College Application Fee Waivers 2026: How to Get Them

How to Get College Application Fee Waivers in 2026

At $60-$90 per application, applying to 10-15 colleges can cost $600-$1,350 in fees alone — before you've even enrolled. Application fees should never prevent a qualified student from applying to college. Fee waivers exist to eliminate this barrier, and millions of students qualify. This guide covers every way to get fee waivers, who's eligible, and which colleges don't charge fees at all. Use Counsely's AI counselor to help manage your application process.

Last Updated: March 2026

Who Qualifies for Fee Waivers

You likely qualify for an application fee waiver if any of the following apply:

You receive free or reduced-price school lunch
Your family income falls within USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines
You're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids low-income families (TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.)
Your family receives public assistance
You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home
You're a ward of the state or an orphan
You qualify for an SAT or ACT fee waiver (this often automatically qualifies you for application fee waivers)

Additionally, many colleges offer fee waivers based on:

First-generation college student status
Attending a college visit or virtual event (some schools waive fees for attendees)
Applying during a specific period (some schools run fee-waiver windows)
Military family status

Types of Fee Waivers

Common App Fee Waiver

The Common App has a built-in fee waiver system. When you create your account, you'll be asked about fee waiver eligibility. If you qualify, the fee is waived for every school you apply to through the Common App.

How to activate: In the Profile section of the Common App, under "Common App Fee Waiver," answer the eligibility questions honestly. Your school counselor will confirm your eligibility. Once approved, fees are waived automatically.

College Board Fee Waiver

If you received an SAT fee waiver, you automatically qualify for application fee waivers at participating colleges. The College Board provides fee waiver codes that can be used directly.

Coverage: Up to four college application fee waivers, plus waived fees for CSS Profile submissions at participating schools.

ACT Fee Waiver

Similar to the College Board, ACT fee waiver recipients often qualify for application fee waivers. Check with your school counselor for available codes.

NACAC Fee Waiver

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers a fee waiver form that students can download and submit to colleges. This is available to students whose financial circumstances make application fees a hardship, regardless of specific program enrollment.

How to get it: Download the form from NACAC's website or get it from your school counselor. Complete it, have your counselor sign it, and submit it with your application.

School-Specific Fee Waivers

Many colleges offer their own fee waivers:

After campus visits — some schools email fee waiver codes to visitors
Through admissions officers — if you connect with a regional admissions rep, they may offer a waiver
During application events — college fairs, fly-in programs, and virtual events sometimes include fee waivers
Via email campaigns — some colleges email fee waiver codes to students in their database

Direct Request

If you don't qualify through any formal program but application fees create genuine financial hardship, you can contact the admissions office directly and explain your situation. Many colleges will waive the fee on a case-by-case basis. This isn't widely publicized, but it's common practice.

Colleges With No Application Fee

Some colleges don't charge application fees at all:

Carleton College — no application fee
Colby College — no application fee
Grinnell College — no application fee
Kenyon College — no application fee
Macalester College — no application fee
Reed College — no application fee
Smith College — no application fee
Wellesley College — no application fee
Bowdoin College — no application fee
Many state universities waive fees for in-state applicants or during specific application windows

This list changes annually — verify directly with each school.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your Fee Waivers

Step 1: Talk to Your School Counselor

Your counselor is the gatekeeper for most fee waiver programs. Schedule a meeting early in your senior year (ideally September) and ask about:

Common App fee waiver eligibility
NACAC fee waiver forms
SAT/ACT fee waiver extensions
School-specific waiver opportunities

Step 2: Activate Common App Fee Waiver

If you qualify, activate the fee waiver in your Common App Profile. This is the single most impactful step — it covers every Common App school.

Step 3: Check Each School's Policy

Before applying, check each college's website for:

Application fee amount (or lack thereof)
School-specific fee waiver options
Whether they accept NACAC waivers
Any current fee waiver promotions

Step 4: Apply During Fee-Waiver Events

Many colleges run fee-waiver periods (often in October or during application week events). Follow your target schools on social media and check their admissions blogs for announcements.

Step 5: Don't Let Fees Stop You

If you can't find a formal waiver, email the admissions office directly. A simple, honest message works:

"Dear Admissions Office, I am very interested in applying to [University], but the application fee presents a financial hardship for my family. Is there a fee waiver available? Thank you for your time."

Most admissions offices will waive the fee.

Fee Waivers for Related Costs

Application fees aren't the only college-related cost. Fee waivers may also be available for:

SAT/ACT registration — through your school counselor
SAT/ACT score reports — included with test fee waivers
CSS Profile — College Board fee waiver recipients get CSS Profile fee waivers at participating schools
AP exam fees — reduced fees available through your school
Enrollment deposits — some colleges waive these for students with demonstrated need

Common Concerns

"Will using a fee waiver hurt my application?"

No. Colleges cannot and do not penalize applicants who use fee waivers. Using a fee waiver is completely normal — at many selective colleges, 20-30% of applicants use some form of fee waiver. Admissions officers review applications without knowing whether a fee was paid or waived.

"My family makes too much for a fee waiver but fees are still a burden"

Contact schools directly. Many admissions offices have discretion to waive fees for families who don't qualify through formal programs but demonstrate legitimate financial hardship. You can also look for school-specific waivers through campus visits and events.

"I already paid — can I get a refund?"

Generally no — application fees are non-refundable. Apply for fee waivers before submitting applications.

For more on managing college costs, see our FAFSA vs CSS Profile guide and full ride scholarships guide.

Counsely Tip: Activate your Common App fee waiver before you start adding schools to your list. This ensures every school you apply to through the Common App is automatically covered. Don't let a $75 fee prevent you from applying to a school that might offer you thousands in financial aid.

AI College Counselor: Get help navigating fee waivers, financial aid, and every part of the application process with Counsely's free tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all colleges accept fee waivers?

The vast majority of colleges in the United States accept fee waivers from at least one source (Common App, College Board, NACAC, or their own institutional waiver). Among Common App member schools — which include most selective private universities — the Common App fee waiver is universally accepted. Schools that use their own application systems (like MIT, Georgetown, or UC schools) typically have their own fee waiver processes built into their applications. The UC Application, for example, has an integrated fee waiver based on family income and size. If you're unsure whether a specific school accepts fee waivers, check their admissions FAQ or contact the office directly.

How many fee waivers can I use?

There's no limit on the number of Common App fee waivers you can use — once activated, the waiver applies to every school on your Common App list. College Board SAT fee waivers provide up to four application fee waivers specifically, but you can supplement these with Common App waivers, NACAC waivers, or school-specific waivers. In practice, if you qualify for a Common App fee waiver, you can apply to as many Common App schools as you want without paying fees. The only limitation is on platform-specific programs (like the College Board's four-waiver limit), and even then, other waiver types can fill the gap.

Can international students get fee waivers?

Yes, though the process may be different. International students can request fee waivers through the Common App by indicating financial hardship, and their school counselor can confirm eligibility. Many colleges also grant fee waivers to international applicants who email the admissions office directly explaining their financial situation. The NACAC fee waiver is primarily designed for US students, but many individual colleges have their own processes for international applicants. Some schools with no application fee (like several liberal arts colleges listed above) are particularly accessible for international students concerned about costs.

Should I apply to more schools because fee waivers make it free?

Fee waivers remove the financial barrier, but each application still requires time and effort — especially supplemental essays. Applying to 25 schools with mediocre essays is worse than applying to 12 schools with excellent essays. Use the fee waiver to ensure cost doesn't eliminate schools from your list, but still be strategic about how many applications you can complete at a high quality level. Most students should apply to 8-15 schools with a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools. See our how many colleges guide for a framework.

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College Application Fee Waivers 2026: How to Get Them | Counsely