NEW YORK (WWTI) – Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the State University of New York, the City University of New York and 40 private colleges and universities in New York State will waive application fees for selected dates throughout October.

“Education is the backbone of our society, and I am committed to providing opportunities that support every student’s journey to a higher education,”

Governor Kathy Hochul

This is the first time that SUNY, CUNY, and New York’s private institutions will join together to waive application fees for students applying during New York State College Application Month.

“As we celebrate College Application Month in New York State, I am thrilled that SUNY, CUNY, and several of New York’s private institutions will waive application fees. Removing financial barriers enables students who may not have considered completing an application due to financial constraints to take the first steps of their educational journey. I urge all seniors in the state to apply to at least one college this month and make the most of this unprecedented initiative.”

 Governor Kathy Hochul

October was proclaimed by the Governor as College Application Month in New York State to raise awareness of higher education and to support students seeking to pursue higher education opportunities across New York State; the proclamation is available Here.

In support of college application month, SUNY and CUNY are waving application fees:

  • SUNY — all 64 colleges and universities for two weeks beginning Monday, October 16 through Sunday, October 29;
  • CUNY — all 25 campuses throughout October for high school seniors in New York City public schools;
  • CUNY — all New York State residents who will apply as a freshman between Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 31; and
  • CUNY has also guaranteed admission to all seven community colleges for any student who holds a high school diploma.

Fee waivers at private institutions vary by participating institution during the month. New York’s private institutions included in the application fee waiving are:

Institution:application fee waiving dates:
Adelphi UniversityOctober
Canisius UniversityYear Round
Clarkson UniversityOctober
College of Mount Saint VincentYear Round
College of Saint RoseYear Round
Daemen UniversityYear Round
D’Youville UniversityYear Round
Elmira CollegeYear Round
Excelsior UniversityYear Round
Fordham UniversityOctober
Hartwick CollegeYear Round
Hilbert CollegeYear Round
Hobart and William Smith CollegesYear Round
Hofstra UniversityOctober
Houghton UniversityYear Round
Iona UniversityYear Round
Keuka CollegeYear Round
King’s College (The)Year Round
Le Moyne CollegeYear Round
Maria CollegeYear Round
Mercy UniversityOctober
Molloy UniversityOctober
Mount Saint Mary CollegeYear Round
Niagara UniversityYear Round
Pace UniversityNYC campus – October Pleasantville campus – Year Round
Paul Smith’s CollegeYear Round
Phillips School of Nursing at Mount Sinai Beth IsraelYear Round
Pratt MunsonOctober — Waiver Code – MUN OCT 23
Relay Graduate School of EducationYear Round
Roberts Wesleyan UniversityYear Round
Rochester Institute of TechnologyOctober
Russell Sage CollegeOctober
Siena CollegeOctober
St. Bonaventure UniversityYear Round
St. Francis CollegeYear Round
St. John Fisher UniversityYear Round
St. John’s UniversityYear Round
St. Joseph’s UniversityOctober — Use Code: October2023
St. Joseph’s College of NursingYear Round
St. Lawrence UniversityYear Round
Trocaire CollegeYear Round
Villa Maria College of BuffaloYear Round
Wagner CollegeOctober — NYC waiver code – WagnerNYC
Wells CollegeYear Round

The complete list of participating colleges and universities, information on when fees will be waived and websites for each school can be found Here.

Higher Education Services Corporation, SUNY and CUNY have scheduled virtual and in-person events throughout October to encourage students to learn more about the NYS financial aid, inform students about college options and assist in completing applications.

List of scheduled virtual and in-person events:

  • More than 70 financial aid events hosted by HESC are Here;
  • SUNY sessions are Here; and
  • More than 100 events hosted by CUNY are Here.

The New York State College Application Month initiative encourages high school seniors to apply for college early; focusing on students from low-income families, first-generation students and students who may not otherwise apply for college.