Free Application Days

Colorado Free Application Days

Colorado students, this one's for you: apply to CU Boulder for free, October 20–22!


until Colorado Free Application Days!

 Plan your First-Year ApplicationPlan your Transfer Application

 

We're proud to join a statewide initiative that makes it easier for Colorado residents to take their next step. Every application fee is waived for students who submit between 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, and 11:59 p.m. MDT Thursday, October 22.

First-Year Students: Curiosity starts with a click.

One

Get a head start

Every CU Boulder applicant writes a personal essay and a short-answer question as part of the Common App. Get a head start on your draft—you've got a story worth telling.

Two

Submit Oct. 20–22

You can work on your application anytime, but it only qualifies for the fee waiver if you hit submit within the window: between 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 20 and 11:59 p.m. MDT on Oct. 22.

Three

Flag it in your Member Questions

Within the CU Boulder Member Questions section, you'll see this required prompt: "Do you intend to use one of these school-specific fee waivers?" In the dropdown, choose Colorado Free Application Days (Colorado residents only). You will then see another required field: "Please provide your University of Colorado Boulder fee waiver code here." Enter FreeAppDaysCO in the field provided.

Start Your Common App

Transfer Students: Make the Boulder move.

One

Prepare your materials now

Visit our How to Apply page to see exactly what a complete transfer application needs.

Learn How to Apply

Two

Apply Oct. 20–22, no code required

Submit your complete transfer application between 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 and 11:59 p.m. MDT Thursday, Oct. 22, and your fee is waived automatically. No waiver code needed.

Apply to CU Boulder

Big future. Your home state.

CU Boulder means more. More life-changing memories. More inspiring views. More room to dream. And it's all right here in your home state. Set at the base of the Rocky Mountains, our campus is alive with possibility—the kind that turns "I wonder" into "I did it." You'll research, build and discover alongside faculty and fellow Buffs who push you to find out what you're capable of.

From your first semester, you'll have access to hands-on research, real mentors and a community that's always chasing the next big idea. This is where Colorado's brightest come to stay curious—proof that staying close to home can still mean reaching further than you ever imagined.

#3

most beautiful college campus in the U.S.
(Travel + Leisure, 2026)

490+ 

clubs and organizations so you can connect on campus

86%

of graduates employed or in grad school or in military service within six months of graduation

Questions?

Your admissions counselor knows this process inside and out. Reach out to learn more about Colorado Free Application Days.

Find My Counselor