Apply Kansas 2026: A Statewide Week Celebrating College and Career Opportunities
The first step toward college or a career credential is submitting an application.
Each fall, Kansas schools, colleges, universities, and communities come together to celebrate Apply Kansas Week—a statewide effort to help students take the next step toward their future. Whether students plan to attend a university, community college, or technical college, Apply Kansas Week provides encouragement, resources, and support as they complete applications and begin planning for life after high school.
Beginning in Fall 2026, the Kansas Board of Regents is expanding Apply Kansas to create even greater flexibility and impact across the state.
What's New for 2026?
Five Days of Apply Free Days
For the first time, Apply Free Days will span an entire week, giving students additional opportunities to submit college applications without paying an application fee.
The extended schedule provides schools and students with greater flexibility to participate at a time that best fits their local calendar and allows colleges and universities to engage students throughout the week.
Local Flexibility
Rather than asking schools to register or complete program requirements, schools are encouraged to determine how best to promote Apply Kansas Week within their own communities.
Whether your school hosts a dedicated application event, incorporates application support into advisory periods, partners with a nearby college, or simply encourages students to take advantage of Apply Free Days, every effort helps students move one step closer to achieving their educational goals.
Expanded Statewide Support
Throughout the fall, the Kansas Board of Regents will continue to support students and schools by:
- Promoting Apply Free Days across Kansas public colleges and universities
- Sharing resources that schools may use to support college application completion
- Highlighting FAFSA completion opportunities offered by Kansas institutions
- Continuing the Kansas FAFSA Challenge to encourage students to complete the FAFSA and maximize financial aid opportunities
- Collaborating with K-12 schools, postsecondary institutions, and statewide partners to strengthen college access across Kansas
All Star High School Program
Instead of requiring schools to submit reports on their activities to the Board to become eligible for recognition, we will ask each postsecondary institution to nominate high school partners for this award. Nominees will be recognized in the late spring or early summer.
Continuing Our Commitment to Student Success
For more than a decade, Apply Kansas has helped thousands of students take the first step toward postsecondary education. In 2025 alone, 274 Kansas high schools hosted application completion events, supporting 16,466 seniors as they submitted more than 31,800 college applications.
As Apply Kansas continues to evolve, our commitment remains the same: ensuring every Kansas student has the information, encouragement, and opportunity to pursue the education or training that best fits their goals.
We encourage schools to celebrate Apply Kansas Week in ways that meet the unique needs of their students and communities. Together, we can continue building a college-going culture that opens doors for all Kansans.
To download the Apply Kansas logo, right click the image below and save it.
