(COLORADO) — Higher education institutes will waive application fees starting Tuesday, Oct. 15 to Thursday, Oct. 17. The seventh annual Colorado Free Application Day returns as a three-day-long event and encourages Colorado residents to apply and continue their education. During the three days, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutes will allow students to apply for free. Colorado Free Application Days caps off Colorado Applies Month, a statewide campaign that encourages high school juniors and seniors to explore, chart, and execute a post-high school path. Once a student selects a goal, such as applying to an apprenticeship, they are connected to resources and tools that will help them achieve major goals and action steps along the way. A report found that most of Colorado's top jobs, Tier 1 (large companies) 94.7% and Tier 2 (mid-tier companies) 64.7%, require a credential beyond high school. However, only 62.9% of Coloradans have a postsecondary credential, indicating a supply-and-demand gap for some occupations. Admissions application information for each institute participating in the initiative can be found online. Fees will be waived from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17 only, applications must be submitted during this time, and students are encouraged to begin their application early so they can submit their applications stress-free. Some schools, such as Colorado State University, Colorado College, and Metropolitan State University of Denver have free applications year-round to undergraduates. “Our workforce demands that Coloradans are equipped with a postsecondary education and Colorado Free Application Days brings us one step closer to achieving that,” said Governor Jared Polis. “As we look ahead, our economy depends on a workforce that has the skills to fill the most in-demand jobs and careers of tomorrow.”  The campaign aims to support low-income and first-generation students while keeping Colorado students in the state. By waiving application fees, the initiative hopes to improve access to further training and education.