Colorado Free College Application Days return Oct. 20 through 22

Colorado students can apply to college for free during the state’s annual Free Application Days, happening Oct. 20-22.

For three days, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado, along with several private institutions, will waive application fees. That can make a big difference for families, because those fees add up fast — right along with senior pictures, graduation announcements and the emotional cost of realizing your baby may leave home.

The event is open to Colorado residents applying to undergraduate programs, including associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and certificate programs at participating schools. Students do not have to have every single document submitted by Oct. 22. Additional admission materials, such as high school transcripts and letters of recommendation, can be sent before or after the free application window.

Community colleges and area technical colleges in Colorado already waive application fees year-round, and several other Colorado colleges do the same.

Students and families can find fee waiver details for each participating school at cdhe.colorado.gov/cofreeappdays.

So if college applications are on the family to-do list, this is a good weekend to save some money — and maybe only cry a little over the idea of dorm shopping.