Key takeaways
- College application fees can get expensive, especially when you have to pay them for multiple schools.
- There are a few ways to qualify for college application fee waivers, which can dramatically lower the cost of how much you spend when applying.
- If you don’t qualify for an application fee waiver, try strategically applying to colleges to avoid spending extra on application fees.
There’s no set rate for college application fees, but they usually range from $50 to $100 each. The College Board recommends that students apply to five to eight colleges and universities to guarantee acceptance. With multiple applications going out, those fees can add up. See if you qualify for college application fee waivers so you can apply to college for free.
What is a fee waiver for college?
A college application fee waiver removes your fee when you apply for college. There are a few options, but they all allow you to forego paying the application fee when completing college applications.
How to get a fee waiver for college applications
Some colleges offer fee waivers at the institutional level. In some cases, you can get a fee waiver when you take the SAT or ACT.
Since there are a few different ways to find fee waivers for college applications, you may qualify for multiple opportunities — or one and not another. Exhaust all your fee waiver options to see if you’re eligible.
SAT and ACT fee waivers
Qualifying for SAT and ACT fee waivers automatically qualifies you for unlimited college application fee waivers through the College Board and on the Coalition, Common and Universal Applications.
Low-income high school juniors and seniors are eligible for the SAT fee waiver if one or more of the following conditions apply:
- Student participates in or is eligible for participation in the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
- Student’s family’s annual income is within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Income Eligibility Guidelines.
- Student is enrolled in a federal, state, or local program providing aid to students from low-income families.
- Student’s family receives public assistance.
- Student is homeless or lives in a foster home or federally subsidized public housing.
- Student is an orphan or ward of the state.
Most of the time, you don’t need to complete any extra information to get an SAT or ACT fee waiver. Your school counselor will distribute waivers to eligible students. If you haven’t gotten a waiver and need one, talk to your guidance counselor.
NACAC fee waivers
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers fee waivers to those in need. Apply online and get it signed by someone who can vouch for your circumstances. People who may be able to sign include:
- School or guidance counselor.
- Support personnel.
- Principal or administrative official at your school.
- Representative from a community-based organization.
From there, you’ll send the form to your college’s office of admissions. Students are encouraged to limit the number of forms sent to four.
Common App fee waiver
Many colleges and universities use Common App, which is a system that allows students to apply to multiple colleges in one place. Common App also allows students to apply for an application fee waiver.
If you meet any of the following criteria, you qualify for its fee waiver:
- You qualify to receive the Federal free or reduced-price lunch program benefits.
- You are eligible for the SAT or ACT fee waiver.
- Your family’s annual income is within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service Income Eligibility Guidelines.
- Your family gets public assistance.
- You take part in any federal, state or local program for low-income families.
- You live in federally subsidized housing, a foster home or are unhoused.
- You are an orphan or ward of the state.
- You are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.
- You can get and provide a statement from a community leader, financial aid officer, school official or college access counselor.
To apply for a fee waiver with Common App, request it through the fee waiver section.
College financial aid office
If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for fee waiver programs, it’s worth reaching out to the financial aid offices of the colleges you’re applying to. Some colleges are willing to waive the application fee if you reach out directly and explain your circumstances.
You can typically find more information about application fee waivers on each institution’s site. They may have forms available to download to apply for a fee waiver or provide more information on what students may qualify for.
Bankrate insights
Be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as you’re eligible. Filling out the FAFSA helps colleges assess your need for financial aid, which includes grants and student loans.
Who qualifies for a college application fee waiver?
To qualify for college application fee waivers, you’ll need to meet the requirements of the organization providing them. Eligibility requirements vary based on where you’re getting your fee waiver from.
If you don’t qualify for a waiver based on need, you could have a high school or college official vouch for you, saying that the application cost would cause financial hardship.
What happens if you don’t qualify for a fee waiver?
If you don’t qualify for a college application fee waiver, you can still try to limit the amount you have to spend to apply for schools. Most two-year schools don’t charge an application fee. PrepScholar maintains a list of colleges without application fees to help.
You can also curate your list of colleges to avoid applying to more than necessary. Research approval statistics, financial requirements and your potential major at each school before submitting applications. While the College Board recommends applying to five to eight schools, there’s no rule with those numbers set in stone. Figure out a number that’s the right fit for you.
Bottom line
Application fees are one of the first college expenses, and they add up. Although some institutions no longer charge application fees, many schools still charge them. There are a few ways to qualify for college application fee waivers, and you might be eligible for a few different options. See which ones you’re eligible for and use as many as necessary during your college application process to reduce your overall costs.
Once you know what you qualify for, it can help you decide what school makes the most sense for you financially and how you’re going to pay for it. Thankfully, once you’re accepted, there are multiple ways to pay for school. Consider all your options, like private student loans, federal student loans, scholarships and grants.
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