Just wondering here: are there any colleges that don't require an application fee? Applying to a bunch of colleges is turning out to be more expensive than I thought, so any help would be appreciated.
Yes, there are many colleges that don't require an application fee. For example, Oberlin College, Carleton College, and several Ivy League schools like Brown and Columbia waive their application fees for students applying for financial aid. Others like Lewis & Clark College, Grinnell College, and Denison University have no fee for those who apply online.
Moreover, colleges like Reed College and Tulane University waive the application fee for Early Action and Early Decision applicants.
Several colleges, including Wellesley College, Union College, and Kenyon College, do not require an application fee at all.
Also, it's worth remembering that many colleges offer fee waivers for applicants with financial need. You can check with the college's admissions office or your high school counselor to inquire about this.
Keep in mind that even though a school might not have an application fee, there may still be other costs associated with applying to college, including the cost of sending test scores or ordering transcripts. It's wise to plan ahead to minimize these costs as much as possible. For instance, some high schools provide a certain number of free transcript sends, and various college-board exams allow you to send a certain number of score sends (within a certain window) for free.
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