LOUDONVILLE, NY (WRGB) — Siena University has eliminated its $50 application fee for prospective students, effective August 1.
While a number of colleges and universities offer a designated week or month to submit an application free of charge, Siena is one of the first to completely do away with the fee. The application will be free whether a student applies directly through the University or through the online Common Application.
“For families exploring college options, every expense matters, and no student should have to factor in the cost of applying to learn if they will be accepted at a particular institution,” said Katie Szalda, Siena’s associate vice president of admissions. “Application fees do not help us understand a student’s potential, character, or fit. At Siena, we believe our responsibility is to get to know every student, not ask families to pay before that relationship even begins.”
Siena typically collected tens of thousands of dollars in application fees each year.
Szalda explained that application fees at U.S. colleges often range from $39 to $90, and for students applying to multiple institutions, those costs can quickly add up to several hundred dollars.
“Research has shown that application fees can discourage qualified students, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, from applying to colleges that may be an excellent fit,” she said. “It’s a practical investment in access and equity.”
