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[email protected] Applications increase by 28% during third Colorado Free Application Day Students saved more than $2.3 million in waived application fees DENVER, Dec. 10, 2020—Colorado students submitted nearly 57,000 college and university admissions applications during the third Colorado Free Application Day on Oct. 13, 2020, increasing participation from last year’s effort and saving more than $2.3 million in waived fees. See the 2020 fact sheet. Participating institutions received 56,896 applications in total, a 28% increase over last year’s campaign. Colorado State University in Fort Collins (CSU) led with 10,336 applications, followed by CU Boulder (9,053) and the University of Northern Colorado (5,837). Statewide, application submissions are up 24 percent compared to last year for four-year colleges and universities. “We are pleased that so many students saved money with Colorado Free Application Day,” said Gov. Jared Polis, who announced Colorado Free Application day in this video message. “In today’s world, and even more so post- pandemic, Coloradans benefit greatest from getting education or training beyond high school. By removing this cost barrier during an especially difficult economic time, we are making higher education more accessible for students and families, and I am proud our institutions continue to step up and support Coloradans.” By eliminating application fees, Colorado Free Application Day is designed to boost the state’s college-going rate and make progress toward the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) strategic goal to erase equity gaps—the racial disparities in higher educational enrollment and graduation.