Free SUNY and CUNY Applications Starting October 21

For the Second Consecutive Year, SUNY, CUNY and More Than 50 Private Colleges and Universities Will Waive Application Fees During College Application Month

A Complete List of Participating Campuses and Fee Waiver Information Available Here; Students Encouraged To Apply

The State University of New York, the City University of New York and over 50 private colleges and universities throughout New York State have again come together to offer free application opportunities for high school seniors during New York State College Application Month.

The State University of New York (SUNY) will waive up to five application fees per student across its 64 colleges and universities from Oct. 21 through Nov. 3. The City University of New York (CUNY) is waiving application fees across all 25 campuses for high school seniors attending New York City public schools from Oct. 21 to Nov. 15 and from Nov. 4 to Nov. 15 for all New York State residents applying as a college freshman. CUNY further guarantees admission to all seven of its community colleges for all NYC Public Schools graduates, while private institutions across the state are offering fee waivers that vary by campus. Visit the New York State Application Month waiver webpage here for more information and a complete list of participating NYS colleges and universities.

Last week, Governor Hochul announced that following the increase in income thresholds secured in the FY25 Enacted Budget, more than 40,000 newly eligible New York State students have already submitted Tuition Assistance Program applications for the 2024-25 academic year.

To assist students with their academic goals, the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) and academic partners will offer over 65 virtual and in-person events. These events aim to support students through their college applications, encourage students to learn more about New York State financial aid, and inform them about their college options. Additional assistance with college applications and information on related events can be found on the Apply to SUNY webpage and CUNY Month webpage.

New York State’s College Application Month (CAM) is part of the national American College Application Campaign, which began as a pilot at a single high school in North Carolina in 2005 and has since expanded to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Coordinated by HESC in partnership with the NYS Education Department, SUNY, CUNY, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities, the Association of Proprietary Colleges, the NYC Department of Education and community organizations. CAM encourages high school seniors — especially those from low-income families, first-generation students, and those who may not otherwise apply — to submit college applications early. To date, the national campaign, sponsored by ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning, has helped nearly 4.7 million students submit over 8.7 million applications.