UNC One of Top Three Universities with Received Applications on Free App Day
November 12, 2020
The University of Northern Colorado received 5,837 applications on the third annual Colorado Free Application Day on Oct. 13, an increase compared to last year’s Free App Day, resulting in UNC being one of the top three universities in receiving applications that day.
Colorado Free Application Day encourages high school seniors to apply to a college or university and file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). UNC joined all 32 public universities and several private colleges in Colorado in waiving application fees as part of the Oct. 13 event.
Of those who applied to UNC during this year’s Free App Day: 30% identified as Hispanic, 41% identified as first generation and 67% identified as female and 33% as male.
On this year’s Free App Day, the top 10 Colorado counties that applicants applied from were (in order from most to least):
- Arapahoe
- Adams
- El Paso
- Douglas
- Weld
- Jefferson
- Denver
- Larimer
- Boulder
- Pueblo
The top 10 high schools that applicants applied from were (in order from most to least):
- Mountain Vista
- Horizon
- Cherokee Trail
- Greeley West
- Chaparral
- Legacy
- Rangeview
- Cherry Creek
- Rampart
- Legend
Overall, this year’s Free App Day resulted in 11,000 more applications submitted by Colorado prospective students compared to last year’s event.
According to the Colorado Department of Higher Education, the statewide push is designed to increase Colorado’s stagnant college-going and FAFSA completion rates. Despite being one of the most educated states in the country, Colorado sends just 56% of high school graduates to a college, university or certificate program and just 50% of students submit a FAFSA application — a key indicator of students’ likelihood to continue their education, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
UNC is also conducting its own Free Application Days by waiving all application fees
for undergraduate applications anywhere in the country; the first Free App Day at UNC is Dec. 1.
--Written by Katie Corder
