It’s not often that you come across free money, but as students begin to build their college lists for the 2019-2020 application cycle, The College Sage is highlighting seventeen colleges that have no application fee! That’s right – for minimal extra effort on the Common Application platform, you can apply to these College Sage endorsed colleges with minimal effort and expense. Most require only one essay in addition to the Common Application essay and over one-third of the list require no additional essay at all. Why are they free? This increasing trend is used by many colleges located in less-trendy parts of the country to boost their applications from strong applicants. Most, but not all, of the list are small liberal arts colleges that are well regarded in their unique locations.
Remember you will need to pay to send your standardized test scores directly to the colleges and you will need to require a transcript from your counselor. In today’s competitive admissions environment, we encourage students to research these opportunities to apply to great colleges across the country with no required fee. Many of these colleges offer Honors College opportunities and merit scholarships. Happy researching – pull out your USA map!
College Sage Endorsed No-Fee College Applications List
Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Baylor is home to 14,000 undergraduates on its 432-acre campus near downtown Waco. Baylor’s strong campus community, faculty focus on teaching versus researching, and bargain price make the university a strong choice – especially for students interested in a Christian-influenced education and/or a strong Pre-med program. Approximately 30% of all undergraduates are pursuing a pre-professional medical related major. Be sure to check out the Honors College. SAT range is 1200-1350; ACT range is 26-31
Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana
Butler is a small, private university of 4,000 undergraduates on an attractive campus just outside the city known for sports. Its 290-acre campus is park-like and one of the most attractive in the Midwest. After pursuing the liberal arts core, students major in a variety of areas including these particular areas of strength: Pharmacy, Dance, Risk Management and Insurance, and Sports Media. Be sure to check out the Honors College. No essays required. SAT range is 1170-1330; ACT range is 25-30
Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota
If Carleton were located on the East Coast, students would fight to get into this liberal arts gem. It’s Minnesota location renders it less competitive than the likes of Amherst and Williams, but it’s ever bit as strong. The 955-acre campus in the center of cattle country offers 2000 undergraduates excellent majors in the sciences, math, computer science and classic liberal art fields. SAT range is 1350-1530; ACT range is 31-34
Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut
With strengths in the fine arts, study abroad programming, and environment science owing to its location abutting Long Island Sound, Connecticut College is an excellent test-optional college for students wanting strong academics who may not be great standardized test takers. The 750-acre campus includes an arboretum, hiking trails, and beautiful views to nearly 2000 undergraduates. No essays required. Test Optional
Denison University, Granville, Ohio
Located in a quaint Midwest town, Denison’s 2250 students are attracted by strengths in the sciences, theater, creative writing and more. The original campus master plan was outlined by Frederick Law Olmsted and provides a picturesque background for a pleasant community with almost all students living on campus. No essays required. Test Optional SAT range is 1210-1380; ACT range is 28-31
Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa
If you’re looking for tiny class sizes, a progressive student body, and one of the best liberal arts educations in the Midwest, then Grinnell might just be your dream college. The 120-acre campus in the middle of corn country welcomes about 1700 bright undergraduates pursuing academic strengths in foreign languages, sciences, and history. No essays required. SAT range is 1320-1540; ACT range is 30-33
Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas
This progressive liberal arts college has a surprising location in the heart of the Bible Belt. About 1200 students make the move to this 175-acre campus in the Arkansas suburbs. Favored by in-the-know academics for their own children, Hendrix offers strong programming in the hard and social sciences while classic liberal arts majors in English, history, religion, and politics also shine. SAT average is 1266; ACT average is 28
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York
Located in upstate New York, this 200-acre campus offers an innovative curriculum with no distributional requirements to its 2300 undergraduates. Students are encouraged to double major to truly pursue a satisfying education. Strong programs include creative writing, environmental science, and architecture. Test optional. SAT range is 1200-1360; ACT range is 27-30
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio
In the heart of small-town Ohio countryside, you can find 1700 undergraduates drawn for solid liberal arts, an excellent theater program, and DIII sports. The 1200-acre campus offers a sleek, modern athletic center with all the fixings. Small class sizes, many hallowed traditions, and globally minded students make for an appealing four years. No essay required. Test Optional. SAT range is 1280-1470; ACT range is 29-33
Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio
Known for its music conservatory and a tradition of nonconformity, Oberlin tends to appeal to about 2000 activists, idealists, musicians, and readers. Located 30 miles from Cleveland, Oberlin offers a small town, close-knit community with no Greek life so social life is what you make of it and be yourself. SAT range is 1320-1520; ACT range is 30-34
Reed College, Portland, Oregon
A West Coast version of Oberlin, Reed similarly attracts a nonconformist student body of about 1400 undergraduates. Academics are rigorous and it is perceived as one of the most intellectual colleges in the country. The 116-acre campus lies southeast of downtown Portland. The curriculum shines in the traditional liberal arts with a required core course requirement guide. SAT range is 1310-1520
Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee
Similar to Sewanee as mid-South liberal arts colleges, but in a city center, Rhodes offers differentiates itself with strong economics, commerce, and international studies majors. The 100-acre campus in the residential center of Memphis, Rhodes generally attracts Southern middle and upper class students to form its 2000 undergraduate population, although diversity is on the rise. SAT range is 1260-1430; ACT range is 27-32
University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee
Greek life rocks at this 13,000-acre plot midway between Chattanooga and Nashville. With academic strengths in English, history, international studies, theater and the arts, some 1600 undergraduates come to cherish their four community-infused years. No essay required. Test Optional. SAT range is 1250-1390; ACT range is 27-32
St. John’s College, Annapolis, Maryland
With less than 225 students, St. John’s is perhaps the smallest and the most unique curriculum. The college does not have traditional professors or majors. Rather students are attracted by the lure of books, books, and more books of which they discuss, write about, and ponder. All students read the Great Books in chronological order. If you love to read and conventional college isn’t appealing, you may love St. John’s. Test Optional. SAT average is 1335; ACT average is 28
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota
Crosstown rival to Carleton College, St. Olaf’s 3000 undergraduates are more conservative and affiliated with the Lutheran church. Known for its music program, other strengths lie in the sciences, social sciences, English and math. The 350-acre campus is meticulously landscaped, welcoming about half of its students from outside the state. SAT range is 1190-1410; ACT range is 25-32
Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Tulane was the first larger private university to use no fee applications. Today, Tulane admits about 17% of students. The 110-acre campus is located in a leafy residential area in uptown. There about 8600 undergraduates pursue strong pre-professional, business and liberal arts studies. While the campus is Southern in feel; the student body is much more national. SAT range is 1350-1490; ACT range is 30-33
Wellesley College, Wellesley Massachusetts
Located in the wealthy commuter area of Boston, Wellesley is home to 2300 female students who share their home suburb with Babson College and Olin College of Engineering. The 500-acre campus, lavish facilities, and hefty endowment make it one of the strong surviving single education colleges. Program strengths include economics, political science, social science, English, and international relations. SAT average is 1438; ACT average is 32
