College application fees will be waived at more than 60 Georgia colleges and universities from November 1 through November 30, 2026, giving eligible high school seniors an opportunity to apply without paying the usual submission charges.
The monthlong offer is part of Georgia’s Apply to College Month initiative, organized by the Georgia Student Finance Commission alongside the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia, and participating private institutions. This marks the sixth year the state has coordinated November application fee waivers.
Students won’t have to choose just one college to receive the benefit. State officials confirmed there is no limit on how many participating institutions a senior can apply to during the promotion. That could mean substantial savings for families considering several schools, especially when application charges start adding up before acceptance letters even arrive.
Major universities participating in the program include Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Gwinnett College, and Kennesaw State University. Other participating schools include Augusta University, Columbus State University, the University of North Georgia, and Valdosta State University.
Students interested in historically Black colleges and universities also have several options. Albany State University, Fort Valley State University, and Savannah State University are included in the November program.
College application fees are also being waived at numerous technical colleges, including Atlanta Technical College, Gwinnett Technical College, Albany Technical College, and Savannah Technical College. Private institutions such as Agnes Scott College, Mercer University, and Berry College are participating as well.
However, students should pay close attention to how each school handles its waiver. Some institutions automatically remove the application charge, while others require applicants to enter a specific promotional code or select a particular option during the application process.
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The Georgia Student Finance Commission has published individual instructions for participating schools on GAfutures.org.
For example, Georgia Tech applicants using the Common Application must indicate that they will graduate from a Georgia high school or that they are Georgia residents currently attending high school outside the state.
Kennesaw State University requires students using the Common Application to select “Apply to College Month” under its school-specific fee waiver section.
Georgia State University has separate instructions depending on which campus a student wants to attend. First-year applicants to its Atlanta campus must select the November fee waiver option and confirm their Georgia high school attendance. Students applying to Perimeter College must enter the code ACM2027.
College application fees at several technical schools can be waived using the promotional code NOVFREE27. Albany State University uses ramsapply27, while Mercer University lists BETHEBEAR as its waiver code.
Another option involves GEORGIA MATCH, the state’s direct admissions initiative that helps high school seniors identify public colleges matching their academic records.
According to the Georgia Student Finance Commission, students who submit applications to public institutions through the GEORGIA MATCH dashboard during November will have their application fee waivers applied automatically.
However, GEORGIA MATCH eligibility does not guarantee final admission. Participating institutions still review required academic records and other admission materials before making official decisions.
Students should also understand that the GEORGIA MATCH dashboard limits its separate “Claim Your Spot” feature to three institutions. That restriction does not change the unlimited number of participating schools students can apply to through November’s fee waiver initiative.
Before submitting applications, seniors should review each institution’s admission requirements, academic programs, and deadlines. Depending on the college, additional materials may include transcripts, essays, recommendations, or standardized test scores.
Although college application fees are being eliminated during the promotion, the program does not waive tuition or guarantee financial assistance.
Georgia Student Finance Commission President Chris Green emphasized the financial benefit for families.
“Georgia seniors do not have to choose between paying application fees and pursuing the next step in their higher education journey,” Green said.
Students can also explore scholarship and grant opportunities through GAfutures, including information about Georgia’s HOPE and Zell Miller programs, which have separate eligibility requirements.
The free application opportunity ends November 30, 2026. Students and families can visit GAfutures.org to review the complete participating school list, verify waiver codes, and find application instructions before the deadline.
