When my kids were applying, there were free app offers (many schools, public and private) and reimbursement of applying, upon visiting (Miami Ohio).
We weren’t offered anything like U of Evansville - $50 in gas and a free hotel night.
What other offers have people seen to get people to visit - and I’m not talking about fly in programs.
Anyway, for anyone looking at schools, maybe the offer will tempt you.
We’ll Help Get You Here - Visit UE - University of Evansville
This is only a freebie if kid applies, is accepted, and enrolls but if so, it is a good one: UVM, Clarkson, St. Lawrence all offer a $1000 annual award ($4000 over 4 years) if applicant visits before submission deadline. These schools are remote! What is nice is that Clarkson and St Lawrence can be visited in same trip, although there probably isn’t a ton of overlap between students who would be interested in both schools given their differences in focus.
It’s not quite an annual scholarship, but WPI has a $1000 “visit award” WPI Visit Award | Worcester Polytechnic Institute
gah!! we visited outside this window! blah.
Oh wait that is for Fall 26… hmmm, now I am confused! hahaha..might still have a chance later)
Earlham College will reimburse a prospective student and one accompanying parent for their airfare to visit the college up to $400 each.
I think it’s a super generous offer, but unfortunately not a fit for my son and there are concerns about the financial future at this school.
My daughter has received two free T-shirts for visiting. Maybe not as much an enticement as targeted advertising towards her peers.
I’ve been to a few schools with on-site hotels, where instead of using them to draw in visitors, they charge a higher amount for their convenience.