Governor Hochul Announces Free College Applications for New York Students

On Friday, October 18th, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that starting October 21st, students in New York will be able to apply to the State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), and over 50 private colleges and universities without paying application fees. This initiative, part of New York State College Application Month, aims to ease the financial burden for families and encourage more students to pursue higher education. It marks the second consecutive year of the fee-waiving initiative.

“Ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education is a top priority for New York State,” said Governor Hochul. “College Application Month isn’t only about waiving fees — it’s about breaking down financial barriers and opening doors to future opportunities. We’re empowering students across the state to take the first step toward achieving their educational and career goals while removing the financial obstacles that may deter students from pursuing higher education.”

The fee waivers will be available for SUNY applications from October 21 through November 3 and for CUNY applications from October 21 to November 15. CUNY also guarantees admission to all seven community colleges for New York City public school graduates, expanding access to affordable higher education. Private institutions across the state are also participating, with fee waivers varying by campus.

New York State Higher Education Services Corporation President Dr. Guillermo Linares emphasized the initiative’s importance, stating, “Education is a pathway to opportunity…By waiving application fees, we’re helping more New Yorkers take that important first step toward achieving a brighter future and reinforcing our commitment to making higher education accessible and attainable for every student across the state.”

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “There is a place at SUNY for everyone, and we are committed to ensuring the pursuit of higher education is available to all New Yorkers. We are pleased to join Governor Hochul in promoting College Application Month and in providing application fee waivers to ease this step toward college for prospective students who are ready to claim their place on the SUNY campus that’s right for them.”

This initiative is part of Governor Hochul’s ongoing efforts to expand access to higher education. It follows recent changes to the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which have already led to over 40,000 newly eligible students applying for financial aid. The goal is to ensure that more students, particularly those from low-income and underserved communities, have the resources they need to pursue their academic goals.