2026 College Application Waiver Weeks. Find Waivers by State and University
College application fees add up fast, but the good news is that many state universities and private institutions set aside specific weeks or months when application fees are waived. These windows often happen in the fall, right when seniors are building their college lists and submitting applications.
The smartest move is simple: call or email every school before you apply. Ask the admissions office whether they have a free application week, a school-specific fee waiver code, or a state-sponsored waiver period. Even if your chosen college is not listed in a statewide program, it may still waive the fee for certain students, certain dates, campus visits, online applications, or counselor referrals.
Use the schedule below as a starting point, not the final word. Dates, eligibility rules, and participating colleges vary per state. Before paying an application fee, check the college’s admissions page, your state’s college access site, and the application platform you plan to use. A five-minute call could save $50, $75, or more per application.
College Admissions Waivers
Be Realistic and Smart with your Funds
Students who apply to eight colleges, sending test scores and transcripts at additional cost, will spend several hundred dollars well before the housing deposit or buying dorm room essentials.
Make Application Waiver Weeks a part of your college planning checklist. These programs are designed to help students and parents apply on time without letting fees stop you from considering a desired school.
Fee waiver periods are often sponsored by:
State higher education agencies
Public university systems
Community college systems
Private college associations
College access organizations
Individual colleges and universities
2026 waiver weeks by state
The examples below reflect known statewide or systemwide application fee waiver periods provided in the 2026 schedule. If your chosen school is not listed below, call or email admissions and confirm details with each school before submitting.
State or system | 2026 free application period | What to know |
New York SUNY | October 19 to November 2, 2026 | SUNY allows up to 5 free applications during this period. |
New York CUNY | September 15 to November 16, 2026 | For NYC public high schools. |
New York CUNY | October 15 to November 16, 2026 | For all New York State public and private high schools. |
New York private colleges | October and November 2026 | More than 45 participating private colleges waive fees on different dates. |
North Carolina | October 19 to 25, 2026 | Check participating schools through CFNC. |
South Dakota | October 1 to November 30, 2026 | Applies to public universities and technical colleges. |
Colorado | October 20 to 22, 2026 | Includes all 32 public colleges, such as CU Boulder and CSU, plus select private schools. |
Alabama | October 5 to 9, 2026 | Includes Alabama Community Colleges, UA System campuses, Auburn University at Montgomery, and more. |
Georgia | November 1 to 30, 2026 | “Apply to College Month” for USG public universities and select private colleges. |
Indiana | September 21 to 25, 2026 | College GO! Week for participating schools such as Indiana State and Purdue Northwest. |
Texas | October 12 to 18, 2026 | For eligible Texas residents applying to public universities and community colleges through ApplyTexas. |
Tennessee | September 2026 | Check College for TN for participating institutions. |
Virginia | October 19 to 23 and October 26 to 30, 2026 | Often tied to schools where at least 50% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, though some colleges waive fees for all applicants. |
What to ask when you call a college admissions office:
When contacting a school, keep the question short and direct.
“Hi, I am planning to apply for fall 2027 admission. Do you have a free application week, or an application fee waiver code?
Then ask these follow-up questions:
Do I need to apply through a specific website?
Do I need a counselor code or income-based form?
Will the fee show as waived before I submit?
The last question matters. If the fee still appears at checkout, do not assume it will be refunded later. Stop and contact the college first.
A million moons ago, when I applied to grad schools, I called ten admissions offices and only one school, the MFA Program at Sarah Lawrence, waived my application fee. I recall it warmly because of all the Deans I spoke to; Susan Guma was the only woman and the main reason I chose her program.
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