Seven in 10 U.S. college seniors will graduate with student loan debt that currently averages $37,172. Getting tied to decades of loan repayments can hinder your career’s salary potential and put you at risk for credit-wrecking defaults. Borrowers should cut down their loan amounts by nixing unnecessary costs like application fees. An application fee of $25 to $90 is charged by many colleges’ admission offices to process documents from new students. Looking for free application schools or waivers can really protect your wallet. Shrinking your study time by pursuing accelerated bachelor’s degrees is another great money-saving opportunity. Squeezing coursework into shorter modules will hit fast forward on your degree and career start date. Therefore, we’ve outlined the Top 20 Fastest Bachelor’s Degrees With No Application Fee to accelerate your admission process cheap.
To create this list, our methodology was based upon the Niche search tool. We filtered out four-year, undergraduate colleges that charge $0 for applications. Affordability remained a priority as we eliminated universities billing bachelor’s students more than $700 per credit. Since online courses are the quickest, we focused on distance learning schools with sessions shorter than 10 weeks. Having at least three online baccalaureate degrees where transfers can graduate in under three years was required. We never sacrifice quality, so we double checked regional or national accreditation statements. Our final ordering was dictated by rankings published by the U.S. News, Niche, Washington Monthly, and others.
Here are our selections for the Top 20 Fastest Bachelor’s Degrees With No Application Fee:
1. LeTourneau University
Founded in 1946 to train R.G. LeTourneau’s factory employees, LeTourneau University is a private, nonprofit Christian technical institute that developed a $20 million endowment and adult-friendly culture for serving 1,782 undergrads in East Texas and online. LETU is ranked America’s fourth best online college on Niche and the West’s 11th top value by the U.S. News. Online students can apply for 13 accelerated bachelor’s programs, including the Aviation Studies B.S. and Psychology B.A., with eight-week courses for free.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $508/credit
2. Indiana Wesleyan University
Distributing $146 million in annual financial aid, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private, evangelical Christian CCCU member led by President Dr. David Wright in Marion that’s kept the application free for 10,877 undergrads. IWU was ranked America’s 16th best online college on Niche and the Midwest’s 26th best university by the U.S. News. Online transfers with 60+ previous credits could complete 11 online bachelor’s degrees, such as the B.S. in Accounting and B.S. in Hospitality Management, in 18-20 months.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $432/credit
3. Union Institute & University
Known for noteworthy alums like Sidney Harman and Jane O’Meara Driscoll Sanders, Union Institute & University is a private, nonsectarian HLC-accredited research center in Cincinnati since 1964 that’s enrolling 1,599 undergrads. Union was ranked America’s 20th best online college and 126th best free application school on Niche. Accepting up to 90 transfer credits, Union has 13 fast bachelor’s degrees online, including the Emergency Services Management B.S. and Early Childhood Studies B.A., starting every eight weeks.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $530/credit
4. Loyola University Chicago
Accepting free applications until February 1st, Loyola University Chicago is a private, Jesuit six-campus higher learning institution led by Chancellor Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., with a $535 million endowment to instruct 11,129 undergrads and employ 784 faculty. LUC is ranked America’s 103rd best university and 21st top online college by the U.S. News. Seven online bachelor’s completion programs like the B.A. in Management and B.A. in Information Technology have just 13 Fast-Track courses of eight weeks each.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $655/credit
5. Siena Heights University
Reporting 98 percent student satisfaction, Siena Heights University is a private, coeducational teaching institute operated by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in Adrian, Michigan, that’s attracted 1,200 undergrads from 37 states to its Online Learning Program since 2004. SHU is ranked the Midwest’s 118th top college with the 21st best bachelor’s degrees nationally by the U.S. News. Through Canvas, online students select from eight accelerated, 20-month baccalaureate completion programs, such as the BBA in Marketing and B.A. in Professional Communication.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $510/credit
6. Grace Christian University
Accredited by the ABHE, Grace Christian University is a nonprofit, faith-based Christian institution founded in 1939 that’s now enrolling 900 undergrads upon its 23 acres in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and online. Grace is ranked America’s 35th top religious studies school and 38th best online college on Niche. Admitting cohorts of 10-16 adults every six weeks, Grace has no application fee for 11 quick online bachelor’s degrees, including the B.S. in Human Services and B.S. in Leadership & Ministry.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $395/credit
7. Florida Institute of Technology
Endowed for $66.2 million, Florida Institute of Technology is a private, coeducational “A+ School for B Students” that’s led by President Dwayne McCay in Melbourne with 3,586 undergrads. FIT is ranked America’s 151st best university with the 68th top online baccalaureate teaching by the U.S. News. Charging a $0 application fee, Florida Tech Online features fast, eight-week terms on University Alliance for finishing 17 bachelor’s programs like the B.A. in Human Resources Management and B.A. in Forensic Psychology.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $510/credit
8. American Public University System
Given its fifth OLC Effective Practice Award in 2017, the American Public University System has two private, for-profit online institutions directed by President Karan Powell, PhD, in Charles Town to educate 98,400 undergrads who serve others. APUS is recognized for America’s 92nd best online bachelor’s degrees by the U.S. News and eighth cheapest tuition on Value Colleges. Online learners won’t pay fees to enter 45 baccalaureate programs, including the Middle Eastern Studies B.A. and History B.A., with eight-week courses.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $270/credit
9. American Intercontinental University
Established in Lucerne by the Barnettes in 1970, American Intercontinental University is a for-profit, HLC-accredited free application school acquired by Career Education Corporation that’s engaging 15,500 online undergrads. Granted the 2010 CCA Innovation Award, AIU is congratulated by the U.S. News for America’s 110th best bachelor’s education online. On the Intellipath platform, students can transfer up to 75 percent of courses and finish 25 bachelor’s degrees, including the B.S. in Criminal Justice and BBA in Entrepreneurship, in only nine months.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $302/credit
10. Champlain College
Celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2018, Champlain College is a private, nonprofit baccalaureate institution originally called Burlington Business School that’s now endowed for $17.4 million and delivering “Upside-Down Curriculum” to 2,000 full-time undergrads. Champlain is ranked America’s 13th best online college on Niche with the 148th top online bachelor’s degrees by the U.S. News. Speed is maximized in 11 online bachelor’s degrees, such as the B.S. in Economic Crime Investigation and B.S. in Web Design, with seven-week Canvas sessions.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $640/credit
11. Averett University
Operating 12 Virginia campuses from Danville to Richmond and online, Averett University is a private, coeducational Baptist college directed by President Tiffany McKillip Franks on a $19.3 million endowment to instruct 2,071 undergrads. Averett is ranked the South’s 17th best university by the U.S. News and America’s 175th most conservative college on Niche. Mandating 54+ transfer credits with a minimum 2.0 GPA, Averett’s six online bachelor’s degree completion programs like the B.A.S. in Leadership Studies and RN-BSN are fast.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $450/credit
12. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Dedicated to “Virtus cum Scientia,” Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a private, nonprofit Catholic free application school with HLC approval that honors Sister Mary Joseph Pomeroy by superbly teaching 1,577 undergrads on its Terre Haute campus and online. SMWC is ranked the Midwest’s 22nd top university and 12th best value college by the U.S. News. Launched in 2011, Woods Online has 18 accelerated bachelor’s completion programs of 51-64 credits, including the B.S. in Paralegal Studies and B.A. in English.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $496/credit
13. Buena Vista University
Affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA, Buena Vista University is a private, four-year Iowa Christian college located in Storm Lake that’s giving personalized attention and free applications to 1,714 full-time undergrads on a $122.3 million endowment. BVU is declared the Midwest’s 24th best college and third most vet-friendly school by the U.S. News. Six annual start times allow associate transfers to quickly finish 13 online bachelor’s degrees, such as the Health Services Leadership B.A. and Criminology B.A., in 1.5 years.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $421/credit
14. Mississippi University for Women
Established as the Columbus Female Institute in 1847, the Mississippi University for Women has become a public, coeducational SACS-accredited school organized by President Jim Borsing in Lowndes County to educate 2,745 undergrads. MUW is named the South’s 52nd best university and 48th most value-added institution by the U.S. News. Offering 24/7 support and $0 application fees, the 13 online bachelor’s degrees take 2+2 formats for completing programs like the B.S. in Public Health and BSBA in Legal Administration in 24 months.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $275/credit
15. Roberts Wesleyan College
Named for Methodist bishop Benjamin Titus Roberts in 1945, Roberts Wesleyan College is a private, Christ-centered liberal arts school letting 1,708 undergrads apply for free to its 188-acre Western New York campus in Rochester or Online Learning Division. RWC is ranked the North’s 78th best university and 28th top value college by the U.S. News. Four online bachelor’s completion programs, including the Organizational Management B.S. and Health Administration B.S., can be finished in only 15 months by associate degree grads.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $555/credit
16. Point Park University
Led by President Paul Hennigan, PhD, Point Park University is a private, nonsectarian RSC member formed in 1960 that’s now endowed for $34.2 million to enroll 3,276 undergrads face-to-face in Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle and wholly online. PPU is ranked America’s 215th most liberal college on Niche and the North’s 102nd best university by the U.S. News. Busy professionals can easily access fast, eight-week courses for finishing 10 online bachelor’s degrees like the Interdisciplinary Design B.A. and Public Relations B.A. in two years.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $433/credit
17. St. Joseph’s College of Maine
Standing on Sebago Lake’s shoreline, St. Joseph’s College of Maine is a private, community-engaged Catholic teaching institute endowed for $17 million to educate 2,775 undergrads. SJCME is ranked the North’s 136th best college by the U.S. News and 237th top value in Washington Monthly. Starting classes on the first of every month, 27 online fast-track bachelor’s degrees, such as the B.S. in Radiologic Science Administration and B.A. in Theological Studies, are available without application fees.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $345/credit
18. Becker College
Merged with Leicester Academy in 1974, Becker College is a private, nonsectarian free application school led by President Nancy Papagno Crimmin in the AAC&U to serve 2,189 undergrads in central Massachusetts and online. Becker is ranked America’s 204th safest college on Niche and 305th top baccalaureate institution in Washington Monthly. The Center for Accelerated & Professional Studies has online courses meeting one evening for five weeks year-round to quickly graduate from six bachelor’s degrees, including the B.A. in Psychology and B.S.B.A. in Management.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $430/credit
19. Franklin University
Waiving application fees for its nearly 10,000 U.S. undergrads, Franklin University is a private, adult-centric Ohio school with HLC accreditation that’s led by President David R. Decker to deliver accelerated courses of six to 15 weeks in Columbus and online. Franklin is deemed America’s 39th best online college by OnlineDegreeReviews.org and 215th top college location on Niche. Online students save time and tuition by transferring up to 94 credits into 35 bachelor’s programs like the Energy Management B.S. and Information Systems Auditing B.S.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $509/credit
20. Independence University
Accredited by the ACCSC, Independence University is a private, nonprofit online institution owned by the Center for Excellence in Higher Education in Salt Lake City that has given free applications to 5,704 undergrads under President Eric Juhlin. Independence is ranked America’s 82nd best online college by OnlineDegreeReviews.org and 221st top business school on Niche. Ranging from 20-36 months, 15 bachelor’s degrees like the B.S. in Graphic Arts and B.S. in Respiratory Care Management offer fast online tracks to success.
Bachelor’s Tuition: $450/credit
What is the Application Process for Most Colleges?
Your college application is the first step to a higher education. Enrollment starts here!
Well before you graduate high school – preferably in the spring of your junior year or fall of your senior year – you will need to learn the admission requirements of the school you want to attend. In almost all cases you will need:
- application form
- college application fees (though many schools offer application fee waivers for prospective students with financial need)
- letters of recommendation
- test scores (ACT, SAT, etc)
- official transcripts/school transcripts
Almost every college offers an online application today, and many take part in the Common Application program). From there, different undergraduate programs have different requirements. For instance, a state college or state university may have lower standards than a private university. A catholic university may expect students to be churchgoers.
International students often have to pass a language competency exam as well for undergraduate and graduate programs. Even online schools will usually expect competency for eligibility. On-campus and online degree programs often have different requirements as well.
Prospective graduate students looking into a master’s degree programs, doctoral programs, certificate programs, or another kind of graduate degree, will have other standards. Some, like Arizona State University, except everyone who applies. Rankings like U.S. News & World Report can help guide your choices.
Related:
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Radiation Science
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Business Analytics
10 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Training and Development
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Real Estate
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Nursing
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Legal Studies
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science
10 Most Affordable Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management
