Colorado: Free Application Days Saves Students $2.4 Million in Application Fees

DENVER ~ In the state of Colorado, students have once again taken advantage of the annual Colorado Free Application Days, with a record-breaking number of 71,504 college and university admissions applications submitted during the three-day event. This year's initiative, held from Tuesday, Oct. 7 to Thursday, Oct. 9 in 2025, saw a 9% increase in participation compared to last year.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement for the eighth consecutive year of this initiative in a video message, stating that it continues to break down financial barriers and provide access to higher education for all students. The campaign has saved students a total of $2.4 million in waived application fees since its launch.

Leading the pack among participating institutions was the University of Colorado Boulder (CU) with 12,693 applications submitted. Following closely behind were Colorado State University Fort Collins with 11,284 applications and the University of Northern Colorado with 5,565 applications.

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This year's campaign also highlighted Colorado's ongoing efforts to increase college enrollment and completion rates by making higher education more accessible and affordable for all residents. Of the total applications submitted, 36% came from first-generation college students and 49% were from students of color - two groups that historically have lower college enrollment rates in Colorado.

Dr. Angie Paccione, executive director of CDHE (Colorado Department of Higher Education), emphasized the success of this initiative in breaking down financial barriers for students and encouraging them to take bold steps towards their future. She also noted that this increase in college enrollment will strengthen the talent pipeline that drives Colorado's economy.

In addition to the record-breaking number of admissions applications submitted, data also showed that 1,411 transfer applications were processed during the three-day event. Of these transfers, 270 applied to a community college within the Colorado Community College System while others applied to various universities such as CU Boulder and CU Denver.

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The success of Colorado Free Application Days was also made possible by the generous contributions of Comcast and Telemundo, who donated airtime and video production services to create a 30-second public service announcement in English and Spanish. The PSA, featuring Governor Polis, was valued at $24,536 and aired on various cable channels in September and October for viewers in mountain communities, the Denver metropolitan area, and Northern and Southern Colorado.

While most colleges offer application fee waivers year-round for financially stretched families, the CDHE website provides information on how to request these waivers. Additionally, as a result of this campaign, several colleges and universities have decided to eliminate application fees year-round.

The Colorado Department of Higher Education works closely with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to support students and develop policies that maximize higher education opportunities for all. Their strategic plan, "Building Skills in an Evolving Economy," reflects their belief that every Coloradan should have access to education beyond high school in order to pursue their dreams and improve their communities.

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