List of Universities Without Application Fees for Admissions in 2024
Are you fretting over applying to universities because of the high cost of tuition fees that universities these days are charging, and that at an increasing per annum rate?
Let me tell you that this is not the only cost you will experience once admitted to a university. In fact, the costs associated with an educational institute incur even before getting admission there. Which cost, you ask? The admission fee, of course!
A recent survey conducted by the US News and World Reports shows that the average application fee charged by American universities ranges from $43 to $50, while that of renowned academic institutes like Stanford and Yale goes as high as $80 to $90. And you thought studying at a university was the only expense?
The most common case scenario is that students apply to many different institutes to ensure that they get selected by at least one or two of them. This means that a student applying to 3 public universities in the US will have to pay $150 only as their application processing fee.Â
But have you ever thought why do universities charge this high application processing fee?
We have got an answer to this question as well. Universities set a high amount of application fee, which is subject to increase every year, to avoid receiving thousands of applications. Thus, the management can ensure that the applications of only those students have been received who are seriously interested in getting enrolled in the particular institute.
However, the progressive nature of this overhead is constantly becoming a barrier for students in continuing their higher education.
Can the cost of application fees charged by universities be reduced or disregarded?
There is always a way to make things work in one’s favor. And there is a savvy way for you too, through which you can completely disregard this surplus expense. What’s that, you ask?
Well, many universities have launched their web portals which accept applications of students from around the world online, without costing them a penny. Apart from this, universities also launch application fee waiver schemes from time to time so that those students who cannot afford to pay the application fee can still apply to the institutes.
List of Universities with No Application fee in 2024:-
Want to know which universities facilitate the applicants in such ways? Read this article till the end to get your hands on the ultimate list of the 60 universities that have no application fee in 2024.
List of USA Universities without Application Fees:
- University of Louisiana, Tulane: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The University of Louisiana ranks #15 amongst the top colleges by Forbes. The university has an application fee of $25, but it tends to decrease upon request or through the web portal.
- Yale University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Yale University ranks 6th in the US for the quality of education provided to its students. Even though the application fee at Yale University is as high as $80, students can apply for an application fee waiver by visiting its official website.
- Thomas Aquinas College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Thomas Aquinas College stands at the 40th place in the best Liberal Arts Colleges in the US. The institute offers the option of free application submission and processing to applicants through its web portal.
- Carleton College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Based on its reputation and quality of education, the Carleton College ranks 9th in the US amongst all the Liberal Arts Colleges and on #16 in Forbes Top Colleges. The application fee at Carleton College can be alleviated by using the Common App online application submission platform.
- Wellesley College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Amongst all the Liberal Arts Colleges located in the United States, Wellesley College ranks 4th. Although the tuition fee at the university is extremely high, the application fee can be ignored by submitting an online application through the Common App online platform.
- Colby College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The academic ranking of Colby College amongst the Liberal Arts Colleges in the US is #15. Showcasing exceptional performance across a range of indicators, the Colby College facilitates applicants with its online web portal, which accepts and processes their application free of cost.
- Kenyon College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
As per the 2024 rankings of the best Liberal Arts Colleges in the US, Kenyon College stood in 28th place. The institute accepts complete applications with documents attested through the Common App online portal, without charging any application fee.
- Smith College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
In the Forbes Top Colleges list, the Smith College comes at 49th place and in the list of the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges in the US, it ranks #15. The institute imposes no superfluous charges in the name of application fees by using the Common App online portal.
- Reed College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Reed College is affiliated with the Common App online application processing portal which accepts applications from students from around the world free of cost.
- Grinnell College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The Grinnell College also uses the Common App application portal for accepting and processing complete applications from national and international students without costing them a dime.
- Union College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
In our list of institutes that accept applications of students without charging any application fee, the Union College in New York stands at 11th place. Apart from operating the Common App online platform, the institute also offers application fee waivers to deserving candidates.
- Centre College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Despite the fact that the Centre College has a higher tuition fee than the national average, the institute has charged no fee for accepting and processing the applications of students.
- Bryn Mawr College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Generally, the application processing fee at Bryn Mawr College is $50, but this amount can be reduced to zilch by applying through the Common App online platform.
- Earlham College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Despite the fact that Earlham College is a private sector university in the United States, the institute charges no fee for accepting the applications of students, either physically or through the online portal.
- The DePauw University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
If you are looking for a top-notch university that offers quality education and a range of opportunities at a reasonable cost, you should consider DePauw University which, in spite of having a fixed application fee of $40 offers fee waivers to eliminate the cost.
- Denison University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Denison University is the best university to apply to if you are in search of a university that has no application fee and which accepts applications online.
- Rhodes College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
In spite of having global recognition, the Rhodes Colleges uses the Common App online application processing platform which charges no application fee from its applicants.
- Mount Holyoke College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Even though the per semester tuition at Mount Holyoke University ranges from $57,000 to $73,000, the university charges no fee for accepting applications from applicants.
- College St. Olaf: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
All the students who apply physically at the College St. Olaf are required to pay a $35 application fee. However, this fee can be reduced by applying for an application fee waiver beforehand or submitting applications online, either through the university’s web portal or the Common App platform.
- University of South, Sewanee: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The University of South, Sewanee is the most considerate towards its students when it comes to enrollments. Not only does the university has zero application fee, but is also optional when it comes to admission tests. Moreover, applicants can apply for scholarships at the initial stages of their applications.
- The Hampshire College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Another top-notch American institute that offers a quality education at a minimum cost is Hampshire College which uses the Common App application processing platform to minimize the admission cost for the students.
- The Case Western Reserve University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Even though the admission fee at the Case Western Reserve University is extremely high, at $70, the university has lenient approaches and eliminates this fee upon the request of the candidates.
- Clark and Lewis College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The Clark and Lewis College has a non-refundable application fee of $50 which must accompany each application. However, this fee reduces to zero if applications are made through the Common App online portal.
- Trinity University in San Antonio: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
For admissions in Trinity University, the requirements are a complete application form with attested documents accompanied with a $65 bill. However, savvy students can save themselves $65 by applying directly through the Common App online application submission portal.
- Wooster College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Another partner institute of the Common App application processing portal is the Wooster College, which despite having a $45 application fee requirement offers a waiver to students applying through Common App.
- Juniata College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
For those of you willing to apply to Juniata College, we have good news. The institute has no application fee requirements, rather facilitates the students by providing an option of online application submission.
- Presbyterian College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The application fee at Presbyterian College can be relatively high, but for those who apply through the Common App online platform, the application fee is zero.
- Ohio Wesleyan University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The students who apply to the Ohio Wesleyan University through the Common App online application acceptance portal can save themselves the $55, which those students who apply physically will have to pay as a must.
- Drake University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Being one of the highly selective universities in the US with an acceptance rate of 68%, Drake University is extremely considerate towards its students in terms that it does not have any mandatory application fee requirements for its applicants.
- Hendrix College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Whether students choose to apply to Hendrix College through the Common App online portal or Hendrix’s own institutional application system, they will not be charged for application submission.
- Hobart William Smith College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Despite ranking amongst the top 100 most expensive educational institutions in the US, the Hobart William Smith College astoundingly charges no fee for accepting applications from students.
- Creighton University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Students who apply directly at Creighton University through its institutional application system will have to pay $40 as a mandatory application fee. However, those who apply via the Common App online platform can save themselves this $40.
- St. Johns College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
St. Johns College welcomes all serious students to apply for a seat at the institute and eases the application requirements by not charging any application fee.
- Hampden Sydney College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Hampden Sydney College has a mandatory application fee of $30, which can be reduced to a great extent by submitting applications online via the Common App portal.
- Beloit College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The Beloit College gives students a chance to compete for a seat for free by submitting their applications through the Common App online platform.
- Hills Dale College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The Hills Dale College gives students the offer to submit their applications through either of the sources: Physically through the college’s institutional application system, online through Hill Dale’s web portal, or via the Common App Application Portal. Equal consideration is given to all the applicants, rather the ones who apply physically are required to submit a $35 application fee while the online applicants are not subject to these charges.
- SLU- Saint Louis University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Students can apply to Saint Louis University for free through the Common App Application Portal.
- The Transylvania University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Transylvania University applicants are subject to a $50 application fee, which can be eliminated by submitting applications online through the Common App platform.
- South Western University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Another university that does not charge an application fee in 2024 is South Western University.
- Ursinus College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Students who are looking for universities with no application fee can apply to the Ursinus College for free using the Ursinus Transfer Application portal or the Common App online portal.
- United States Military Academy at West Point: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The United States Military Academy is yet another university that offers the benefit of free application submission to students from around the world.
- Tulane University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
This top-ranking university attracts thousands of students each year because of its free application fee requirements and the flexibility of applying through the Common App portal.
- Lawrence University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Students who choose to apply at Lawrence University will incur an application fee of $60, but they can reduce this cost to $0 by applying through the Common App web portal.
- Gustavus Adolphus College: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
#44 on our list of the top 60 universities without any application fee is the Gustavus Adolphus College, a top ranking college in Minnesota.
- New Mexico Military Institute: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Ranking the 15th best institute by the US News and World Reports, the New Mexico Military Institute attracts a student population of thousands by offering a free application submission system.
- University of Dayton: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
If you apply to the University of Dayton for the academic year 2024-2025, you can benefit from the facility of submitting your application for free through the Common App web platform.
- United States Merchant Marine Academy: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Despite having extremely competitive admissions requirements, the United States Merchant Marine Academy does not charge any application fees from applicants.
- The University of St. Thomas- Minnesota: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
The University of Thomas has revised its application fee for the year 2024 and increased it to $55 from $40. However, students can save this amount by applying via the Common App platform.
- Illinois Wesleyan University: Zero Application Fees; apply via Commonsapp or University Portal
Students from all academic, cultural, and financial backgrounds are welcome to apply at the Illinois Wesleyan University free of cost, either physically or through the Common App platform.
List of Canadian Universities with no Application Fee:
Listed below are five top-notch Canadian universities which benefit students by accepting and processing applications for free through their official web portals:
- Royal Roads University
- Quest University International
- Booth University College
- University of Alberta
- University of British Columbia
List of Australian Universities with no Application Fee:
If you are looking for Australian universities which accept online applications of students for free, then you should consider taking a look at this list:
- Charles Darwin University
- Victoria University
- University of South Australia
- Central Queensland University
- RMIT University
- The University of Notre Dame Australia.
Final Wordings:-
Whether you want to study in the US, or Canada, or even Australia, this list will help you look for the best universities that process applications free of cost. So, what are you waiting for? Send your applications to these universities for free right away! Good luck.
