Apply for free in these USA universities

Just to apply to a U.S. university, you have to pay anywhere between $50 and $100. This is a non-refundable amount. Whether you get in or not, reject or accept the offer, this fee is mandatory.

For most students, this is a financial burden. Hence, we have curated a list of US universities that do not charge an application fee for international students.

Berea College
Curtis Institute of Music
Deep Springs College
Earlham College
Grinnell College
Hampshire College
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY
Morehouse College
St. John’s College
The University of the South

Before you hastily apply, gather all the necessary information. Read this guide to learn:

Why some universities charge application fees
Additional data on no-application-fee universities in the USA
Why do such no-application-fee universities exist in the USA
Fee waivers
Often ignored costs during the application process
Application process with the help of SelectRight

Why do colleges charge application fees?

There are three main reasons why:

Application fees cover processing and review costs. This covers the price of staffing the admissions office and giving you customer support, and analysing your transcripts, test scores, and other information.

Some institutions impose application fees to weed out applicants who aren’t as serious about their applications.
Application fees are a significant source of funding for some universities.

Universities in USA without Application Fee

No application fee universities in USA	Location	Type	Acceptance Rate	Popular Courses
Berea College	Berea, KY	Private, liberal arts college	75%	Education, business, biology, social work
Curtis Institute of Music	Philadelphia, PA	Private, music conservatory	4%	Music performance, composition, music theory
Deep Springs College	Deep Springs, CA	Private, liberal arts college	30%	Liberal arts, philosophy, science
Earlham College	Richmond, IN	Private, liberal arts college	65%	Biology, physics, economics, psychology
Grinnell College	Grinnell, IA	Private, liberal arts college	45%	Biology, economics, political science, psychology
Hampshire College	Amherst, MA	Private, liberal arts college	44%	Environmental science, biology, anthropology, creative writing
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY	New York, NY	Public, honors college	9%	Business, computer science, engineering, biology
Morehouse College	Atlanta, GA	Private, HBCU	50%	Business, biology, computer science, social work
St. John’s College	Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM	Private, liberal arts college	57%	Liberal arts, history, mathematics, philosophy
The University of the South	Sewanee, TN	Private, liberal arts college	50%	Biology, economics, history, literature

Note – Universities in the USA without application fee still have other fees that international students are required to pay.

Why are these Universities in the USA without an application fee?

There are a few reasons why universities with no application fee for international students in the USA exist.

Universities in the USA without an application fee make the application process more accessible to students, especially to those who might be experiencing financial difficulties. These universities give all students, regardless of financial circumstances, an equal opportunity to apply.

This also helps increase diversity in the student body. Students from a wider range of backgrounds can apply if no financial barrier is present.
Waiving application costs also encourages more students to submit applications. Universities in the USA without an application fee can expect a larger applicant pool.

Universities in USA without application fee – fee waivers

These universities aren’t exactly no application fee universities in the USA. But they offer application fee waivers.

An application fee waiver is a way for you to request that a college or university waive the application fee.

To qualify for a waiver, you need to demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria, such as being a first-generation college student or a member of a historically underrepresented group.

One such method is using Common Application. Students can apply to over 900 participating schools and institutions via the Common Application, a popular portal for college applications.

If you meet specific requirements, such as being a first-generation college student, a member of a historically underrepresented group, or a student with a disability, or if you can demonstrate financial need, you are eligible for application cost waivers from the Common Application. The Common Application website offers students the opportunity to request a price waiver.

Universities that offer application fee waivers

University	Fee Waiver Criteria
Berea College	Demonstrate financial need
Earlham College	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)
Grinnell College	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)
Macaulay Honors College at CUNY	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)
Morehouse College	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)
St. John’s College	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)
The University of the South	Demonstrate financial need or meet certain criteria (e.g. first-generation college student, member of a historically underrepresented group)

Other costs during the application process

Even if you apply to Universities in the USA without an application fee, there may be other costs associated. Here are a few examples of additional costs that you may need to consider.

Testing fees: You might need to submit scores from standardised tests such as the SAT or ACT. You have to pay fees ranging from $50 to over $100. You may also be asked to take subject-specific tests such as the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Transcripts: You will have to submit official transcripts from their previous schools. This usually happens after acceptance. These transcripts may need to be mailed directly from the school or may need to be translated and certified. These services can be costly, depending on the school and the number of transcripts required.
Recommendation letters: Usually, LORs are submitted online. However, you might be asked to mail these letters directly to the university. This process involves additional costs such as mailing fees.
Sometimes you may be called for an on-campus interview. If you are applying to a university that is located far from your home country, you need to consider the costs of travel and accommodation. This includes costs such as airfare, hotel stays, and transportation while you are on campus.

Application process for applying to universities in USA without application fee

Apart from paying the application fee, the application process is pretty much the same. The specific requirements for universities with no application fee for international students in the USA will vary depending on the program.

However, here are some general steps that you can follow as you begin your application journey.

Research colleges and universities: Start by researching the colleges and universities that you are interested in applying to. To consider factors such as the location, size, academic programs, and costs of each school easily on one platform, go to SelectRight. The AI-based platform uses 6 million+ data points across 10,000+ STEM, CS & MBA programs to give you unbiased recommendations for the most fundable programs.

Determine your eligibility: Each university will have different requirements. You need a specific GPA, field of study and other standardised test scores. Unless you meet the criteria, your application will not be assessed.
Gather necessary documents: You will need transcripts, test scores, recommendation letters, and other materials. The SOP and LOR are two most important aspects of securing a seat. Before you submit these documents, we recommend that you ask an expert from SelectRight to review them for you.
Complete the application: Once you have gathered all the necessary materials, you can begin the application process. Create an account on the university’s portal and begin entering all the required information.
Submit your application: Once you have completed your application, you will need to submit it to the school(s) you are interested in attending. Be sure to follow the school’s instructions carefully and submit your application by the deadline.
Wait for a decision: After you have submitted your application, you will need to wait for a decision from the school(s). Keep checking the portal regularly.
Receive your acceptance letter: If you are accepted to a school, you will receive an acceptance letter in the mail or via email. This letter will outline any conditions of your acceptance and will include information about how to enroll.

Applying to a university in the US can be a lengthy, expensive procedure to apply to a university in the United States as an overseas student.

We have informed you about Universities in the USA without application fees, and application fee waivers. But you still need to budget for charges like testing fees, transcripts, reference letters, and travel expenses in addition to application fees.

Researching the unique requirements and costs of the institutions you are interested in going to is always a good idea. You should also begin the application process as early as you can to give yourself plenty of time to collect all the required materials and fulfil any deadlines.