Ban college application fees for interested students.

 

The purpose of this bill is to allow applicants to apply to a college they would like to attend without having to pay an

application fee.

 

Making all college applications in Minnesota free of charge will remove a financial barrier that prevents many students

from pursuing higher education. Currently, college application fees can range from $30 to $100 per school, which adds up

quickly for students applying to multiple institutions. In 2017, about 25% of recently graduated Minnesotans did not

apply to college, and by 2019, that number had risen to 34%. This trend shows that fewer students are pursuing higher

education each year, with costs being a major factor. By eliminating application fees, this bill will give every

Minnesota student, regardless of their financial situation, an equal opportunity to apply to college. Although the

average college receives around $50 million nationally from application fees, this bill will allow the school to receive

more applications. The increase in applications will also benefit Minnesota’s colleges by expanding their applicant

pools, creating a more diverse and competitive student body, and strengthening the state’s workforce in the long term.

Free applications will ensure that no student’s future is limited by their ability to pay an upfront fee.

 

 

“College applications” means a package of materials that you submit that the college looks at to decide on whether or

not to accept you.

“Recently graduated Minnesotans” means the people in Minnesota that have just graduated from high school.

 

 

The funds will come from private and corporate donations.

 

Colleges that do not follow these protocols will be given a fine two times the amount that the person paid to apply.

 

This bill shall be effective Jan 1, 2027.