The program dates have passed for 2016. For up-to-date College Fly-in Programs, click here. 

Anyone who knows anything about college admissions will strongly encourage students to visit the colleges they are considering. Unfortunately, visiting all of the colleges on your list can be expensive. While some students can afford traveling to numerous campuses, others may not. Luckily, there are many colleges that recognize visiting colleges can be an expense some students cannot afford and want to help.

Below is a list of colleges that offer Fly-in programs or travel scholarships. Only brief information about the programs are listed below, so students should visit the websites to get further information on eligibility and requirements. Some programs may pay for half of the trip while others cover all expenses. Participating in any of the fly-in programs is competitive. Therefore, students should take their time with the application process and pay attention to directions and deadline.

Note: Bookmark this page and check back throughout the summer as other colleges will be added to the list as details are finalized by the colleges.

Amherst College
Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
Program Name: Diversity Open Houses
Program Date: September 24-26, 2016; October 15-17, 2016
Application Closing Date: August 15, 2016
Description: The DIVOH selection committee will select up to 100 students to attend the event and will cover 100% of round-trip transportation costs (airline, bus, or train). DIVOH is available to all prospective students, but the DIVOH selection committee prioritizes the invitation of students from traditionally underrepresented groups, first generation students, and students from families with limited financial resources. Students who are invited to attend will also be given an application fee waiver, and some fee waivers will be given to students who applied but did not receive an invitation.

Babson College
Location: Babson Park, Massachusetts
Program Name: Multicultural Overnight Experience
Program Date: November 6-7, 2016
Application Closing Date: September 15, 2016
Description: Program will provide students with the opportunity to experience live on campus including engaging with current students, faculty, and staff and learning more about residence halls, classes, and many other resources. Travel scholarships may be available for students who need assistance getting to campus.

Barnard College
Location: New York, New York
Program Name: Barnard Bound
Program Date: October 8-10, 2016
Application Closing Date: June 17, 2016
Description: Program is open to high school seniors who self-identify as students of color, especially those students who couldn’t otherwise afford to visit. Travel grants are made available for students outside of the New York City metro area who demonstrate significant financial need.

Bates College
Location: Lewiston, Maine
Program Name: Prologue to Bates
Program Date: October 9-11, 2016; November 13-15, 2016
Application Closing Date: September 7, 2016 for October program; September 28, 2016 for November program
Description: Program is an open house for first-generation college students and/or students from diverse backgrounds. Students can apply for a travel scholarship.

Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick, Maine
Program Name: Explore Bowdoin
Program Date: September 15-18, 2016; November 3-6, 2016
Application Closing Date: August 22, 2016 for September program; September 23, 2016 for November program
Description: Bowdoin will cover the cost of the entire cost of the trip, including all transportation and meals. Program is open to high school students who will graduate in 2017 and priority will be given to those who demonstrate financial need and/or students who will be the first in their family to attend college.

Brandeis University
Location: Waltham, Massachusetts
Program Name: SEED: Students Exploring and Embracing Diversity
Program Date: October 6-8, 2016
Description: Program will celebrate multiculturalism and social justice. Students will stay on campus for specialized academic programming and community building. Scholarships are available to cover your transportation costs to and from Brandeis. All meals and accommodations will be provided.

Bryant University
Location: Smithfield, Rhode Island
Program Name: Fly-In Reimbursement Program
Program Date: Varies
Description: Students interested in Bryant College are encouraged to visit. High school seniors and students thinking about transferring can request to have half the cost of their plane ticket (up to $150) reimbursed. In addition, if student enrolls as a full-time student at Bryant, they will receive the remainder of their airfare up to a total of $300.

Bryn Mawr College
Location: Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Program Name: Travel Scholars
Program Date: Varies
Application Closing Date: June 30, 2016
Description: Bryn Mawr College offers a limited number of travel scholarships in the fall of each year for students who are unable to afford the expense of traveling to campus. The travel scholarship covers individual round-trip transportation to/from the student’s sending city to Bryn Mawr College, as well as all meals and accommodations while they are a guest on campus.

Bucknell University
Location: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Program Name: Journey to Bucknell
Program Date: November 6-8, 2016
Application Closing Date: Early October (specific date to be determined)
Description: Program is designed to expose high-achieving, traditionally underrepresented high school seniors to Bucknell University. Students who are chosen to attend the program will receive travel expenses and all meals while on campus. Students must be enrolled in an academically rigorous program of study with a minimum unweighted GPA of 3.3 and must have taken the ACT, PSAT or SAT.

Calvin College
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Program Name: Students of Color Visit Grant – link no longer available
Program Date: Varies
Application Closing Date: No Deadline
Description: Calvin Admissions offers travel funding to encourage North American high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who are students of color to visit for Fridays at Calvin. Up to $300 of the student’s paid air/train/bus ticket will be reimbursed, and if student enrolls at Calvin, the cost of his/her transportation will be reimbursed in total. If driving to campus, up to $300 of the student’s traveling expenses will be reimbursed. Students will stay with student hosts in residence halls and Calvin will provide one night of lodging for parents accompanying student. Meals on campus will be provided.

Carleton College
Location: Northfield, Minnesota
Program Name: Taste of Carleton
Program Date: October 27-29, 2016
Application Closing Date: September 3, 2016
Description: Taste of Carleton brings approximately 60 students to campus with all expenses paid. The program is open to all prospective high school seniors, but the selection committee will prioritize students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. Students of color, first-generation college students, and low-income students are particularly encouraged to apply.

Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Program Name: Celebration of Diversity Weekend
Program Date: November 12-14, 2016; January 21-23, 2017
Application Closing Date: Application will be available in early September
Description: Celebration of Diversity Weekends are an opportunity to experience the diverse community, academic, extracurricular and cultural facets of both the campus and Pittsburgh. Travel assistance may be available for students with financial need who have at least a 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale and a combined SAT score of 1270 or ACT score of 27.

Colby College
Location: Waterville, Maine
Program Name: The Colby Commitment Experience
Program Date: September 18-20, 2016
Application Closing Date: August 1, 2016 – extended to August 26, 2016
Description: The experience gives students to attend classes and experience life as a Colby student. Students attending U.S. high schools are eligible to apply and travel grants are available for participants with demonstrated financial need.

Colgate University
Location: Hamilton, New York
Program Name: Colgate in Focus: A Diversity Open House
Program Date: October 23-24, 2016
Application Closing Date: September 16, 2016
Description: Colgate in Focus allows a select group of students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds to gain insight into the Colgate experience.

College of Saint Benedict | Saint John’s University
Location: St. Joseph, Minnesota
Program Name: National Fly-in Weekend Program
Program Dates: November 12-14, 2016; February 4-6, 2017, February 25-27, 2017, March 18-20, 2017, April 8-10, 2017
Application Closing Date: Application available by September 15, 2016
Description: National Fly-in Weekend program is designed specifically for accepted students from outside of Minnesota. The institution will pay for at least half of the student’s travel costs. Applicant must be in the process of applying for admission or accepted to attend. The institution does require a $50 deposit (non-refundable) to reserve their spot.

College of the Atlantic
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine
Program Name: Fall Fly-In
Program Date: September 29-October 2, 2016
Application Closing Date: July 18, 2016
Description: The Fly-In program is a competitive program for prospective COA Presidential Scholars. If selected for the program, COA will cover the cost of the student’s trip to the college and provide meals and housing while visiting.

College of the Holy Cross
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Program Name: Perspectives
Program Date: November 5-7, 2016
Application Closing Date: October 3, 2016
Description: Perspectives is an overnight, weekend program for seniors from diverse backgrounds. This program is designed for culturally aware students who are intellectually curious and are potentially interested in exploring higher education at a Jesuit, liberal arts college. Meals and lodging will be provided free of charge by Holy Cross for selected participants.

Colorado College
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Program Name: Tigers on a Quest & Flyin’ Tigers
Program Date: October 1-3, 2016; October 29-31, 2016
Application Closing Date: August 17, 2016 for Tigers on a Quest; September 21, 2016 for Flyin’ Tigers
Description: The programs are open to high school seniors who self-identify as a student of color, is Pell Grant eligible, or qualifies for free-reduced lunch. Students must be nominated for Tigers on a Quest and students can apply to attend Flyin’ Tigers. Once accepted to the program, student will receive information regarding travel reimbursement information.

Columbia University
Location: New York, New York
Program Name: Columbia Engineering Experience
Program Date: October 9-11, 2016
Application Closing Date: September 7, 2016
Description: Columbia Engineering offers a selective, three-day overnight program designed for high school seniors who are interested in Columbia’s unique engineering program. All meals, housing, and transportation, including travel to and from New York City, will be funded by Columbia.

For more Fly-In Programs, click “next page” below.