Key highlights:
- List of Top Universities in the USA Without Application Fee (2026)
- How to Get Application Fee Waivers at US Universities?
- Admission Requirements at US Universities Without Application Fees
Applying to your dream US university requires application fees, and no student wants to pay without an assurance of admission. When you apply to multiple universities, each application fee can add up to hundreds of dollars. However, there are many reputable US universities that either don’t charge application fees or offer fee waivers to eligible students. If you are planning to study in the US, knowing about these US universities can save you a lot.
List of Top Universities in the USA Without Application Fee (2026)
1. Tulane University
Tulane University was established as a private university in 1884 and offers its students one-of-a-kind learning experiences inside and outside of the classroom. The university is known for its interdisciplinary culture, global engagement, and strong academic foundation.
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Popular Programmes: Finance, Marketing, Neuroscience and Neurobiology
Application Fee Waiver: The university offers all its undergraduate programmes and some of the graduate programmes without any application fee.
2. University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a leading Catholic university for engineering research and development. It is home to more than 10,000 undergraduates, graduates and law students. You can expect hands-on experience at the campus with meaningful experiential learning opportunities, including internships, research and more.
Location: Southwest Ohio, Dayton
Popular Programmes: Mechanical Engineering, Communications, Health Services Preparatory Studies.
Application Fee Waiver: The online university application does not ask for an application fee for undergraduate and graduate programmes.
3. University of St. Thomas
Founded in 1885, the private Catholic University of St. Thomas has over 9,000 students representing 81 countries across three campuses, comprising 8 schools and colleges, and fostering a vibrant community dedicated to working for a just and inclusive society.
Location: 3 campuses at St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Rome (Bernardi).
Popular Programmes: Law and Legal Studies, Business and Management, Education and Teaching.
Application Fee Waiver: Undergraduate applications are free; graduate application fees vary by programme.
4. Harvard University
Harvard University, America’s oldest institution and one of the world’s most revered universities, was founded in 1636. It has a multi-disciplinary community of over 24,000 students and 20,000+ faculty and staff. With over 3,700 courses available, along with state-of-the-art resources and libraries, studying at Harvard can take you as far as your imagination allows.
Location: Main campus at Cambridge, Massachusetts
Popular Programmes: Computer Science, MBA, Law, Economics, Data Science, Biotechnology
Application Fee Waiver: Harvard allows you a fee waiver if paying the application fee is a hardship for you or your family.
5. Yale University
Founded in 1701, Yale is a research university with a number of programmes, departments, schools, centres, museums, and many affiliated organisations. It is home to numerous international students from 129 countries, and is backed by over 5,000 faculty and 12,000 staff members.
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Popular Programmes: Economics, Computer Science, History, Global Affairs
Application Fee Waiver: If you’re applying for a PhD or Master’s and paying the application fee is a financial hardship, you can request a waiver, but you’ll need to provide some documents, such as a letter from your previous university, details of your financial commitments (including education loans), or a statement describing your economic circumstances.
6. Case Western Reserve University (CWRU)
A leading national research university in the USA, Case Western Reserve University has 100+ interdisciplinary academic and research centres and institutes where you can explore just about any area of interest.
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Popular Programmes: Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Business, Management, Marketing
Application Fee Waiver: At CWSU, fee waivers are not guaranteed and are based on programme type. If you face hardship paying the application fee, it is advised to contact your programme of interest to request a fee waiver.
7. Northeastern University
Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a global private research university and is renowned for its experiential learning model, high-impact research, deep partnerships, and worldwide reach.
Location: Main Campus in Boston, Massachusetts
Popular Programmes: Health Professions, Psychology, Communication, Journalism.
Application Fee Waiver: The university offers fee waivers to students on a need basis. Also, another way to get the USD 75 application fee waived is by simply applying to Early Decision I or Early Decision II programme. Early Decision is a binding admission process, which means you are committing to join a specific university upon receiving its acceptance letter. If you choose Northeastern University through Early Decision, your application fee is automatically waived.
8. Colorado State University
Founded in 1870, Colorado State University is among the nation’s top research universities, offering over 350 academic programmes. The university supports a diverse community of learners. Students benefit from hands-on research, mentorship, and a collaborative academic environment.
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Popular Programmes: Business Administration and Management, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, and Mechanical Engineering
Application Fee Waiver: CSU offers application fee waivers upon request if you face financial hardship in paying the fees.
9. New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
NJIT is a public polytechnic university offering over 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programmes across six specialised schools, taught by expert faculty.
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Popular Programmes: Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences; Mathematics and Statistics
Application Fee Waiver: NJIT offers application fee waivers for students with financial hardships.
10. Saint Louis University (SLU)
Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest Catholic universities. SLU provides 91 bachelor’s and 125 graduate programmes to over 15,000 students from 100 countries, featuring a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Popular Programmes: Biology, Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Nursing
Application Fee Waiver: There is no application fee when you apply for undergraduate admission to SLU.
How to Get Application Fee Waivers at US Universities?
Use Standard Waivers
Check if you qualify for waivers through the Common Application, which is a single online college application used by over 900 US colleges and universities, or if you have a College Board fee waiver. The College Board administers standardised tests, such as the Scholastic Assessment Test and often provides application fee waivers directly to students as part of the SAT fee waiver benefits.
Apply Early or Directly
Some universities automatically waive the fee if you apply early. Others give out special codes or simply don’t charge any fee at all.
Meet Specific Financial Criteria
Many universities, like Harvard, grant waivers if you submit a request showing you require a waiver. This requires specific documentation, such as:
- National Association for College Admission Counselling (NACAC) fee waiver form
- A recommendation letter from a counsellor or a teacher
Check First
Always research each school’s policy on its website, as not every university offers this option.
You can submit the fee waiver request a few days before your application deadline so it can be approved on time, and you can apply without an application fee.
Admission Requirements at US Universities Without Application Fees
Here are some common eligibility requirements for no-application-fee universities in the USA for international students:
- All academic transcripts
- Minimum GPA: Between 2.5 and 3.0 on a scale of 4.0
- Scores from tests such as the SAT/ACT (American College Testing) for UG courses and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission test (GMAT) for PG courses, depending on the specific university’s requirements
- Proof of English proficiency through tests, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of 6.0-6.5, or the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 79 or above
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Letters of Recommendation (LORs)
- A valid passport
Applying to universities in America without an application fee can save you a lot of money. However, the cost of living and studying abroad, especially in the US, can be expensive. Many students opt for education loans for studying abroad, so they can focus on their studies.
At Avanse Financial Services, we believe that every student deserves quality education. Therefore, we provide customised educational loans that come with benefits such as 100% financing, quick sanctions and flexible repayment options. You can also calculate EMIs for an education loan using our EMI calculator to determine your monthly instalments and plan better. Feel free to reach out to us for any queries. We will be glad to assist you.
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