Anoka Technical College and Anoka-Ramsey Community College have dropped a $20 application fee for prospective students.

"By removing one extra fee, our hope is that many people apply, come and visit our campuses … " Kent Hanson, president of the aligned colleges, said in a statement announcing the move.

Anoka-Ramsey, with campuses in Coon Rapids and Cambridge, and Anoka Tech, located in Anoka, are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which is waiving application fees systemwide through Oct. 31. The waiver by Anoka-Ramsey and Anoka Tech is not temporary, however; it will continue indefinitely.

The two colleges have nearly 16,000 full- and part-time students. Mary Jacobson, director of marketing and public relations, said the schools will monitor the impact of the fee waiver on the number of applications.

Their websites are www.anokaramsey.edu and www.anokatech.edu.

JIM KERN

jim.kern@startribune.com