Application fee waiver
Governor announces UD, DSU will waive application fees for Delaware students
2:04 p.m., Oct. 16, 2014--Continuing the state’s commitment to increasing access to post-secondary education and training, Gov. Jack Markell, the University of Delaware, and Delaware State University have announced that the schools will waive their college application fees for Delaware’s high school seniors when they apply during College Application Month (CAM), which runs now through Nov. 21.
All students who are residents of the state are eligible for the waiver from UD and DSU.
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The universities join Delaware Technical Community College and Wilmington University, which have for the past two years waived fees for Delaware students who attend schools that participate in CAM. All public high schools will hold CAM activities over the next month.
Among other Delaware institutions, students can also apply to Wesley College and Goldey-Beacom College without charge, meaning no Delaware seniors will owe application fees to six of the state’s colleges and universities during College Application Month.
“I applaud our colleges and universities for working to make their admissions process as accessible and encouraging to our students as possible,” said Markell. “With good jobs increasingly requiring education or training beyond high school, addressing obstacles to a college education is vital to supporting our students and strengthening our state, where our economy’s growth depends on having a highly-skilled workforce.
“Financial concerns too often discourage students from college and the state is working to make sure our youth are aware of scholarships, grants and other financial aid opportunities. But students can’t take advantage of those if they never apply, so I’m thrilled that our schools are sending this welcoming message to all Delaware students.”
Markell has made it a priority to remove financial and other barriers for students who wish to attend college. A partnership with the College Board, launched last year and continuing this fall, provides college-ready seniors with information on college affordability and financial aid, as well as materials to help them choose colleges. Low-income students receive application-fee waivers, which have traditionally been complicated to obtain, for up to eight schools.
"As the state flagship, the University of Delaware takes great pride in providing access to the extraordinary, life changing experiences provided through scholarship at our campus,” said Jose Aviles, director of admissions at UD. “We recognize the great challenges in increasing college participation rates across Delaware and are pleased to join the state’s efforts. We continue to work toward removing barriers so that Delawareans can realize their dream of a higher education at UD.”
College Application Month information
To receive a fee waiver when applying to the University of Delaware, students should select “Yes, I participated in the UD Senior Search Program” on the Common Application. As long as they submit their application during the Delaware CAM time frame, the University will honor the fee waiver if they select it. Counselors do not need to provide any additional verification for this waiver.
As part of College Application Month, which began this week, students in every high school will have the opportunity fill out their applications in computer labs and write college application essays during English class. Volunteers from employers and college campuses throughout the state are assisting students.
Another part of the effort, in partnership with Stand By Me, assists families with filling out the FAFSA form, individual school aid forms, and scholarship applications.
Last year, for the first time on record, every college-ready student in Delaware who was on track to graduate from high school applied. In previous years, as many as one out of five did not.