"… Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management Jennifer Fondiller said the fee increase is largely due to a new software program that the admissions office has implemented in order to review applications online, which has required additional training for staff.
With this $10 increase, Barnard now has the most expensive fee of all the Seven Sisters. According to each school’s Common Application, Vassar’s fee is $70 and Mount Holyoke’s is $60. Bryn Mawr, Smith, and Wellesley do not have an application fee at all." …
Wellesley and Smith have endowments approaching $2 billion. Barnard’s endowment is closer to $300 million. Even at $75, Barnard’s application fee is within normal range of what most colleges charge. Wellesley and Smith are the exception, not Barnard.
Odd that an article published in the Columbia Spectator didn’t see fit to mention that.
Comparing Barnard’s fees to other Seven Sisters colleges seems like something of a red herring, given that there is no particular connection between Barnard and the other colleges that should in any way implicate either costs of processing applications or costs of attendance.
Also, the article seems to be comparing Barnard’s announced fees for 2017 application with the 2016 application fees for the other colleges. Barnard may well cost more than the other, suburban Seven Sisters colleges… but then again there is nothing to stop Vassar from raising its fee next year.
@akin67 I’m not certain how relevant the endowment issue is given that Barnard is need blind and full need for all US citizens applying for freshman admission. Smith and Mt Hoyoke are “need aware” despite having much larger endowments.
@calmom Agree 100% and for those students for whom the application fee presents a financial obstacle, Barnard is generous in granting fee waivers. I also work with a current Barnard student on almost full financial aid, and Barnard has waived her CSS requirement for next year saying they don’t want her to have to spend the $25.
My daughter paid several application fees today with my credit card. They ranged from $50 for Vanderbilt to $85 for Duke. U Chicago, Barnard, and Rice are all $75 so Barnard does not seem too far out of line with other selective schools.