Apply for Free:SUNY & CUNY’s Free Application Weeks

In the bustling heart of New York, a door quietly creaks open—one that many students don't realize is theirs to push wide. The corridors of opportunity, often paved with heavy fees and paperwork, seem less daunting for just a moment. The chance is simple but profound: free applications to SUNY and CUNY schools. A week of possibility, where the usual toll is waived, granting students one step closer to their future without the burden of the $65 fee.

For the students of New York City’s public schools, from October 21st to November 15th, and for those outside the city’s boundaries, from November 4th to November 15th, the gates swing open. It is a moment to seize. Not just for those on the obvious paths, but for the dreamers, the uncertain, the ones who weren’t sure if they could even afford the beginning of their journey. In those brief windows of time, the costs of exploration vanish, leaving only ambition and readiness. 

SUNY Free Application Week follows suit, offering its own week of possibilities. From October 21st to November 3rd, students can apply to up to five campuses without a penny leaving their pockets. And even after the week closes, the path remains gentle for many: fee waivers exist for over half of the state's high school seniors, foster care students, those with military connections, low-income backgrounds, and many from over 500 designated schools.

It’s a gift not merely of money saved, but of belief in oneself. For many, this moment is not about finances—it is about freedom. The freedom to imagine life beyond the familiar, to dream of classrooms that echo with new ideas, to step onto campuses that might have otherwise felt out of reach. In these weeks, students are not just applying for college—they are claiming their place in the world.

But the door does not remain open forever. It creaks, yes, but then it swings shut, leaving only the echo of those who hurried through. The urgency is clear: prepare, submit, take hold of the opportunity before it fades. Letters of recommendation, transcripts—they may still be gathered in the days beyond these deadlines. But the first step, the most important one, is to apply.

Don't Miss Out! Subscribe for Free Application Week Reminders

Want to make sure you don’t miss this incredible opportunity? Subscribe now to get reminders when SUNY and CUNY’s free application weeks are approaching. We’ll send you a notification, so you can be ready to apply and secure your spot at the school of your dreams—without the extra cost.