Indianapolis, In. — Today (Friday, September 28) is College Application Day. College Application Day, a national initiative of the American College Application Campaign (ACAC), aims to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students who pursue education after high school. The purpose is to help high school seniors navigate the college admissions process and ensure each student submits at least one admissions application.
Indiana High School seniors can apply to the following Hoosier colleges for free Friday, September 28:
- Earlham College
- Goshen College
- Huntington University
- Indiana State University
- Indiana University East
- Indiana University Fort Wayne
- Indiana University Kokomo
- Indiana University Northwest
- Indiana University South Bend
- Indiana University Southeast
- Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC)
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Purdue University Fort Wayne
- Purdue University Northwest
- University of Southern Indiana
- Vincennes University
- Wabash College
Students can apply to the following Hoosier colleges for free year-round:
- Anderson University
- Bethel College
- DePauw University
- Franklin College
- Grace College
- Hanover College
- Indiana Tech
- Ivy Tech Community College
- Manchester University
- Marian University
- Saint Mary’s College
- Trine University
- University of Evansville
- University of Indianapolis
- Valparaiso University
Many Indiana colleges offer application fee waivers to encourage students to apply regardless of financial difficulty or other circumstances. If you can’t find information about fee waivers on a college’s admissions web page, call and ask. Most colleges offer more fee waivers than students realize.
- 21st Century Scholars
If you’re a 21st Century Scholar, you may receive automatic fee waivers at some Indiana colleges. - Campus Visits
Some colleges award an automatic fee waiver to students who have participated in a campus visit day. If you’re planning on visiting, ask about fee waivers. - Children of Veterans or Veterans
You may be applying to a college that waives application fees for children of veterans, or may offer you a free application if you are a veteran. It is worth it to to ask. - Financial Need
If you show financial need, most colleges are able to provide financial assistance. If you aren’t sure if you can afford the fee, ask the college if it can be waived. - Foster Children
Foster children, orphans and wards of the state can receive a fee waiver through the NACAC fee waiver, which must be approved by your school counselor. If you are a foster child or orphan, your college may automatically waive your application fee. - Free and Reduced Lunch
If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, you may also automatically qualify for a fee waiver. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch can also take the SAT and ACT for free. Ask your school counselor for more information. - NACAC/Guidance Counselor Waiver
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers a fee waiver for students whose families have an income below federal poverty level, who participate in the 21st Century Scholars program, who live in federally subsidized public housing, whose families receive public assistance or who meet other criteria. In order to receive the NACAC fee waiver, you must submit an application through your school counselor. Learn more about requirements here.
