Keeping Application Costs in Check

Applying to college can be a costly proposition. According to U.S. News and World Report (2022), college application fees can range from $50-$100 per college. Add in the cost of standardized test score reports and, at some high schools, fees for transcript requests, and the costs can quickly add up. For example, a student applying to just 10 universities may have to pay $700 in application fees alone.

Here are four ways families can keep college application costs under control:

Build a thoughtful college list.

Few students truly need to apply to 15 or more colleges. Resist the temptation to add colleges to your list that you know little about or would not attend if admitted. Make sure to include several colleges that you love where you will have a high probability of admission. Then prune your “reach” schools to a manageable number. Not only will this strategy save your family money on application fees, but it will also allow you to do a better job on each application.

Create an application budget.

As you begin to research colleges, check the application fees for the colleges you’re considering. The College Board, the Common Application,  Naviance, and other tools make it easy to quickly get an overview of application fees. While a free application should never be your only reason for applying to a particular college, more than 400 colleges and universities never charge application fees.

Read the application instructions on each college’s website.

Once you’ve decided where you will apply, be sure to read the application instructions on each college’s admission website. Many colleges waive application fees for certain types of applicants, but these “specials” aren’t always reflected or explained in the information provided by third-party systems. For example, if you relied only on the Common Application requirements grid, you would not know that the University of New Haven waives its $50  application fee if you apply by early action or early decision deadlines, or that the University of Chicago waives its $75 fee for students applying for financial aid. Other colleges waive fees for students who visit campus or who apply using the school’s own application.

Each time you take the SAT or ACT, you can request that up to four score reports be sent to the colleges you applied to without a charge. It is not advisable to review your scores prior to sending. Some schools offer the option of sending self-reported scores, which can reduce costs.

Stay organized.

Some high schools also charge extra for last-minute transcript requests. Organize a calendar and stick to a plan for getting all of your application materials to your colleges well ahead of deadlines. While the costs associated with applying to college can seem daunting, you can keep college application costs manageable by being strategic in selecting schools, utilizing fee waivers, and exploring free application options. Your school counselor can also help to identify additional resources to make this process more affordable.

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