State Residents Can Skip College Application Fee For One Day

Applying to Colorado State University normally costs $50. But on Tuesday it's free for state residents.

On Colorado Free Application Day there will be no fees for Coloradans to apply to any of the 32 public schools, and several private institutions too.

Applications have to be received by 11:59 p.m.

The waived admissions application fees for state residents is part of a statewide effort, now in its second year, that works to reduce barriers to higher education.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education is leading the initiative to inspire more Coloradans to pursue higher education.

In 2018, Colorado colleges received 23,000 applications on Colorado Free Application Day, which was 12 percent higher than the same period in 2017. Students of color submitted half of the applications and first-generation students submitted a third, according to the education department.

Free Application Day will cap off Colorado Applies Month, a campaign that encourages high school seniors to apply to a higher education program.

According to the 2018 Legislative Report on the Postsecondary Progress and Success of High School Graduates, a little more than half — 56 percent — of Colorado high school graduates enrolled in a postsecondary institution in Colorado or another state.