The deadline for Regular Decision is coming up fast. You’re probably all set with sending applications to colleges on your list. But should you add a few more options? The short answer is . . . yes. It’s a ‘roll-the-dice’ application season with many schools going test-optional and factors like distance learning still up in the air. It’s a good idea to hedge your bets now by adding a handful of schools to your application list. We put together this list of ‘no fee’ top colleges that also don’t require supplemental essays. If you want to add a school without the hassle of writing another essay or paying to have scores sent, this list has some excellent options for you.
Top private colleges that don’t require an essay
| College | Location | Acceptance Rate |
| Bard College | Annadale-On-Hudson, NY | 58% |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME | 8.9% |
| Colby College | Waterville, ME | 9.6% |
| Connecticut College | New London, CT | 37% |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | 30% |
| Grinnell College | Grinnell, IA | 24% |
| Hamilton College | Clinton, NY | 16% |
| Kenyon College | Gambier, OH | 34% |
| Middlebury College | Middlebury, VT | 16% |
| Sarah Lawrence College | Bronxville, NY | 56% |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs, NY | 27% |
| Wesleyan University | Wesleyan, CT | 16% |
| Washington and Lee University | Lexington, VA | 18% |
| Clark University | Worcester, MA | 59% |
| Clemson University | Clemson, SC | 47% |
| DePaul University | Chicago, IL | 68% |
Full list of colleges that don’t require an essay
Albion College
Allegheny College
Beloit College
Coe College
Colby College
Connecticut College
DePauw University
Drew University
Furman University
Gettysburg College
Goucher College
Grinnell College
Hanover College
Hollins University
Hope College
Juniata College
Kenyon College
Middlebury College
Muhlenberg College
Ripon College
Sewanee—University of the South
Siena College
Skidmore College
Spelman College
John’s University
Lawrence University
Susquehanna University
Wesleyan University
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
DePaul University
Drexel University
Fordham University
Miami University—Oxford
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Ohio State University
Seton Hall University
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stony Brook University
SUNY Binghamton University
SUNY Buffalo
University of Alabama
University of Arkansas
University of Colorado -Denver
University of Connecticut
University of Dayton
University of Delaware
University of Denver
University of Iowa
University of Minnesota
University of Nebraska—Lincoln
University of New Hampshire
University of the Pacific
University of Pittsburgh
University of St. Thomas
University of Vermont