DENVER — Colorado colleges and universities received almost 23,000 total applications on the first-ever Colorado Free Application Day.
All public colleges and universities in the state, plus several private institutions, waived their application fees on Oct. 30 and in total, received 22,294 applications, according to the Colorado Department of High Education.
That is a 1,000 percent increase from the total number of applications from Oct. 30, 2017.
The three schools with the most applications were:
· Colorado State University with more than 5,550
· CU Boulder with 4,791
· University of Northern Colorado with 3,905
Statewide, the submissions were up 12 percent through Nov. 15 compared to that same time frame from last year.
About half of the applications were submitted by students of color and a third were submitted by first-generation students.
“We believe that there’s a dream school in Colorado for every Colorado student, and we’re thrilled so many students took advantage of this opportunity,” said Dan Baer, executive director of CDHE. “I’m grateful to all our institution partners for making this day a success.”
Colorado Free Application Day, which was the first of its kind in the state, capped off College Application Month, an annual statewide campaign coordinated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. It encourages students to submit at least one postsecondary application and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It also helps provide an opportunity for those who may not apply otherwise.
“To remain competitive in a dynamic global economy, we must encourage more Colorado students to earn a certificate or degree,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper, who announced Colorado Free Application day on Oct. 2. “I am proud that our institutions rallied around young people and showed that we believe in their unlimited potential.”