you could save further money by getting your Common App fee waived. You will need to submit a financial need verification form signed by your high school counselor or other accepted authority though to apply.
4. Ask the College Directly
Ask the college directly for an application fee waiver even if you don’t see details about waivers online. Call the school’s admission office to explain your circumstances and reasons for requesting a waiver. If they think it’s justified and if you can support your request with the relevant documentation, the school may consider it even if they don’t have an official fee waiver policy.
5. Apply to Schools with No Application Fee
As mentioned, several schools (including many on our Top Colleges and Hidden Gem lists) have $0 application fees. If you find your costs are getting out of hand and you don’t qualify for a waiver, add a few colleges to your list that skip the fee altogether.
What Overall Application Costs Should You Budget For?
Application fees are only part of the whole picture. Before you even apply to a college there are other fees to consider.
All told, you should request fee waivers and/or budget for:
- College applications
- SAT/ACT test registration
- Campus visits
- AP/Dual credit courses
- High school and college transcript requests
- Tutoring and/or study material
Here’s a look at some of the additional expected expenses that you could pay before you even step foot on a college campus:
Standardized Test Fees
Many colleges still require you to submit ACT or SAT scores – or they highly recommend it. The SAT costs $68 to register. The ACT is $68 without writing and $93 with writing. These prices don’t include any fees you could incur from late registration or changing your test date. Plus, you can only send your results to four schools for free. If you want to send test scores to additional colleges beyond this initial four, you’re going to have to pay extra.
There are fee waivers for the ACT or SAT that you may qualify for.
Dual Credit Courses
Taking classes for college credits before you graduate high school can save you thousands of dollars in college, but it could cost you some money up front in the form of books and supplies.
If you’re taking AP courses, taking the test is going to cost you, too. Currently, each exam is $98. If you take just four AP classes in high school, that’s nearly $400 for the tests alone. There aren’t fee waivers for the AP classes, but there are fee reductions available if you qualify.
Dual college credit courses are often offered free through the high school, but there may be some exceptions.
College Visits
Then there are the costs involved for college visits. How much you spend depends on how far your selected colleges are from home, what kind of visit you signed up for, and the school itself. If you have multiple people coming with you to college visits, that’s extra expenses if you must purchase flights, hotel, and gas.
Other Miscellaneous Expenses
Other potential costs you may run into during high school are:
- Tutoring expenses. These can cost anywhere between $15 to $175 or more an hour.
- Transcript fees. Requesting official transcripts from your high school can cost between $5 to $20 per request or copy.
- Dual credit class transcripts. There may be additional cost for these.
College application fees can feel like a way for a school to get money out of you before you even attend the school, but they do serve a purpose. They help to cover the cost of reviewing applications while also deterring students from applying to colleges willy-nilly. If you are struggling to pay these fees, consider applying for fee waivers or searching for colleges that have lower fees or no fees at all.
Did you know that College Match and school profile pages on College Raptor can give you information about application fees? Start using it today for free to find out how much it will cost you to apply to your dream school!
