Colleges That Pay You to Visit (2025): Visit Grants & Travel Reimbursements
Did you know some colleges will actually pay you to visit? Some schools offer campus visit grants, which are basically free money just for checking out their campus. Visiting a college helps you decide if it’s the right fit, and these grants make the trip even more worth it. Plus, it’s an easy way to lower your college costs.
In this article, we’ll explain how campus visit grants work and highlight one of our favorite schools offering this perk.
What are campus visit grants?
Campus visit grants are money colleges give to students who visit and later enroll. Some schools offer a one-time grant, while others make it renewable, meaning you can get that money every year you study there.
Here’s a look at how these grants compare to other financial help you might be familiar with.
- Campus visit grants: Money for visiting a college and enrolling. Can often be renewed each year you attend the college.
- Travel reimbursements: Money to help cover travel costs. This isn’t the same as a grant.
- General scholarships: Money awarded based on grades, test scores, or activities. Not for visiting.
Why do colleges give visit grants?
Colleges know that students who tour their campuses are more likely to apply and enroll. So, offering a grant to visiting students helps encourage more people to check out their schools. But campus tours aren’t just beneficial for colleges. They’re great for you, too.
Walking through a campus lets you picture what your life might be like there. You can check out the dorms, eat in the dining hall, sit in on a class, and chat with current students about their experiences. Maybe you’ll find a cozy spot in the library that makes you feel at home or attend a play or performance that excites you.
Experiencing these things in person gives you a better idea of whether a school truly fits your needs and goals. That insight can help you build your college list and confidently decide where to apply.
How to qualify for a campus visit grant
Want to snag a campus visit grant? Here’s how to do it:
- Find out which schools offer them. Check college websites or ask admissions offices.
- Sign up for an official campus visit. Make sure your visit is registered with the school.
- Attend any required events. Some schools ask you to join an info session or meet an admissions counselor.
- Save proof of your visit. Keep emails, visit logs, or anything else the school might ask for.
- Apply and enroll. Most grants are awarded after you officially become a student.
- Meet any extra requirements. Some schools have GPA minimums or deadlines.
One of our favorite visit grants: Pace University’s
One great example of a campus visit grant is Pace University’s renewable $1,000 Visit Grant. Pace offers this grant to students who tour their New York City or Westchester campus and later enroll full-time. The best part? This grant can be stacked with other scholarships, applied to tuition and fees, and renewed for up to four years, meaning you could receive up to $4,000 in total.
Visit Pace University’s website to learn more. But it’s easy to qualify. You only need to visit the school by December 15th, 2025.
Other colleges with visit grants
- Calvin University: $2,000/year, renewable up to 5 years. You need an official Admissions-sponsored visit in the junior/senior year.
- Johnson & Wales University (JWU): Up to $5,000, renewable for up to 4 years for Spring/Fall 2026 applicants who visit by Dec 31, 2025.
- Augustana College: Up to $4,000 total ($1,000/year), first-year and transfer eligible.
- Baldwin Wallace University: $2,000/year (up to $8,000), visit by Dec 1, 2025.
- Greenville University: $500/year, renewable up to 4 years.
Programs change. So always verify deadlines and eligibility on the college’s page before planning your travel.
How is this different from fly-ins and travel reimbursements?
It can be confusing, but here are the differences:
Fly-in programs
Colleges invite a select group of prospective students for free or heavily subsidized overnight visits. Travel, lodging, meals, and programming are usually covered, and many schools prioritize first-gen and lower-income students. If you're interested in this type of program, apply early, as spots fill quickly.
Here's where you can browse funded fly-in programs and fly-in weekends.
Admitted-student travel grants
These kick in after you’re admitted and are designed to help you attend an admitted-student day. Funding can include airfare stipends, hotel vouchers, or mileage caps, but these often come with strict dates and rules. Many highly selective colleges publish details on their sites (for example, see Stanford’s admitted-student info). Always check your admitted-student portal for the exact policy.
Travel reimbursements
Some colleges partially refund your visit costs, for example, for flights, gas, or hotel expenses. But you'll need receipts and pre-registration. This is not a tuition discount like a visit grant. It simply reduces the amount you spend upfront. If you're interested in a reimbursement like this, be sure to ask whether reimbursements stack with other visit benefits.
Getting paid to visit colleges? Yes, please!
Campus visit grants are a great way to reduce your college costs while exploring potential schools. If you plan to visit college campuses, check for grants or other perks to avoid missing out on free money.
Want to find colleges that fit your goals and maybe even pay you to visit? Explore schools, compare financial aid options, and discover visit grants with Appily!
