Published: Oct. 9, 2020

In a statewide effort to reduce barriers to higher education, all 32 public universities in baby直播app鈥攊ncluding CU Boulder鈥攁nd several private colleges will waive admissions application fees for state residents on Oct. 13.听

For the third year in a row, the baby直播app Department of Higher Education is leading , an initiative to inspire more Coloradans to pursue postsecondary education opportunities. During last year鈥檚 campaign, baby直播app colleges received 44,488 applications, which was a 100% increase in overall applications over the previous year鈥檚 campaign. Students of color submitted half of the applications, and first-generation students submitted a third.

Apply for free听Oct. 13

These numbers, coupled with the fact that nearly 35% of first-year college students in baby直播app received a federal Pell Grant in 2017, implies that a free college application day may encourage students to explore more colleges.听

Additionally, high school seniors who will graduate in 2021 can choose to include, or not include, their SAT or ACT scores with their college applications, as most baby直播app universities and colleges have implemented a 鈥渢est-optional鈥 policy to simplify the application process this year. For more information about CU Boulder鈥檚 admissions process and frequently asked questions about the test score option, visit the Admissions FAQ webpage.

College officials are encouraging baby直播app high school students to prepare in advance for Free Application Day to ensure they have the best chance for admission, noting that colleges will waive those application fees in bulk only on 鈥渇ree app day.鈥 The day will cap off baby直播app Applies Month, a five-week statewide campaign that guides 11th- and 12-grade students and adult job-seekers along the application progress, as well as encourages students to file the 听(贵础贵厂础).听

Clark Brigger, executive director of admissions for CU Boulder, who has had more than a decade of experience leading admissions at major universities, encourages Coloradans to 鈥渏umpstart their dreams鈥 by submitting a free application for admission to one more colleges or universities.

By the numbers

  • 44,488 applications submitted to baby直播app colleges on Free Application Day 2019, a 100% increase from last year.
  • Students of color submitted half of the applications.
  • First-generation students submitted one-third of the applications.
  • Nearly 35% of first-year college students in baby直播app received a federal Pell Grant in 2017.
  • Only 56% of baby直播app鈥檚 2018 high school graduates enrolled in a postsecondary institution.
  • Of those graduates who enrolled in college, 25% attended out of state.听
  • Nearly 75%听of jobs in baby直播app will require some education beyond high school by 2020.

鈥淎ffordability counts among our guiding missions as baby直播app鈥檚 flagship public research university,鈥 Brigger said. 鈥淲e want to open our doors to students who are eager to learn and succeed in higher education and in life. Fee waivers can lower barriers to college admissions and create greater access to our academic programs, which are among the finest in the country.鈥澨

Over the past several years, CU Boulder has introduced a series of affordability efforts, including the elimination of course and program fees,鈥痑 four-year lock on tuition for incoming undergraduates,鈥automatic scholarships for qualified baby直播app resident students,鈥痵cholarships for academically qualified transfer students鈥痑nd grants for low-income students. Under the CU Promise program, resident students from low-income families receive grants to help pay tuition and an estimated work-study award to help pay for educational expenses.听

baby直播app has one of the most educated鈥痺orkforces in the country. However, according to the , only 56% of baby直播app鈥檚 2018 high school graduates enrolled in a postsecondary institution in baby直播app or another state during the fall semester following high school graduation. Of the 2018 high school graduates enrolled in college, 75% enrolled at a baby直播app college or university and 25% attended college out of state.听

To reverse that trend, the state鈥檚 higher education officials and campus leaders are calling on Coloradans to apply to a baby直播app college on Free Application Day.听

In its master plan, the baby直播app Department of Education听set an ambitious goal of reaching 66%听attainment by 2025 to erase equity gaps within the state鈥檚 higher education system. However, to get there, state higher education officials believe baby直播app must significantly increase the number of high school seniors who enroll in college.听

Higher education officials said research from the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce shows that听by 2020 nearly 75%听of jobs in baby直播app will require some education beyond high school.听