On Feb. 22, The State University of New York issued a press release following an announcement made by Chancellor Jim Malatras to eliminate the SUNY college application fee for students who come from low-income families, beginning March 1.
According to the press release, the elimination of the application fee will help potential SUNY students and their families save up to $350. Parameters for qualifying students include students who receive free or reduced lunch prices, household incomes that do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or students who reside with foster families.
“Too many barriers from food insecurity to fees stand in the way of many qualified students—from low-income and communities of color—and a college education,” Malatras said in the press release. “We must do everything we can to break down barriers and empower students no matter their economic status or background, especially as a vast majority of all new jobs created requires some post-secondary education.”
The press release expressed that elimination of the application fee will help bring more diversity into the SUNY education system, in addition to helping students financially.
The COVID-19 pandemic is another reason for the elimination of the application fee due to the financial impacts on many families, according to the press release. There was a 13 percent overall decrease in first-time enrollment for Fall 2020, with the largest percentages found in Black, Latinx and Native American students.
“The automatic fee waiver comes during the middle of a pandemic when too many lower-income families are struggling to make ends meet,” New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said in the press release. “It is now that the college-age kids from these families need this assistance the most.”
The elimination of the application fee is a part of SUNY for All Program and the “Big Dreams, Small Step” campaign, which provides resources and support to first-generation, low-income and underrepresented high school students.