List of US Universities with No Application Fee | 免申请费的美国大学名单汇总

📚 List of US Universities with No Application Fee | 免申请费的美国大学名单汇总

Applying to university can become expensive quickly, especially when each application costs between $50 and $90. Fortunately, many respected US institutions waive their application fees entirely, either for all applicants or under specific conditions such as demonstrated financial need, military service, or early submission. This guide provides a comprehensive list of fee‑free universities and explains how to identify them, use fee waiver programmes, and maximise your application budget.

申请美国大学的费用可能迅速累积，每份申请通常需要 50 至 90 美元。幸运的是，许多知名美国院校完全免除申请费，或根据经济需求、服役经历、提前提交等特定条件予以免除。本指南汇集了一份免申请费大学的完整名单，并说明如何查找这些学校、使用申请费豁免程序，从而有效规划你的申请预算。

1. Why Application Fees Are Waived | 为什么有些学校免除申请费

Colleges waive application fees for two main reasons: to attract a broader and more diverse applicant pool, and to remove financial obstacles for talented students who might otherwise be discouraged. Many public universities with a mission of access, private institutions with large endowments, and smaller liberal arts colleges use fee‑free applications as a strategic enrollment tool. By eliminating even a modest barrier, these schools receive more applications and can select from a wider range of backgrounds.

大学免除申请费主要有两个原因：吸引更广泛、更多元的申请者，并消除可能让优秀学生望而却步的经济障碍。许多以普及教育为使命的公立大学、拥有雄厚捐赠基金的私立院校以及小规模文理学院，都将免申请费作为招生策略工具。即便只是区区一笔费用，取消后也能让学校收到更多申请，并从更多样的背景中择优录取。

2. Universities with No Application Fee for All Applicants | 对所有申请者一律免费的大学

The following list includes accredited four‑year institutions that do not charge any application fee to domestic or international undergraduates. Always verify current policies on each school’s admissions page before submitting, as fees can change from cycle to cycle.

以下名单收录了对所有本科生免申请费的认证四年制院校，涵盖国内与国际学生。提交前请务必在各校招生页面核实最新政策，因为费用制度可能每年调整。

• United States Military Academy (West Point) – NY
• United States Naval Academy – MD
• United States Air Force Academy – CO
• United States Coast Guard Academy – CT
• United States Merchant Marine Academy – NY
• Tulane University – LA (free application via the Green Wave Portal or Common App if submitted by a priority deadline)
• Case Western Reserve University – OH (free if submitted by a specified early deadline)
• Colby College – ME
• Grinnell College – IA
• Carleton College – MN
• Reed College – OR
• Kenyon College – OH
• Union College – NY
• Baylor University – TX (free when using online application)
• Loyola University Chicago – IL
• University of Dayton – OH
• Michigan Technological University – MI (free, except for some international requirements)
• Saint Louis University – MO
• Hillsdale College – MI
• Warren Wilson College – NC

This is not an exhaustive catalogue, but it covers a wide geographic and academic range. Note that military academies require a nomination and have additional fitness and character requirements beyond the standard college application.

这份名单并未穷尽所有学校，但覆盖了广泛的地理位置和学术层次。需要注意的是，军事院校需要推荐提名，并且除常规大学申请外，还有体能和品德方面的额外要求。

3. Universities That Waive Fees for Online or Early Birds | 在线申请或早鸟提交可免申请费

Many institutions offer an automatic fee waiver when you apply through their proprietary online system rather than the Common App, or when you apply by a specific scholarship priority deadline. Examples include Tulane University (free via its Green Wave Portal), Baylor University (free via its online application), and several public universities like the University of Alabama at Birmingham (often free through UAB’s own application). Check each school’s website to see if this option is still available.

不少学校在你通过其自有在线系统而非 Common App 提交时，或在特定奖学金优先截止日期前提交时，会自动免除申请费。例如杜兰大学（通过 Green Wave Portal 免费）、贝勒大学（通过本校在线申请免费），以及阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校等公立大学（通过 UAB 自有申请渠道常免申请费）。请逐一查阅学校官网，确认该选项是否依然有效。

4. Fee Waivers for Demonstrated Financial Need | 经济需求证明下的申请费豁免

Even universities that normally charge a fee will waive it for students who can demonstrate financial hardship. In the US, this is typically done through the College Board Fee Waiver programme, the ACT Fee Waiver, or the NACAC Request for Application Fee Waiver form. International students can sometimes request a waiver directly from the admissions office by sending a concise email with a brief explanation of their situation and, if required, supporting documentation such as a school counsellor’s letter or tax returns.

即使通常会收取申请费的大学，也会为能够证明经济困难的学生免除费用。在美国，通常通过 College Board 申请费豁免、ACT 申请费豁免或 NACAC 申请费豁免申请表 来实现。国际学生有时可以直接向招生办公室发送简短邮件说明情况，并根据要求附上学校升学顾问证明信或税单等材料，以申请豁免。

5. State‑Specific Programmes and Public Universities | 各州特殊项目与公立大学

Some states mandate fee‑free application windows for all public institutions. For example, Louisiana has historically offered a statewide application fee holiday for in‑state and sometimes out‑of‑state students during designated months. Alabama and Kentucky have also run similar initiatives. Additionally, many public universities automatically waive fees for first‑generation college students, veterans, or participants in certain outreach programmes like Upward Bound. Always investigate state‑specific campaigns on your target universities’ admissions pages.

部分州规定所有公立院校必须在特定时段免除申请费。例如，路易斯安那州 历来会在指定月份为本州乃至外州学生提供州内统一的申请费假期。阿拉巴马州 和 肯塔基州 也曾推行类似举措。此外，许多公立大学会自动为第一代大学生、退伍军人或参与 Upward Bound 等特定拓展项目的学生免除费用。请务必在心仪大学的招生页面查询所在州的专项活动信息。

6. How to Use the Common App Fee Waiver | 如何使用 Common App 申请费豁免

The Common Application platform has a built‑in fee waiver request section. Eligibility is based on economic indicators such as free or reduced‑price lunch eligibility, family size and income, or enrolment in a federal programme like TRIO. You can indicate your eligibility in the Common App’s profile section, and your school counsellor will usually be asked to confirm your status. Over 2,000 colleges accept the Common App, and many automatically honour the fee waiver if your counsellor certifies it.

Common App 平台内设申请费豁免请求栏目。资格标准基于经济指标，如获得免费或低价午餐资格、家庭人口与收入，或参加 TRIO 等联邦项目。你可在 Common App 个人资料部分标明资格，随后通常需要学校升学顾问确认你的状况。超过 2,000 所大学接受 Common App，一旦升学顾问核实，其中许多学校会自动免除申请费。

7. Top‑Ranked Liberal Arts Colleges with Zero Application Fee | 免申请费的顶尖文理学院

Several highly selective liberal arts colleges maintain a permanent no‑fee policy. Colby College, Grinnell College, Carleton College, Reed College, and Kenyon College are notable examples. These institutions believe that an application fee should never prevent a curious, high‑achieving student from being considered. They often complement the free application with generous need‑based financial aid packages that meet full demonstrated need without loans for low‑income families.

数所选拔严格的文理学院实行永久免申请费政策。科尔比学院、格林内尔学院、卡尔顿学院、里德学院 和 凯尼恩学院 便是典型代表。这些学校坚信，申请费绝不应阻止一名求知欲强、表现优秀的学生进入综合评审。它们往往在免申请费的同时，还提供慷慨的按需助学金，对低收入家庭实现全需求覆盖且不含贷款。

8. Research Universities That Make Fees Optional | 选择性收取申请费的研究型大学

Flagship research universities occasionally switch to optional fees during promotional cycles. For instance, the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt University have in the past offered fee‑free windows for all applicants who apply by a certain date, often tied to academic outreach events. Similarly, large public systems like the University of California system grant automatic fee waivers to qualified domestic students (four free applications for eligible California residents or US citizens meeting income guidelines). International students, however, do not qualify for the UC waiver and must pay a fee for each campus.

旗舰研究型大学在推广周期中偶尔会调整为选择性收费。例如，芝加哥大学 和 范德堡大学 过去曾为在规定日期前提交的所有申请者提供免申请费窗口，通常与学术拓展活动挂钩。同样地，大型公立系统如 加利福尼亚大学系统 会自动为符合条件的美国本土学生提供豁免（符合收入标准的加州居民或美国公民可免费申请四个校区）。然而，国际学生不符合 UC 豁免资格，必须为每个校区缴纳申请费。

9. Special Categories: Veterans, First‑Responders and More | 特殊类别：退伍军人、应急人员等

Many universities offer fee waivers for veterans, active‑duty military, Peace Corps alumni, and sometimes even dependents of first responders. For example, Arizona State University waives the application fee for active‑duty military and veterans, while Purdue University occasionally runs fee‑free promotions for certain graduate programmes and online learners. Always check the specific military/veteran services page of the institution, as these benefits often go unpublicised on the main admissions portal.

许多大学为退伍军人、现役军人、和平队返校校友，有时甚至为应急人员的家属免除申请费。例如，亚利桑那州立大学 为现役军人和退伍军人免除申请费，而 普渡大学 偶尔对特定研究生项目或在线学习者推出免申请费优惠。请务必查阅学校专门的军人/退伍军人服务页面，因为这些福利往往不会在主要招生门户上公布。

10. Common Mistakes When Seeking Fee Waivers | 寻求申请费豁免时的常见误区

Assuming all fee‑free schools are less competitive: Military academies, Grinnell, Colby, and Reed are all highly selective. Forgetting to check the deadline for free submission: Tulane and Case Western Reserve, for instance, only waive the fee if you apply by a priority deadline. Missing the counsellor confirmation: If your school counsellor does not complete the Common App fee waiver certification, the waiver will not be processed. Using multiple platforms without checking fee status: A university may charge on the Coalition App but waive on its own application. Always verify the cheapest route.

认为所有免费学校都缺乏竞争力：军事院校、格林内尔、科尔比和里德等校选拔性极强。忘记查免费提交的截止日期：例如杜兰和凯斯西储只有在优先截止日期前申请才免费。遗漏升学顾问确认环节：如果升学顾问未在 Common App 中完成申请费豁免认证，则将失去豁免资格。使用多个平台却未核对费用状态：某所大学可能在 Coalition App 上收费，而在其自有申请系统上免费。请始终确认最省钱的路径。

11. How to Build a Fee‑Free College List | 如何构建免申请费的大学清单

Create a spreadsheet with four columns: University Name, Application Portal, Normal Fee, and Conditions for Waiver. Populate it by visiting each school’s admissions page and searching for “application fee waiver”, “free application”, or “no application fee”. Check the deadlines carefully: some fee waivers expire as early as October for Early Decision rounds. Also, consider emailing admissions officers politely if you meet hardship criteria but do not see a clear waiver pathway – many will respond positively.

建一张表格，包含四列：大学名称、申请平台、常规费用、豁免条件。逐一访问每所学校的招生页面，搜索“申请费豁免”“免申请费”或“零申请费”等关键词，逐一填入信息。仔细检查截止日期：有些豁免在早申批次可能早在十月就结束了。此外，如果你符合困难条件但未看到明确的豁免途径，可以礼貌地给招生官发邮件询问——许多人会积极回应。

12. Final Checklist Before Submitting | 提交前最后检查清单

Before clicking submit, confirm that (1) the fee line shows $0.00 on the payment screen; (2) any required waiver documentation (counsellor form, income evidence) has been uploaded; (3) your application type (early action, regular decision) aligns with the waiver policy; and (4) you have saved a screenshot of the confirmation page. If you are accidentally charged, contact the admissions office immediately with proof of your eligibility – refunds are possible if you act quickly.

在点击提交前，请确认以下几点：(1) 付款界面显示费用为 $0.00；(2) 所有必需的材料（升学顾问表格、收入证明等）均已上传；(3) 申请类型（早期行动、常规决定）与豁免政策相符；(4) 已经保存确认页面的截图。如果意外被收费，请立即联系招生办公室并附上资格证明——若处理及时，有可能获得退款。

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