Students Can Apply to Multiple Colleges for Free During College Application Week

Students can save on college application costs by applying during College Application Week from Oct. 15 – 19. During this week, many North Carolina colleges and universities waive application fees. College Application Week is a part of the College Foundation of North Carolina’s (CFNC) annual college-access event, NC Countdown to College. 

As part of College Application Week, hundreds of qualified volunteers, counselors, and admission professionals will be at high schools across the state to help students apply to college. Participating North Carolina colleges will waive fees completely. Students applying to nonparticipating colleges may qualify for assistance through the College Board or ACT fee waivers. 

“The college application process can be confusing and costly,” says Laura Morgan, Vice President of Communications, Savings, and Legal Affairs at College Foundation, Inc. “Each college or university application typically comes with a fee, and those fees can add up quickly! College Application Week is an opportunity for students to get the help they need while saving money.” 

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Residency Determination Service (RDS) are also important steps of applying to college and integral pieces of NC Countdown to College. The FAFSA is the first step toward paying for college because it checks a student’s eligibility for state and federal financial aid. RDS determines a student’s eligibility for in-state tuition and state grants. During the month of October, students can get extra support with financial aid and residency through school-based events as well as on local campuses at FAFSA Day. 

Students who are interested in participating in College Application Week and NC Countdown to College should first make a profile with CFNC. CFNC assists students and families as they plan, apply, and pay for college. For additional information and resources, visit CFNC.org.