New York Waives College Application Fees for High School Seniors This Fall

On October 13, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that more than 130 colleges and universities across New York State are waiving their application fees for high school seniors this fall, through the state's College Application Initiative. SUNY schools are waiving fees from October 19 through November 2, 2026. CUNY is waiving fees from September 15 through November 16, 2026 for students at New York City public schools, and from October 15 through November 16, 2026 for students outside the city's public schools. Last year, the initiative produced more than 300,000 free college applications and saved students and families more than $15 million in application fees.

We don't know exactly which of the 130-plus participating colleges are on this year's list, or whether each one requires a special fee-waiver code versus waiving fees automatically. We also don't know whether the private colleges on the list follow the same calendar as SUNY and CUNY or set their own shorter windows.

If you are a New York high school senior, check whether the colleges on your list take part in this program before you pay an application fee. Ask your counselor which window applies to your school, SUNY campus, or CUNY campus, and plan to submit your applications inside that window so you don't pay a fee you didn't have to.