College Application Fee Waiver: How to Get It and Who Qualifies

When you’re applying to college, the college application fee waiver, a request to skip the cost of submitting applications to colleges. Also known as an application fee waiver, it’s a lifeline for students who can’t afford the $50 to $90 price tag per school. These fees add up fast—apply to six schools and you’re looking at $300 to $500 before you even get accepted. That’s money many families simply don’t have. But here’s the truth: if you qualify, you don’t have to pay a dime.

The fee waiver eligibility, the set of financial and academic conditions that let students request a waiver isn’t secret, but it’s often misunderstood. You don’t need to be broke. You don’t need to be in foster care. You just need to meet one of several clear criteria: receiving free or reduced-price lunch, being in foster care, being homeless, living below the federal poverty line, or getting government assistance like SNAP or TANF. Some schools also accept waivers for students whose families receive public aid or whose parents didn’t attend college. Your high school counselor is the key—you’ll need them to sign off on your request, usually through the Common App, Coalition App, or a paper form.

And it’s not just about saving money. A financial aid for college, the system of grants, scholarships, and waivers that reduce the cost of higher education process that starts with a fee waiver often opens the door to more help. Once you’re approved for a waiver, you can also get free SAT/ACT fee waivers, access to college visits, and sometimes even application help from admissions officers who know you’re serious but under-resourced. Colleges don’t judge you for asking—they respect it. They want students like you to apply.

Some students think asking for a waiver means they’re not good enough. That’s false. The best students, the ones with the highest GPAs and strongest essays, are the ones who ask for waivers because they’re smart enough to know that money shouldn’t block their future. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, talk to your counselor today. Bring your family’s tax info, your free lunch status, or even just your questions. They’ve done this before. They’ll help.

Below, you’ll find real advice from students who’ve navigated this process, tips on how to ask for a waiver without embarrassment, and what to do if your school won’t help. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to pay to get in.