The annual program, now in its ninth year, waives fees for Colorado residents and is intended to encourage more people to continue their education. With application fees averaging about $50, applying to multiple schools can quickly become costly.

Javier Tafoya, a senior at DSST: Montview High School in Denver, plans to apply to 15 colleges. He is considering three Colorado schools: the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado Denver, as well as schools outside the state.

“Getting three out of the way for free is really nice,” Tafoya said.

At DSST schools, the application days have become a major event. Seniors gather in the cafeteria, get time away from regular classes and work through applications, said Henry Whipple, the network’s senior manager of college success. Nearly all DSST seniors participate, he said.

For some students and families, application costs can total $200 to $600, Whipple said, adding that the fees are a barrier the schools do not want students to face.

The fee waiver period also arrives as Colorado State University launches a statewide pilot guaranteeing admission in 2027 to Colorado high school graduates with a GPA of at least 3.0. CSU previously introduced a similar guarantee for Denver Public Schools students and is now extending the effort statewide for at least a year.

The timing gives students a chance to consider their options while application fees are waived, said Heather Daniels, CSU’s executive director of admissions. The university will assess interest and the program’s reach before deciding whether to continue it permanently.