How much does it cost to apply to college?

The cost of attending college starts well before your first class and goes beyond tuition, books, and room and board. Preparing for college as a high school junior or senior means factoring in things like the cost to take the SAT, college application fees, and whether you can get student loans for living expenses.

As you plan to make the transition from high school to college, it's important to have a financial plan for covering any and all expenses tied to this important milestone. Here's an overview of how much it costs to apply to college:

How much does the SAT/ACT cost?

For many students, taking the Standardized Aptitude Test (SAT^®) is a precursor to applying to college. Many colleges and universities require students to submit scores for the SAT and/or another standardized test, the American College Testing (ACT) test, along with their application. Both tests generally cover the same range of topics: math, reading, writing, and language arts. The ACT also includes a science section; both offer an optional essay section.

Schools consider SAT and/or ACT scores as part of the admissions process and to award merit-based scholarships. Unless you're planning to attend a school that doesn't require either of these tests to apply, you'll need to leave room in your college budget for one or both of them.

Here are the key costs for the SAT, as of December 2019:

• Registration fee: $49.50
• Registration fee, with essay portion: $64.50
• Late registration fee: $30
• Change registration fee: $30

The Educational Testing Service (the administrator of the SAT tests) charges additional fees for subject tests, rush reporting of scores, hand-scored tests, and additional score reports beyond the four that are included.

Fee waivers are available for the standard registration fee and the registration fee for taking the SAT with the essay portion. You're eligible for a fee waiver if you meet any of these conditions:

• You're enrolled in or qualify for the National School Lunch Program.
• Your household income meets Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• You're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids low-income families or your family receives public assistance.
• You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, are homeless, or are a ward of the state or orphan.

The ACT charges similar fees of $52 to register for the standard test and $68 for the test with the essay section. Additional fees apply for changing registration dates, registering late, and requesting additional test scores. You'll need to check with your high school to determine if you're eligible for a fee waiver and apply for one.

Keep in mind that these costs are just what you'll pay to register and take the test. They don't cover any fees for test prep to help you study. One-on-one tutoring can cost as much as $80–$260 per hour. In some high-cost areas, private tutors charge as much as $1,500 an hour. Other prep options include free online tutorials as well as fee-based online and classroom courses, weekend camps, and boot camps.

As you review your college application budget, look at what you can afford to spend on SAT or ACT test prep. Then talk to your school about free or low-cost test prep programs before committing to a fee-based option.

How much are college application fees?

The total amount you’ll pay in college application fees will depend on the number of schools you actually apply to. Some students target four to five schools, while others will apply to more than 10. To ensure you’re not wasting your money — or your time — on applications and their accompanying fees, narrow your list of schools to only those you actually see yourself attending.

The next part of the process is to determine the college application fees for the schools you’re interested in applying to and the best way to maximize your budget for them.

Unlike SAT or ACT registration fees, college application fees are school specific. At the high end, you might pay as much as $90 to apply to a top private university such as Stanford University. Upper-tier public schools, such as Georgia Institute of Technology, are slightly more affordable, charging $75 to apply, while some colleges or universities may charge no fees at all. On average, the typical student applying to college pays $43 per application, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Using the $43 fee average, it would cost you $430 to apply to 10 schools. But if you're focusing on upper-tier public or private schools, you could easily spend twice that amount to apply to the same number of colleges and universities.

The good news is many schools offer a college application fee waiver. Similar to the SAT fee waiver, your eligibility for a college application fee waiver depends on economic need.

For example, at Stanford University, you're generally eligible to have your application fee waived if you're eligible for an SAT fee waiver. Just keep in mind the guidelines may vary by school. But applying is usually simple: You just have to complete the college application fee waiver form and supply any requested details about your household income.

Are there fees to apply for student loans?

If you plan to apply for federal student loans to help pay for college, you'll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®). As its name indicates, the application doesn't charge a fee.

However, most private schools will ask you to create a CSS profile. This profile is used to determine your eligibility for school based non-federal financial aid and scholarships. It costs $25 to apply for a CSS profile, but the fee can be waived if you qualify for an SAT fee waiver.

Also, remember that federal student loans are capped in terms of how much you can borrow each year.

If you're planning to attend a more expensive school or you think you might need to use part of your student loans for living expenses, private student loans can help fill the gap. Along with the interest rates, you should also check into any fees a private lender might charge. Citizens, for example, charges no application fees, origination fees, or disbursement fees for private student loans.

Are there any other college prep costs?

SAT and ACT fees, test prep fees, and college application fees are some of the most common fees that you’ll encounter as you get ready for college. Some other related expenses could include travel, hotel, and meals for on-campus visits; orientation fees; registration fees for athletics or on-campus activities; and deposits for housing or meal plans.

The sooner you begin thinking about testing and test prep fees, college application fees, and other related expenses, the better. Talking with your parents about college planning can help you set a realistic budget for the costs leading up to school and the ones that may come once you're enrolled.

Ready to apply to college?

The cost of applying to college is just the beginning of your education finance journey. Once you’ve decided where you’ll go to school, the next step is to figure out how to pay for it. If you need help paying for college beyond what’s offered in your financial aid package, Citizens is here to help you navigate this process. To learn more about our student loans, call 1-888-411-0266 to speak to a Student Lending Specialist or visit our Student Lending page — we’re on chat.