College Application Fee Waiver: Who Qualifies & How to Get One
A fee waiver removes the application cost barrier. Learn your eligibility, how to request one on the Common App and other platforms, and why timing matters.
Who Qualifies for a Common App Fee Waiver
You are eligible for a Common App fee waiver if you meet any one of the following criteria:
- You are enrolled in or eligible for the federal free or reduced-price lunch program
- You have received or are eligible to receive an SAT or ACT fee waiver
- Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service
- Your family receives public assistance
- You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (such as GEAR UP, TRIO, Upward Bound, or similar programs)
- You live in federally subsidized public housing, foster care, or are experiencing homelessness
- You are a ward of the state or an orphan
- You have received or are eligible to receive a Pell Grant
- You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader confirming your eligibility
Meeting just one of these criteria qualifies you for the waiver. You do not need to meet multiple criteria.
How to Request a Fee Waiver on the Common App
The process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes:
Step 1: Create or Log Into Your Account
Go to commonapp.org and sign in with your existing account or create a new one.
Step 2: Navigate to Your Profile
In your Common App account, click on Profile in the left menu, then select Personal Information.
Step 4: Answer the Fee Waiver Question
Look for the question asking if you believe you qualify for a Common App fee waiver. Click "Yes" and select the reason(s) that apply to you from the list of eligibility criteria.
Step 5: Counselor Verification
After you submit your selection, your school counselor (or another designated school official) will receive a notification requesting them to verify your eligibility. They will digitally confirm your information through the Common App system.
Important: Once your counselor confirms your eligibility, the fee waiver is activated immediately and applies to every single school on your Common App list—you do not request it school-by-school. This means you can begin applying to colleges without paying a fee, even while your counselor's confirmation is in progress.
Fee Waivers on Other Application Platforms
Coalition App
The Coalition App also allows fee waivers. To request one, answer "yes" to the fee waiver questions in your MyCoalition Profile. Similar to the Common App, a school official must confirm your eligibility. Your counselor will receive notification and can verify you through the system.
Individual College Portals
Some colleges accept applications directly through their own portals rather than through the Common App or Coalition App. If a college has its own application system, check their admissions website for fee waiver instructions. The process varies by institution but typically involves a similar self-certification and counselor-confirmation model.
SAT and ACT Fee Waivers as Supporting Evidence
If you have already received an SAT or ACT fee waiver from the College Board or ACT Inc., that credential can serve as supporting evidence when you request an application fee waiver. You may not need additional documentation if your test fee waiver is on file.
SAT and ACT Fee Waivers: A Related but Separate Credential
It's important to understand that SAT/ACT test fee waivers are different from application fee waivers, though they are related:
- Test fee waivers waive the cost to take the SAT or ACT and typically include free score reports sent to colleges.
- Application fee waivers waive the cost to apply to a college through Common App, Coalition, or the college's own platform.
Having one does not automatically grant the other, although meeting the criteria for a test fee waiver (e.g., enrollment in free/reduced lunch) will also make you eligible for an application fee waiver. When applying to colleges, be sure to request the application fee waiver separately, even if you already have a test fee waiver.
Timing: Why You Should Request Early
Timing is important for fee waiver requests. Here's why:
- Counselor confirmation takes time. Your school counselor may need a few days to review and verify your request, especially during busy application season (fall).
- Colleges cannot process waivers without confirmation. Some colleges may delay your application review if the counselor's confirmation is still pending.
- Avoid last-minute stress. Requesting your fee waiver 2–3 weeks before your first college deadline gives counselors breathing room and ensures the waiver is active when you need it.
Submit your fee waiver request as soon as you open your Common App account in the fall, ideally in September or early October for fall applicants. This also applies to students using other platforms (Coalition, individual portals)—request early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does using a fee waiver hurt my chances of admission?
At schools practicing need-blind admissions (which includes most selective colleges), using a fee waiver will not negatively impact your chances of admission. The waiver request is not shared with the admissions committee, and your financial circumstances are not considered in the decision.
However, it is important to note that not all colleges practice need-blind admissions. Some institutions are "need-aware," meaning they do consider financial factors in their decisions. To be safe, research each college's admissions policy on their website. That said, using a fee waiver remains far preferable to not applying at all.
What if I don't have a school counselor? Can I still request a fee waiver?
Yes. You can provide a supporting statement from another eligible official, such as a college access counselor, financial aid officer, school social worker, school administrator, or community leader (nonprofit director, religious leader, etc.) who can attest to your financial circumstances. The Common App allows you to name this person as your verifier, and they will receive the same confirmation request as a traditional counselor would.
Does a fee waiver only apply to first-year applicants?
No, fee waivers are available to first-year applicants, transfer applicants, and graduate program applicants. However, the process may differ slightly for transfer and graduate students. Transfer applicants should check directly with colleges they are applying to, as there is no centralized College Board fee waiver process for transfers. Graduate programs also have their own fee waiver procedures—contact the graduate admissions office of each program to learn about their process.
Can my fee waiver be used for more than one application year?
Fee waivers are typically valid for a single application year. If you are applying in the fall of 2026 for fall 2027 entry, your waiver applies to that year only. If you reapply in a future year, you will need to request a new fee waiver through the same process.
What if my school doesn't participate in the Common App fee waiver system?
Some colleges do not use the Common App or do not accept Common App fee waivers. In these cases, you will need to contact the college's admissions office directly to ask about their fee waiver policy. Many colleges have their own fee waiver process and may ask for similar documentation (school official verification or evidence of financial need).