Are there any universities where application fees are free, especially for lower-ranked universities for a Postgraduate?
Several US universities such as the University of Dayton, Michigan Technological University, University of Tulsa, Cleveland State University and Grand Canyon University waive postgraduate application fees entirely, and you can also request fee waivers from other schools for financial hardship, attending an admissions event, or military affiliation.
If application fees are holding you back from applying to more postgraduate programs, you do have real options, including universities that never charge a fee at all and others that will waive it if you know how to ask. You do not need to limit yourself to only lower ranked schools to find this.
Universities With No Application Fee
| University | Known For |
|---|---|
| University of Dayton | Engineering and flexible master's programs |
| Michigan Technological University | STEM graduate degrees |
| University of Tulsa | No application fee across programs |
| Cleveland State University | No application fee across programs |
| Grand Canyon University | Online and hybrid master's degrees |
How to Get a Waiver Elsewhere
If a university you like normally charges a fee of $50 to $100 or more, you can often get it waived through a need based hardship request, by attending a virtual or in person graduate open house or info session, or through affiliation categories like military veterans, McNair Scholars or TRIO participants.
My Advice
Before you pay any application fee, check the specific department page since some departments waive fees even when the general graduate school does not, and consider sending a polite direct email to the admissions office asking about waivers based on need or event attendance.
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