FEE WAIVERS
Did you know that most college applications and some standardize tests require an application fee?
These fees can be as high as $90. That may be a little discouraging, but there is help - FEE WAIVERS!! The following are the most common fee waiver programs:
college board fee waiver
Income-eligible students can qualify for a waiver for the SAT or SAT subject tests and apply to as many colleges as they want at no-cost. College Board’s SAT and college application fee waiver program is available to low-income students in their junior or senior year of high school. You are eligible for the waivers if you meet one of these college fee waiver requirements:
  • You’re eligible for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
  • Your household income is within the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s Income Eligibility Guidelines.
  • You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families.
  • Your family receives public assistance.
  • You live in a foster home.
  • You’re in a federally subsidized public housing program.
  • You’re homeless.
  • You’re a ward of the state or an orphan.

​As for how to get fees waived for your college applications through College Board, contact your high school counselor. You’ll need to show proof of eligibility, such as your family’s tax returns or proof of your enrollment in a government program.
Common App waiver
Nearly 900 schools allow students to use the Common Application to apply. By using the application, students can fill out just one application and submit it to all of the schools on their list.

The schools that use the Common Application try to ensure that fees won’t deter students from applying. If you’re in a precarious financial situation, the Common App fee waiver can help.

The Common App waiver has the same eligibility requirements as the College Board waiver. You can apply for it within the Common App, and your school counselor will be asked to confirm your information.
NACAC Waiver
To help make college more accessible for all, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) offers a college application fee waiver, as well.

The NACAC waiver has the same eligibility requirements as the waivers from College Board and Common App. However, NACAC requires you to send the application directly to your school of choice.

NACAC recommends using its fee waiver to apply to up to four schools.
Individual Program waiver
If you are ineligible for the above programs, or you have used your waiver for four schools already, don’t worry — that’s still not the end of the story. You might be able to qualify for a fee waiver directly from the colleges you choose.

School-specific waiver programs can have more flexible eligibility requirements. For example, some colleges offers pre-approved waivers to military veterans and students who participated in their campus visitation programs.
act test fee waiver
Everyone has the potential to learn. A student’s family income should
not determine his or her educational or career opportunities. During the
2020–2021 school year, ACT will again offer the ACT® test fee waiver program
to eligible students.

ACT encourages schools/agencies to emphasize to students the importance
of sitting for the test. Since funds are limited, when students do not follow
through to test, they not only miss a valuable opportunity, but could prevent
other students from testing.

Each student who receives an ACT Fee Waiver must meet ALL eligibility
requirements:
  1. Be currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
  2. Be testing in the United States, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
  3. Meet one or more of the indicators of economic need listed below:
  • Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school, based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) income levels.
  • Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example, a federally funded program such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound).
  • Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless.
  • Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally
    subsidized public housing.
  • Family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or
    reduced-price lunches on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
Note: If the student participates in a program, but is not economically disadvantaged, they are not eligible for a fee waiver.

Contact Ms. Donahue to see if you qualify!
If you need a waiver, contact Ms. Donahue or the Financial Aid office at the college you're applying to and explain your situation. You might be eligible for programs you didn’t know existed.
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Don’t let application fees stop you from applying! It can be overwhelming and stressful, but it will be rewarding in the end.
resource: https://studentloanhero.com/featured/fee-waiver-college-application/
What is a fee waiver?
- an agreement by organization to completely cover your application fees at registration

Be sure to ask if the college that you're interested in is waiving application fees due to COVID-19!