Free College Application Week Approaching

Free College Application Week is a statewide initiative that helps Texas residents apply to public colleges at no cost.  

Created by Senate Bill 2231 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, all public colleges and universities in Texas are required to waive admission application fees for Texas residents who apply through ApplyTexas to undergraduate programs.  

When is it?
In 2026, Free College Application Week is October 12-18, 2026. It is the second full week of October (Monday-Sunday). 

How to Use the Fee Waiver
-Complete your application through ApplyTexas.
-Submit before the Sunday deadline during that week; unfinished applications won’t count.
-Save confirmations and check your ApplyTexas dashboard to ensure the waiver applied correctly.

Who can participate?
All Texas residents applying for undergraduate admission at Texas public institutions through ApplyTexas may participate. This includes first-time college students and transfer students.

Reasons to Apply Early:
-Better chances for admission: Some colleges review applications on a rolling basis, so early applicants may have a higher likelihood of acceptance before spaces fill up.
-Access to more scholarships: Many merit- and need-based scholarships have priority or early deadlines tied to the application date.
-Priority housing selection: Early applicants often get first pick for on-campus housing, which can make a big difference in location and quality of dorm options.
-More time for corrections: Submitting early gives students a buffer in case transcripts, recommendations, or test scores need to be updated or corrected.
-Reduced stress: Getting applications in ahead of time avoids last-minute pressure, technical glitches, or missed deadlines.
-Demonstrated interest: Some colleges track “demonstrated interest,” and early application submission signals a strong motivation to attend.
-Flexibility for other tasks: Students who finish early can shift focus to financial aid forms (FAFSA/TASFA), scholarship essays, or preparing for standardized tests.

ApplyTexas vs. Common App
One important note is that free application week is only available through the ApplyTexas website; it does not transfer to Common App, where many students complete the majority of their college applications, especially if they are applying to out-of-state schools. This is not a huge issue, as the applications for Texas Universities are largely the same on either site, but students must ensure that they are applying through the correct website in order to receive the automatic fee waiver.

For more details:
https://www.highered.texas.gov/free-college-application-week/