Where to find fee waiver code

For most students in most scenarios, these forms, or a combination of them, should work to get their application fees waived. However, there are always unique circumstances that stand outside the typical process.

If you still have questions, contact the admissions offices of your prospective colleges. Find out whether they accept fee waivers and whether they prefer a specific form or simply a letter. Some schools might suggest that you write and then mail, fax, or email a letter of request.

Harvard , for instance, accepts Common App waivers, Coalition App waivers, and other waiver forms but also welcomes a personal letter if you can't obtain those forms for some reason:. If the admissions application fee presents a hardship for you or your family, the fee will be waived.

You can request a fee waiver directly through the Common Application or the Coalition application if you meet their respective indicators of economic need. This form is only open during the admission application period August through March 1. Regardless of the form you use, the requirements are essentially the same: each form represents a request and usually asks for your basic info, signature, counselor's signature, and an indicator of economic need.

Rarely do you have to provide supporting documentation, but you should have it on hand just in case. Now that you have a sense of which fee waivers to use and how to get them, is there anything else you need to know about how to use them?

Don't worry, many colleges don't even ask to see your fee waiver! We touched on this briefly, but let's review how to submit application fee waivers whether you're using the Common App, the Coalition App, a College Board waiver, or a different form. If you're applying through the Common App , all you have to do is indicate that you'll be using a fee waiver on your profile page , as pictured above, and give your reason. Your counselor will then be prompted to approve your request.

If you already got an SAT or ACT fee waiver, you shouldn't have to do anything else since your counselor will have already double-checked your eligibility. If you didn't, then you might need to provide them with some supporting documentation , such as proof of income eligibility.

All Common App schools should accept fee waiver requests. For instance, here's what Cornell says:. No additional documentation is needed after your counselor has approved your request. Many colleges share this stance, though they reserve the right to ask for more info if they deem it necessary more likely to happen if you're an international student. If your college asks for more information, then you might have to fax or send your fee waiver form or whatever else they ask for.

Coalition App fee waivers are pretty easy to use. All you need to do is make a MyCoalition account , go to your "Profile" section, and click "Fee Waiver" pictured above to check the boxes that apply to your situation and to determine which Coalition App colleges you can get a fee waiver from. You don't need to submit documentation or proof of your eligibility, unless on the off chance your counselor won't approve your request without specific documents.

Most, if not all, Coalition App schools should accept fee waiver requests. For example, here's what Notre Dame says about fee waivers on its website:. Once eligibility is confirmed, the Common Application or Coalition Application process will bypass the payment step. The majority of colleges share this view, but they still have the right to ask for further info or documentation if they feel it's necessary.

Your College Board fee waivers will have a personalized code for you. If you're applying to a school that's not on the Common App or Coalition App, then it will likely ask you to enter this code or upload a scanned copy of your waiver in its online application. If you used an SAT fee waiver, you should be familiar with this process. SAT registration also involves entering your personalized fee waiver code.

If you're applying by mail or if the college asks for an original hard copy, you'll want to send this signed form along with your application. In most cases, you'll be asked to upload a scanned copy of the signed form to your application. Again, if you're applying by mail or the school wants an original hard copy, you should mail this form. If the school needs any more information, it will contact you and let you know. To prepare for this possibility, you should give them a call and ask about the process.

A few colleges, like many in the California State system , only accept requests from in-state residents. There are more than 2, colleges that approve fee waiver requests—you just have to figure out how your prospective colleges want you to submit your request. Everyone's path to college is different.

Similarly, there are several different options for requesting application fee waivers, some straightforward and others a little more complicated. To make sure you've got your bases covered, let's summarize the most important things to remember for students who want to waive the fees for applying to college.

If and only if you're eligible, you can get your college application fees waived. In many cases, you have to front these costs in order to apply to colleges. But if you can prove that you have a financial need, there are ways to get around some of them. Costs related to college applications start with standardized testing fees. To get either, talk to your high school college or guidance counselor. There are several ways to qualify; you may be eligible if you:.

Live in a foster home or public housing, or are homeless. Receive public assistance, including Medicaid or food stamps, or are in a government program for low-income families, such as Upward Bound. The SAT fee waiver is a gift that keeps on giving: In addition to letting you take the test for free, it also lets you skip the application costs for four colleges.

Many college applications have a field where you can indicate that you want to be considered for a fee waiver. Eligible students will receive special packets with information about choosing, applying and attending college, as well as application fee waivers. Students who express interest in a school, such as by providing contact information at a college recruitment fair or considering playing a sport at the school, may receive a special invitation to apply for free.

In other instances, the invitation to apply with a waived application fee can be unsolicited. One way to reduce the costs of applying is to choose schools that don't have an application fee. Some of these schools include:. She is an expert in college access and higher education policy and programming.

There are many college access organizations across the country that work to guide students and families through the college application and financial aid process. Another resource is The College Board, which offers up to four free college application waivers to students who are income-eligible to receive an SAT fee waiver. Explore these resources to help you make informed decisions and prepare for whatever is thrown your way. Connect with a community of peers, and find a program that will allow you to continue your education in a fast and flexible way.

How to Apply to Schools for Free and Save Hundreds of Dollars The cost of a college education gets a lot of attention these days, and for good reason: Simply applying to college can be an expensive undertaking. Top Online Programs Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Apply online Many colleges will waive the application fee if you apply online. Examples include: - College of Southern Idaho - Wesleyan College - University of Hartford - Manchester University - Washington and Jefferson College If students prefer not to apply online, they can mail in a paper application, although the regular application fee will apply. Students with SAT fee waivers can sign in and view their full set of fee waiver benefits.

If you think you're eligible, your school counselor or a representative of an authorized community-based organization will help you get a fee waiver. If you're homeschooled , you can get fee waivers by contacting a local high school counselor. Just provide proof of eligibility, such as tax records or proof of enrollment in an aid program like those listed below. Find out if you qualify for an SAT fee waiver.