Top Universities in the USA Without Application Fees in 2024

Application fees at universities in the USA can be high and often go up to $150 per application. Especially for international students, this is often a large amount of money.

However, there are numerous universities across the USA that waive their application fees, or that don’t have any application fees to begin with.

This article will tell you everything that you need to know about these institutions. So let’s get right into it, beginning with the benefits of looking for universities in the USA without application fees.

Why look for universities in the USA with an application fee waiver?

Please note that an application fee waiver is different from a ‘no application fee’. To get a waiver you need to satisfy certain conditions and need to follow a specific process to benefit from the waiver. However many universities simply remove the application fee entirely, which encourages students to apply. 

There are many reasons to look for universities without an application fee for international students in the USA. Here are 5 of them.

1. It saves a lot of money

Application fees for universities in the USA typically fall in the band of $50 to $150 per application. If you apply to even a few select universities, these fees can add up quickly, totaling hundreds or even thousands of dollars. For instance, five applications at $150 each would equal $750 in application fees alone. At the exchange rate of 1 USD = 83.87 INR (as of August 19), this would be approximately ₹62,902.50. 

2. It lets you apply to more schools

With the high expense of application fees, many students may be limited in how many universities they can realistically apply to. By choosing universities that waive the application fee, you can apply to a wider range of schools, without the financial burden.

3. You aren’t filtering out quality

Just because there are universities in the USA without an application fee doesn’t mean that you are compromising on quality. For instance, both Harvard and Yale offer application fee waivers, and they are two of the top schools in the USA. In fact, many applicants do not even realize that they are eligible for application fee waivers. 

4. It demonstrates a commitment to students

Universities in the USA without an application fee show students that they want to make the application process as open and easy as possible. This is an attractive quality when considering potential schools, as it says a lot about the ethos of the institution.

5. It promotes merit-based admissions

The majority of universities in the USA are need-aware. Translation: given a choice between a highly qualified applicant who will need a scholarship and a lower-qualified candidate who will fully self-fund, they will choose the self-funder. For contrast, universities in the USA without an application fee often have a need-blind admissions process. This means that your application will be merit-based, and your ability to pay tuition fees will not be counted towards the admission decision. 

So, it’s clear that universities in the USA without an application fee come with a range of benefits. In the next section, we’ll share a list of these universities.

Also Read: Study Abroad Guide for Indian Students 2024

List of universities with application fee waivers in the USA

Here is a list of universities in the USA without an application fee, or that waive their application fees. 

We’ll split this section into three parts. First, a list of public universities in the USA without application fees, then a list of state universities, then a list of private universities.

But before we begin, an important note.

While all state universities are public, not all public universities are state universities. The key difference is that a state university is funded primarily by taxes collected from the state in which it is located. In contrast, a public university is funded by tax dollars from across the country.

Typically, state universities differentiate their tuition rates based on “in-state” and “out-of-state” residents. On the other hand, public universities categorize students as “home” or “international” for tuition purposes.

First, the list of public universities in the USA without application fees.

Also Read: Best Exams to Study in USA for Indian Students 2024 (Masters & UG)

Next, we share the list of state universities in the USA without application fees.

And lastly, the list of private universities in the USA without application fees.

Now, private universities don’t give as many waivers to applicants as public or state universities. Additionally, the costs of studying at a private university are usually higher, and their criteria for scholarships and waivers are more stringent.

The lists above are in no way exhaustive. 

Many universities offer application fee waivers if you simply email the admissions office. You’ll never know if you never ask.

In the next section, we’ll detail some important points to remember about universities in the USA without an application fee.

Also Read: 5 Most Affordable Universities in the USA for Indian Students

Things to note about the application fee waiver offered by universities

Here are some key points to note about the universities above that had “Application Fee Waived” written in the “Type of Benefit” column:

1. It’s not a guarantee

Some universities have a limited number of waivers they can give out. Different colleges may have different quotas, or they may have exclusion criteria. So, just because a university offers the option to request a fee waiver does not mean that it’s a guarantee. 

2. The eligibility criteria vary

Each university has its specific eligibility criteria for fee waivers. These may include factors such as financial need, participation in certain programs, or status as a first-generation college student. It’s essential to review the requirements for each institution to determine if you qualify.

3. Waivers do not affect admission decisions

Receiving a fee waiver will not disadvantage your application in any way. Admissions committees evaluate all applications based on merit, and the waiver is simply a tool to make the application process more accessible.

4. May be limited to specific programs, departments, or colleges

Some universities may only offer application fee waivers for certain academic programs or schools within the institution. For example, Carnegie Mellon University provides waivers for the School of Computer Science, while the Master of Software Engineering Program offers need-based waivers.

5. May be delivered through partners and special events

Universities may collaborate with specific partner organizations, such as EducationUSA or other non-government organizations, to offer application fee waivers to their participants. Another common conditional waiver is to attend a Zoom meeting, where the waiver code will be given at the end.

While application fee waivers are a great help for students, a much better way to look at the admissions process is from an ROI perspective rather than an expense perspective. SelectRight helps you quickly compare thousands of programs on various criteria so you can find a university that offers high ROI, has a great alumni network, is very likely to accept your application, and is one for which most lenders offer education loans.

SelectRight is a platform that simplifies the university and program selection process for students wishing to study abroad. It uses an AI-driven algorithm that analyzes over 8 million data points from 40,000 programs to match you with the best options based on your academic, financial, and professional profile. This method removes the guesswork, ensuring you apply to universities where you are highly likely to gain admission and can expect a high return on investment.

Here’s how SelectRight works:

1. Create a free profile on SelectRight and provide all necessary information about your academic background, test scores, and preferences.
2. The algorithm processes your details and generates a shortlist of the best-suited universities and programs for you.
3. Compare the shortlisted universities using advanced criteria such as alumni networks, recent placements, and faculty quality.
4. Get help from an expert advisor at any stage of your application process.
5. Connect with peers, alumni, and faculty from the shortlisted universities to get your questions answered and make informed decisions.

Sign up for SelectRight today and get ready for Spring ‘25 admissions.

In the next section, we’ll talk about the exact process of getting these application fee waivers.

How to apply to universities that offer application fee waivers

The process of applying to universities in the USA without an application fee typically involves the following steps:

1. Start by compiling a list of universities that offer application fee waivers. You could select them from our lists above.

2. Look at the requirements for each specific university and/or program.

3. Many universities require you to submit a separate fee waiver request form along with your application. If this is the case, fill out this form, and ensure all details are accurate and verifiable.

4. Depending on the university, you may need to submit additional documents to support your fee waiver request. Commonly, these are financial statements, tax returns, or letters of recommendation.

5. Once your fee waiver request is approved, submit your application. 

6. After submitting your application, monitor its status and respond promptly to any requests for additional information or clarification from the university.

7. If your application is successful and you receive an offer of admission, carefully review the terms and conditions and then accept it.

Note that different universities will have varying deadlines for their admissions process. 

Typically, schools also have a limited number of waivers that they are allowed to offer each year, so get your request in as early as possible.

In the next section, we’ll talk about other costs during the application process that you might not have considered.

Also Read: Study in USA: Process, Requirements, Documents, Visa & Benefits

Other costs involved in the admission process

Here are some “hidden” costs that you are bound to encounter during your study abroad journey:

1. Exam preparation and related costs

To begin with there are the English proficiency exams like the IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE Academic. At the graduate level, you have to take exams like the GMAT, GRE, MCAT, and LSAT to get admission to your program. To make yourself a competitive applicant, you have to give at least one of these. The preparation and actual exam costs for these papers can quickly mount, which is a factor that not many people consider.

2. Transcript and translation costs

Requesting official transcripts from previous schools can incur fees, typically ranging from $5 to $15 per transcript. At the exchange rate of 1 USD = 83.87 INR (as of August 19), this would be approximately ₹420 to ₹1,258 per transcript. Additionally, if those transcripts were not in English, then official translations must be requested and notarized, which can be a further $100 per document.

3. Attestation and apostillation

For students from certain regions (e.g. Punjab and Haryana in India), their documents need to be verified before submission. This is done at the USA embassy or high commission and involves a stamp and hologram being put on the document. This is done to verify the authenticity of the document. These could add another $50 per document. At the exchange rate of 1 USD = 83.87 INR (as of August 19), this would be approximately ₹4,192 per document.

4. Enrollment deposits

If accepted, universities often require a non-refundable enrollment deposit to secure a spot in the incoming class. These deposits can range from $100 to $500 or more. Many students pay this deposit at their “fallback” school while awaiting a decision from their target university. This is a sunk cost that you will not get back, should you leave the fallback and accept another offer down the line.

5. Interest rates

A surprising cost that not many students consider is the interest rate on loans. Many students take education loans to fund their education in the USA. However, with hundreds of loan providers, finding a loan with good terms can be challenging. Even half a percent lower interest rate can save you lakhs of rupees over the course of your repayments. 

Also Read: Indian Student Expenses in USA

As you can see, there are several costs involved in the study abroad process, but the one that matters most is the interest expense on your education loan. Even a 0.5% saving can translate to many lakhs over the repayment duration of your loan. To help you find the best education loan, we have made FundRight.

FundRight is an innovative platform that simplifies the loan search process. Instead of students approaching multiple lenders, FundRight brings the lenders to you, offering competitive loan options tailored to your needs.

Here’s how FundRight works:

1. Create a free profile on FundRight by providing all the necessary information about your educational plans and financial requirements.
2. The system matches you with the best lenders based on your profile, and you receive multiple competitive loan offers within two days.
3. Compare the loan offers on various criteria such as interest rates, repayment terms, and other benefits.
4. Consult with an unbiased financial expert from FundRight who can help you choose the best loan option and negotiate with lenders on your behalf.
5. Upload all the required documents securely through the FundRight portal, and receive your loan approval in as little as 10 days.

Ready to secure the best education loan for Spring 2025 admissions? Sign up on FundRight today and discover how much you can save.

And with that, we come to the end of this article on universities in the USA without an application fee for international students. We hope you found it useful, and we’ll see you in the next one.

FAQs about universities with application fee waivers