College Application Fee Waiver FAQ
College application fees can really add up, but there’s good news for students. Every income-eligible student who takes the SAT with a fee waiver or as part of a district or state program while in high school, can choose from over 2,000 participating colleges and apply for free. These waivers will be delivered online to eligible students.
FAQ
Why did I receive college application fee waivers?
f you registered for and took the SAT using a fee waiver, or were identified as fee waiver eligible as part of a district or state program, you are automatically eligible to receive college application fee waivers. Read more about SAT fee waivers.
I have registered and taken the SAT using a fee waiver. When can I expect to receive my college application fee waivers?
If you are a senior and eligible for college application fee waivers, you will receive them when you get your SAT score. If you are a junior and eligible, you will receive them in the fall of your senior year.
If I am applying to colleges using the Coalition, Common, or Universal Applications, can I still use a college application fee waiver?
If you have received an SAT fee waiver, you may apply to any Coalition, Common, or Universal College Application college without a fee. Each of these application platforms has a process in place to allow eligible students to have their application fee waived, and generally do not require you to submit your College Board fee waivers.
On the Coalition App, students can determine their eligibility for a fee waiver by answering a brief series of questions while creating their Coalition profile. If you qualify for fee waivers from the College Board (or qualify based on any of the other questions), you will automatically bypass the payment screen when you submit your application to a member school.
Similarly, on the Common App, you will be asked on the application whether your financial circumstances qualify you for a fee waiver-- if you received an SAT fee waiver, you should indicate that in response to this question to have your fee waived. Your high school counselor will be asked to verify your eligibility.
To use your fee waiver on the Universal College Application, check the “fee waiver” box on your application and submit your form to the college or university.
For all other colleges that participate in the program, submit the application fee waiver forms included in your College Board account directly to the institution.
How many of these college application fee waivers am I allowed to use?
You may use as many college application fee waivers as you need.
Do I need to have my college application fee waivers verified or signed by my school counselor?
No. Students have already had their eligibility verified by their counselor, so these college application fee waivers do not require counselor approval.
Can I share college application fee waivers with my friends?
No. Your college application fee waivers are for you only. If your friends think they might be eligible for college application fee waivers, they should speak to their school counselor.
What’s the difference between a college application fee waiver and an SAT fee waiver?
An SAT fee waiver allows you to register for the SAT free of charge. A college application fee waiver allows you to apply to college without paying an application fee.
Do all colleges accept application fee waivers?
No, not all colleges accept application fee waivers. Search colleges via our College Search tool and you can look up a school's application fee waiver policy on its profile under the Admissions section.
I don’t have access to a printer. What should I do?
If you are unable to print your college application fee waivers at home, please ask your counselor for help printing them at school.
Will College Board share my personal information with anyone?
Your personal information is not shared with any third parties without your permission. It will only be shared with those individuals who are involved with your applications. School counselors may be informed that you have received college application fee waivers so that they can provide support throughout the application process. For more information, please review College Board website's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
My address listed on the college application fee waivers has changed. How do I update my contact information?
If your contact information is out of date, please log in to your College Board account and make the necessary updates. Then you can print out your college application fee waivers, and your updated contact information should display.
If you have further questions, please contact us.
Counselors can call the SAT Educator Help Line at 888-SAT-HELP (888-728-4357) for more information about college application fee waivers.