When taking back-to-school photos this year, I admit I teared up. Not just from nostalgia — watching my 16-year-old step into their final year of high school is hitting me emotionally and financially.
Beyond the expenses of having a high school senior (think sky-high car insurance rates for teen drivers), we’re also beginning to encounter college application charges.
When every penny seems earmarked for an impending tuition bill and associated costs, finding room in the budget just to submit college applications can feel impossible.
How Much Are College Application Fees?
Prepare yourself: applying to college is neither inexpensive nor simple.
According to U.S. News & World Report, the typical fee to apply to a college is $45, though some Ivy League institutions demand fees up to $100.
Admissions counselors recommend students apply to a minimum of three colleges — and to boost chances, apply to five to eight schools. That places application costs somewhere between a manageable $180 and a staggering $1,000. Yikes.
3 Methods to Obtain a College Application Fee Waiver
If college application expenses aren’t feasible right now, there are solutions. Many colleges provide application fee waivers to low-income families and students who qualify for financial aid.
Below are a few approaches to secure fee waivers for application costs and guidance on how to pursue them.
1. Be Eligible for a College Board Fee Waiver
If you qualified for a College Board SAT or ACT fee waiver, you likely qualify for application fee waivers at more than 2,000 institutions nationwide. The procedure is simple, explained Tobi Kinsell, Chief Impact Officer at College Advising Corps.
“A student with financial need may request an ACT or SAT test fee waiver before registering to take the SAT or ACT,” Kinsell said. “When the student requests a test fee waiver, they are also eligible to receive college application fee waivers from participating colleges.”
There’s no cap on the number of College Board application fee waivers you can use. Just print the waivers at home or school and include them with applications to qualifying colleges.
2. Have Your Guidance Counselor Sign a Fee Waiver
Besides SAT and ACT application fee waivers, ACT offers a request form for a fee waiver or deferral that high school counselors sign and students submit to colleges.
Keep in mind that submitting the form doesn’t guarantee the college will accept it. Students should follow up with the admissions office to confirm the fee has been waived.
3. Simply Request a Waiver from the College
Sometimes you only need to ask. Most institutions don’t want application fees to prevent students from applying. Call the admissions office and inquire whether they will offer an application fee waiver as a courtesy.
Many colleges automatically grant fee waivers to certain students, including veterans and those with strong academic records. Students residing in federally subsidized housing or those who are wards of the state typically qualify for waivers as well.
4 Strategies to Cut College Application Costs
Even if you don’t qualify for full fee waivers, there are other tactics to reduce costs when applying to colleges. These suggestions can help you conserve a bit of money now to allocate toward tuition later.
1. Use the Common App or Coalition Application
Common App and the Coalition Application are platforms that lower barriers to college applications for many students. They save time and sometimes money by enabling applicants to send materials to multiple schools at once.
When you complete the FAFSA (the federal student aid application), the Common App and Coalition App platforms will automatically waive application fees if your income meets the criteria.
Also consider the Common App for HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities), which charges a flat $20 fee for applications to the 67 institutions in that association.
2. Do Your Homework
Many colleges don’t charge application fees. That’s right — you can apply free of charge to various community and state colleges. Additionally, many schools waive application fees for everyone during certain early admission windows.
For example, two schools on my senior’s list offer free application periods. We noted those dates so we could take advantage and save about $100.
By doing this research, our student will cut roughly a third off the expected cost of applying to college.
3. Reduce Your College List
The smartest way to manage application spending is to pay for what’s necessary and skip the rest. Shrink the list and apply to institutions with reasonable acceptance odds.
Michelle McAnaney, a college admissions consultant and founder of The College Spy, advises students not to apply to schools where acceptance is highly unlikely.
“Many times, it is difficult for students to determine if a ‘reach college’ is actually very much within the student’s reach!” she said. “Therefore, I highly recommend students consult with a professional such as their school counselor to determine which reach colleges make sense to apply to.”
4. Visit or Attend College Fairs
College admissions professionals recommend visiting nearby schools for tours or attending local college fairs. You can learn how to obtain fee waivers and speak directly with admissions staff about application expenses.
Attending tours and information sessions can also yield details on financial aid options for your family. For instance, some state universities help out-of-state students apply for residency after their first year to lower tuition costs.
Applying to college may present significant financial hurdles, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Using free application windows, planning for higher fees and asking for waivers can reduce expenses and ease a stressful senior year.
You may even impart useful budgeting lessons to your college-bound student in the process.
Kaz Weida is a senior writer for Savinly.
