USA attracts over 1 million international students every year which is why it is regarded as one of the top studying abroad destinations. Universities in USA charge an average application fee of 50-100 USD which is INR for Indian students. With outstanding education comes high costs which is why it is important to save every penny you can from the beginning. One way to do so is to apply for a few no application fee universities in USA if you are targeting several institutions at once.
If you are worried about the expenses of studying in USA, we have a list of US universities with free application fee. Colleges in USA with no application fee, application process, and other costs involved in the application process for US schools with no application fee are discussed in the blog.
Table of Contents: |
Colleges in USA without Application Fees
Take a look at the colleges in the USA with no application fee and acceptance rate:
College |
THE Rankings 2022 |
Acceptance Rate (Fall 2020) |
31 |
20% |
|
35 |
21% |
|
39 |
37% |
|
Reed College |
92 |
42% |
89 |
39% |
|
Centre College |
=223 |
72% |
108 |
51% |
|
Colorado College |
=115 |
14% |
The College of Wooster |
=150 |
65% |
Union College |
134 |
41% |
We shall now discuss universities with no application fee for international students in USA:
List of Universities with No Application Fees in USA
A point of concern while looking for universities in USA without application fee for international students is the reputation and quality of education provided by the university. Well you need not worry about that as we have prepared a table with some of the best universities with no application fee for international students in the USA.
Here is a list of US universities with no application fee with rankings and popular courses offered:
University |
THE Rankings 2022 |
Popular Majors |
4 |
Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Sciences, History, Engineering, Psychology |
|
=372 |
Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering |
|
>600 |
Health Professions, Business, Management, Marketing, Engineering, Education, Psychology |
|
51 |
Engineering, Biomedical Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing, Computer Sciences, Social Sciences, Marketing |
|
=204 |
Business, Management, Marketing, Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, Kinesiology, Psychology |
|
=136 |
Communication, Journalism, Business, Management, Marketing, Social Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Health Professions |
|
=231 |
Game Design, Graphic Design, Entrepreneurship, Animation, Drama, Film, Communication |
|
=210 |
Engineering, Business, Management, Marketing, Computer Science |
|
113 |
Health Sciences, Nursing, Biology, Exercise Science, Business, Engineering |
|
114 |
Biology, Economics, History, Communication, Psychology, English |
Why Look for Colleges in the USA without Application Fees?
Studying in the USA requires a huge financial commitment and though an 100 USD application fee might seem to be a small expense compared to the investment you are making, it is a good way to keep your finances in check. Especially if you are looking forward to applying to many institutions, you must shortlist some US universities with no application fee for international students.
Say you wish to apply for 3-5 universities in the USA and each of them have an application fee ranging from 50-100 USD. In this way you end up spending 200-500 USD i.e. around 15,000-38,000 INR in your application fees alone. Including 1-2 safe backup options of free application fee universities in USA will help you save money that can be used for compensating other pre-arrival expenses.
Why do universities charge application fees? Universities charge an application fee to avoid receiving piles of applications every year. The application fee is charged as a measure to ensure that only interested students are applying for admission. Another reason for charging an application fee is to cover the expenses incurred by the university during the application screening process. But you always have the liberty to choose universities with no application fee for international students in USA. |
Suggested: How to Apply to a university abroad?
Let us now take a look at the application process for no application fee universities in USA:
Application Process for Universities in USA without Application Fees
Application for admission to free application fee universities in USA is accepted either through the university’s application portal or common application. The application process for US universities with free application fee is quite similar to those that charge application fee.
There is no difference in the available intakes for universities in US without application fee. Fall, Spring and Summer are the common intakes for all universities including US universities without application fee for international students. Take a look at the general steps of the application process for universities in USA without application fee discussed below:
- Shortlist the universities that offer your desired program. Make sure some of your options include US universities with no application fee for international students.
- Visit the official website of all universities you wish to apply to including free application fee universities in USA and check the eligibility criteria.
- Check the available intakes and application deadline for your chosen program.
- Complete the online application and submit the application fee wherever applicable and request for application fee waiver if required at universities in America without application fee.
- Upload all supporting documents for admission along with your application.
- Apply for scholarships for international students if you wish to avail financial aid.
- Track the status of your application and wait for the admission decision.
- If accepted, you will receive the offer for admission via email.
- Make sure you confirm your acceptance within the deadline specified on the offer and submit the tuition deposit.
Before concluding the discussion about US universities without application fee for international students, let us understand what are the other costs involved in the application process for universities in US without application fee.
What are the Other Costs Involved in the Application Process?
While estimating the cost of studying in USA, you cannot miss out on the pre-arrival expenses as these are strictly out of pocket and no financial aid can help you cover these expenses. These expenses can be related to visa processing, entrance tests, health insurance, travel etc. and are incurred even before you get admission to any university in USA.
Take a look at the table below to learn about others costs involved in the application process for admission to universities in America without application fee:
Expense |
Average Cost for Indian Students |
TOEFL fees |
14,197 INR (180 USD) |
IELTS fees |
16,250-18,895 INR (215-250 USD) |
GRE fees |
16,098 INR (213 USD) |
GMAT fees |
18,895 INR (250 USD) |
SAT fees |
7,860 INR (104 USD) |
ACT fees |
11,714 INR (155 USD) |
Visa processing fees |
12,092 INR (160 USD) |
SEVIS fees |
26,459 INR (350 USD) |
Health insurance |
52,905-83,135 INR (700-1100 USD) |
Airfare |
51,016 INR (675 USD) |
Suggested: Cost of Stidying MS in USIt is recommended that you look for universities in America with no application fee but at the same time make sure you are not compromising with your choices just to save some money while applying. After all, universities in the USA provide several financial aid and scholarships that will eventually reduce your costs significantly. To know more about the application process for studying in US, connect with Yocket Counsellors now!