APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Lawrence University has announced its doing away with their long-time application fee starting with students applying for admission in fall 2016.
The $40 application fee has generated about $70,000 annually for the school in recent years.
University officials say the school has worked to cut their overall operating costs in recent years, and can afford to make the change.
“Despite the budget implications for Lawrence, we felt it was important to simplify the process and eliminate any potential hurdle that would prevent a qualified student from considering Lawrence,” Ken Anselment, dean of admissions and financial aid, said in a statement.
Lawrence University has also said it will change how it informs students if they’ve been accepted. The school has eliminated its Early Decision admission process and replaced it with an Early Action process. Students applying through the Early Decision program were required to commit to attending Lawrence if they were accepted. That requirement is gone under the Early Action process.
Students who want to apply for Early Action have two deadlines: Nov. 1 and Dec. 1. Otherwise, applications are due Jan. 15. Students then have until May 1 to decide whether they’ll attend Lawrence.
“We believe it is more beneficial to let the students fully consider all their options until May 1,” Anselment said. “Admitted students who know Lawrence is the right place for them can certainly make their decisions as early as they’d like, but they will no longer need a binding agreement from Lawrence to do so.”
