Minnesota State campuses waive application fees this week

All Minnesota State colleges and universities are waiving application fees this week in an annual push to spur applications, and some have waived fees throughout the entire "College Knowledge" month of October — a movement to raise awareness about college access.

The system, which has seen its overall enrollment dip in recent years, says the promotion brings a yearly uptick in applications. Minnesota State has offered the waivers since 2011, and its colleges and universities receive about 40,000 applications during October, said Jessica Espinosa, the system's director of college transitions.

Most system campuses, which together served more than 372,000 students last academic year, otherwise charge a fee of $20 to apply.

"College Knowledge Month is an especially good time to prepare for the application process and apply for admission at any of our colleges and universities — free of charge," said system Chancellor Devinder Malhotra.

All seven public universities and 30 colleges in the Minnesota State system are waiving their application fees Oct. 22-26, and several are waiving fees for the entire month.

Some Minnesota State institutions, including Anoka Technical College, St. Paul College and Metropolitan State University, never charge application fees. All schools waive fees for active-duty members of the military deployed overseas and for qualifying low-income students.

This fall, the campuses also are striving to address fall enrollment that came in slightly below projections and make up for the shortfall during the spring semester.

"Of course it's a concern for them. It's a concern for us," Laura King, the vice chancellor of finance and chief financial officer, told system trustees this month.

More information is at minnstate.edu/college­knowledge.

Mila Koumpilova • 612-673-4781