Average Cost of College Applications?

Kinda stressed now, but I gotta ask - How much does it generally cost to apply to colleges? I need to start budgeting...

The cost of college applications can vary depending on the school. The average application fee for colleges in the United States runs from $30 to $90. But, keep in mind, this fee is just one part of your college application budget. If you decide to send standardized test scores to colleges, that could also incur a fee. As of August 2024, transmitting SAT scores to colleges costs $12 per college after the four that are included for free when registering for the SAT.

Also, if you're thinking about visiting colleges, the travel cost is another factor to consider. Traveling to and from several different colleges, both locally and out-of-state, can substantially increase the cost of your college application process.

However, if the application fees seem burdensome, many colleges offer fee waiver programs for students with financial hardship. If you're eligible for an SAT fee waiver, this would also waive the SAT score sending fee. Students can encounter these application fee waivers in the Common App, for instance. Check with the specific school and also with your school's guidance office about the possibility of fee waivers.

So, the range is a little wide, but hopefully understanding these different cost factors can help you plan your college application budget effectively.