Discover Illinois Colleges with No Application Fee

Applying to college can be an exciting yet daunting process, especially when considering the costs involved. Fortunately, many colleges in Illinois are making it easier for prospective students by waiving application fees. Here is a current list of Illinois colleges that do not charge an application fee, helping you save money while exploring your educational options.

Augustana College
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Greenville College
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Knox College

Loyola University Chicago
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College

North Central College
Northern Illinois University

Quincy University
Rockford University
University of IL - Springfield

Wheaton College

This is not an exhaustive list. For more colleges including ones outside of Illinois, visit Common App's explore tool.

College Board's BigFuture College Search

Struggling to find a college that is right for you?

College Board's College Search can help! On here, you can narrow down choices based on size of school, location, majors offered, 2 year or 4 year, campus life, and much more! This is a great starting spot for any student who is at a loss for where to begin. Click below to start searching!

College Board College Search

Linking Common App to Naviance

If you are a senior using the Common App, you will need to link your account to Naviance for us to send all Counselor Documents as well as Teacher Recommendations. Below are the steps to link the two:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
    *If you do not know the password, you can log in using Clever.*
2. Click on COLLEGES --> COLLEGES I'M APPLYING TO.
3. Click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
4. Enter your Common App Email address and click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
5. You are done :)

Stop by the Student Services office with any questions.

SENIORS: What is Parchment?

Parchment is the electronic transcript site that makes sending transcripts simple. It is completely free for all students currently in high school. The best part...it takes about 2 minutes to go on the site and request a transcript. The counselors then click an approve button and the colleges have the transcript. It is the only way that transcripts will be sent to colleges, universities, NCAA, etc.

Reminder to seniors: You must register using the email that was sent to your school email from Parchment. Registration takes about 5-10 minutes but will only need to be done once. After you are registered, ordering transcripts couldn't be simpler.

Note to Parents: The student must sign up for Parchment using the link to his/her school email address. Any accounts using other email addresses will not work because the account will not be properly linked to our school. Please encourage the students to set up the account as soon as possible. It is the only way transcripts will be sent.

Get Involved!! What does IVC have to offer?

🎉Want to actually enjoy high school? Get involved. Seriously. Science says it works. Whether
you're into touchdowns, trombones, theater, or tech, there's something here with your name on it.

This guide gives you the inside scoop on most of the sports, clubs, and activities our school offers—aka your gateway to fun, friends, and finding your thing.

❓ Got questions? Wondering if there's a club for underwater basket weaving or competitive kazoo? Hit up your counselor. They're basically your personal GPS for extracurricular awesomeness.

👉 Click here to explore Sports, Clubs, and Activities – Your future favorite thing might be one click away.

WE ARE BACK!!

Life gets busy - we get it! After a hiatus in the spring, we are relaunching our blog to keep you informed of all of the happenings in the IVC Guidance office. Check back here regularly for information on colleges, careers, scholarships, and so much more. We are excited for an awesome 2026-27!