Application fees are a real barrier and Kansas has built two ways around them.
Year-round hardship waivers. All Kansas colleges and universities waive application fees for financial hardship throughout the entire year. If a fee is standing between you and an application, contact the admissions office at that school and ask, or complete the common Application Fee Waiver form on the Kansas Board of Regents site.
The common form. One form works across Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburg State University, the University of Kansas, Washburn University, and Wichita State University. Complete it and return it to the admissions office at the school you are applying to.
Important exception. You do not need to submit the form to KU, K-State, or Wichita State. Fee waiver eligibility is built directly into those three applications, so you answer a question rather than sending a separate document.
If you use the Common App, self-identify for a fee waiver under the Profile tab, in the Common App Fee Waiver section, and select Yes.
October is easier. During Kansas Apply Free Days, no form or hardship documentation is needed at all. See Card 53.
Sources: Kansas Board of Regents, kansasregents.gov/students/apply-free-days and the Apply Kansas fee waiver form at kansasregents.gov/resources; Kansas State University announcement on Common App fee waiver self-identification, k-state.edu.