How Much Does It Cost to Apply to College?

Chloe ApplebyJessica Bryant
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Updated on June 24, 2025
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Fact-checked by Marley Rose
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As tuition increases, even applying to college comes at a cost. How much are college applications? Find out in our report.
Teenage girl with headphones and laptop having online school class at homeCredit: Image Credit: Carol Yepes / Moment / Getty Images


Data Summary

  • checkFor U.S. students, the average undergraduate application fee is $48.
  • check3 in 10 colleges report waiving application fees for students with financial need.
  • checkCollege application fees depend on your school and school type.
  • checkThe average Ivy League college application is $80.
  • checkIn 2024-2025, students who used the Common App applied to an average of 6.14 colleges and universities each — translating to an average cost of nearly $295.
  • checkStudents pay $68-$111 per test for the SAT or ACT, but costs can add up with additional fees and test prep.

Going to college is a massive investment — so large, in fact, that 62% of people we surveyed believe the financial challenges associated with earning a degree make college inaccessible. What’s more, these high costs can start before you’ve even been accepted into your dream school.

The money students spend on college applications, standardized tests and test prep, college advisors, and more varies greatly. But one thing is for certain: Applying to college can become very expensive very quickly.

So, how much does it really cost to apply to college?

Application Fees for Colleges

Before pressing submit on your college applications, you could be prompted to pay an application fee. Application fees vary depending on the university, program, and school type. But generally, you can expect to pay roughly $50 per application.

We analyzed 2022-2023 application fee information collected by Peterson’s Data from over 1,100 colleges. According to Peterson’s:

  • The average application fee at a four-year public college or university was $48.
  • The average college application fee at private four-year schools was $54-$57.
  • The average application fee at two-year colleges was less expensive, ranging from $39-$52.

At face value, the application fee for just one college might not seem too daunting to pay. However, according to the Common App, applicants applied to an average of 6.14 different colleges during the 2024-2025 application process, so the fees can add up quickly.

For example, let’s say a student applied to four public universities and two private nonprofit universities. That student would pay over $300 in application fees alone.

In addition, prestigious universities, like those in the Ivy League, often charge higher-than-average application fees. The average fee for a first-year undergraduate applying to an Ivy-Plus university is $80.

However, many Ivy League universities waive application fees for students who demonstrate financial need.

Application Fees at Ivy-Plus Universities
SchoolApplication Fee
Brown University$75
Columbia University$85
Cornell University$80
Dartmouth College$85
Duke University$85
Harvard University$85
Massachusetts Institute of Technology$75
Princeton University$75
Stanford University$90
University of Chicago$75
University of Pennsylvania$75
Yale University$80
Source: Most recently available data from listed schools’ websites.

Online Program Application Fees

Online programs tend to charge lower application fees than in-person programs. In fact, many online schools do not charge students any application fee.

We collected current application fees from our list of best online colleges. The average school charges $40 for an undergraduate application.

Application Fees for Top Online Colleges
SchoolUndergraduate Application FeeGraduate Application Fee
Maryville University of Saint Louis$0$0
Northeastern University Professional Programs$0$75-$100
University of Missouri$0-$75$0-$75
Florida International University$30$30
University of Florida$30$30
Parker University$50$50
Thomas Jefferson University$50$50
Drexel University$65$65
Oregon State University$65$75
George Mason University$70$75
Source: Most recently available data from listed schools’ websites.

How to Save Money on College Application Fees

There are several ways to save when going through the college application process. To start, many colleges — over 170 of them — opt out of charging applicants altogether.

Many colleges also offer college application fee waivers for low-income students and students who are also applying for the FAFSA or the university’s financial aid. In fact, 30% of colleges in Peterson’s dataset report waiving application fees for students with financial need.

Be sure to also look out for “fee-free” periods in your state when application fees are waived for students applying to public colleges and universities.

For students interested in applying to several historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), a more affordable option is the Common Black College Application, which costs a one-time fee of $20 and is accepted by 67 HBCUs.

2025 Standardized Testing Fees

In 2025, over 1.9 million high schoolers took the SAT, and roughly 1.4 million took the ACT. All those testing fees add up. It costs a minimum of $68 to take a single standardized test. Students should also factor in additional fees, including fees for the test center and for additional score reports.

2025 SAT Fees
TypeCost
Full SAT$68
SAT International Student Testing Fee$111
Additional Score Reports$15/report
Additional Fees (extra services, late fees, score verification, etc.)$15-55
Source: CollegeBoard
2025 ACT Fees
TypeCost
Full ACT$65
Full ACT With Writing$90
Full ACT With Science$69
Additional Score Reports$19/report
Additional Fees (extra services, late fees, score verification, etc.)$19-$122
Source: ACT

Luckily, the SAT and ACT offer testing fee waivers for some 11th and 12th graders, including those who:

  • Are enrolled in or eligible for federal free or reduced-price lunch programs at school.
  • Are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families.
  • Reside in foster homes, are wards of the state, or are experiencing homelessness.
  • Receive public assistance or live in federally subsidized public housing.

Additionally, over 1,700 U.S. four-year colleges and universities have switched over to test-optional, test-flexible, or even test-free admissions policies.

Additional Costs for Applying to College

Nearly all post-secondary institutions require a high school transcript during the application process. Depending on the high school you attended, you might be charged a small fee per transcript either from the school or a third-party site.

Beyond application and testing fees, future college students might opt to spend supplemental funds to increase their chances of getting into their dream school, including:

  • College essay tutoring
  • College entrance coaching and advising
  • Traveling to and from in-person college tours or interviews

If you’re planning to engage with any of these college prep options, you can expect that they will each cost you hundreds of dollars.

Sources