NYS colleges, universities waiving application fees
Stony Brook University is among the colleges and universities in New York waiving application fees for local students for a limited time. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
More than 130 colleges and universities throughout New York are waiving their usual application fees for the second straight year in conjunction with College Application Month, officials said Friday.
The waiver includes applications to all State University of New York and City University of New York schools, as well as applications to more than 50 New York colleges and universities.
While application fee waiver dates for participating private institutions vary by campus, the offer for students applying to SUNY schools begins Monday and runs through Nov. 3.
The waived application fee period for CUNY schools runs Oct. 21-Nov. 15 for high school seniors and Nov. 4-15 for all state residents applying as a college freshman.
The free application offer could save families and students applying to SUNY schools as much as $250 on the normal fee cost. SUNY schools typically charge $50 per application. The free application offer is good for up to as many as five selected schools.
The normal fee for CUNY applications is $65. A single application is good for six schools.
The waiver of application fees is not retroactive and doesn't apply to applications filed before the offer, officials said.
"We're empowering students across the state to take the first step toward achieving their educational and career goals while removing the financial obstacles that may deter students from pursuing higher education," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement.
State schools on Long Island participating include:
- Stony Brook University
- Farmingdale State College
- SUNY-Old Westbury
- Nassau Community College
- Suffolk Community College
Other local SUNY schools include SUNY-Maritime in the Bronx and Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.
Among the private institutions waiving application fees in connection with the program are:
- Adelphi University
- Hofstra University
- Molly University
- St. Joseph's University
- New York Institute of Technology
- Five Towns College
- Pace University
- Iona College
- St. Francis College
- Fordham University
- Wagner College
- Culinary Institute of America
- New York Automotive & Diesel Institute
- School of Visual Arts
- Plaza College
- Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth Israel
- New York School for Medical and Dental Assistants
Officials said students applying with the Common App will need to apply campus by campus for state colleges and universities. During the offer period, students will be prompted to select "Yes" for the fee waiver of each SUNY school, up to five choices.
Undergraduate enrollment for all SUNY schools was 321,660 for the fall 2023 semester, with an additional 45,882 enrolled as graduate students.
"We are committed to ensuring the pursuit of higher education is available to all New Yorkers," SUNY Chancellor John B. King said in a statement.
For more information, including application fee waiver dates by school, visit the We Are NY state-sponsored program website: hesc.ny.gov.
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
