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When planning to apply to multiple colleges, it's important to remember that application fees can quickly accumulate. 

These costs vary widely between $35 to $60 or more for each college. Some colleges offer:

  • Reduced application fees for students completing their applications online.
  • Free online application.
  • Application fee waiver for students who attended various on-campus admissions programs.

Check with the colleges where you plan to apply.

Application Cost Waivers

Don't let application costs get in your way of applying to colleges. If you have trouble affording the fees, you may be eligible for fee waivers:

The State University of New York (SUNY) waives the $50 application fee for up to seven college choices for students facing significant financial hardship.  

  • If you are applying to a SUNY college or university, ask your school counselor to complete and submit a SUNY Fee Waiver Request Form
    • When you submit your application, select "Fee Waiver" as your payment method. 
      • Be aware that if a fee waiver request is submitted and you are later found ineligible, you will be required to submit payment before the application will be processed. 

Learn more about SUNY application fee waivers on SUNY’s Application FAQs webpage.

The City University of New York (CUNY) fee waivers may be available to students who are current CUNY students, current NYS High School students, students facing hardship or veterans and spouses of veterans.

Learn more about CUNY Application Fee Waivers.

If financially eligible students have used their application fee waivers through NACAC and Collegeboard, they are likely to receive additional fee waivers for their remaining college applications through the Common App. The student's guidance counselor will be asked to confirm the financial eligibility for the fee waiver.

College Board provides four fee waivers to students who previously received a fee waiver for the SAT. Students receive these waivers directly from the College Board through their College Board accounts. 

If you did not take the SAT or are applying to more than four schools, you can request a waiver through the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Complete the NACAC Request for Application Fee Waiver with the help of your high school counselor.