For a hover effect on a “Apply Now” button that uses Deep Navy ( #002D72 ), a lighter shade that maintains the color’s integrity while providing a noticeable change would be ideal. Here are a couple of options:

1. Lighter Navy: You could use a lighter shade of navy, such as #004B87 . This shade is still professional but provides enough contrast to indicate that the button is interactive.

2. Sky Blue: Another option is #00A3E0 . This sky blue is vibrant and can create an inviting feel when users hover over the button.

3. Soft Cyan: A softer shade like #4DB6E2 can also work well, providing a refreshing look without straying too far from the original deep navy.

Any of these options would create a pleasant hover effect while keeping the button visually appealing and aligned with the professional tone of your platform. Would you like to see examples of how these colors work together, or do you need assistance with anything else?