Grad School Application Fee Waivers: How to Get One
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Sep 18, 2026 • Updated Sep 18, 2026 • Graduate & Professional School
Most grad programs waive application fees for applicants who show financial need, attend a recruitment event, or qualify through a fee-reduction program tied to the GRE. Ask the admissions office directly if you do not see a waiver listed online.
📩 Check the application portal first. Many list waiver eligibility, need-based, McNair Scholars, military, unemployed, right on the fee page.
🎓 Attending an open house, virtual info session, or campus visit day often comes with an automatic waiver code.
An approved ETS GRE Fee Reduction voucher qualifies you for an application fee waiver at many universities.
Ask your undergraduate advisor or a current grad student in the program to request a waiver on your behalf.
Who Typically Qualifies
Programs waive fees most often for applicants who can show financial need, current or recent McNair Scholars, first-generation college students, military service members and veterans, and applicants who are unemployed or receiving public assistance. Some schools extend waivers to applicants from partner programs like TRIO or specific diversity fellowship pipelines.
Eligibility rules differ by university and even by department, so check each program separately rather than assuming one waiver applies everywhere you apply.
Where to Find the Waiver Request
Look on the graduate admissions website for a page labeled application fee waiver or fee waiver request, usually linked from the how to apply or costs section. Many portals ask you to request the waiver before you start the application, since it changes how the system charges you at submission.
If you cannot find a waiver option listed, email the admissions office directly. Explain your circumstances briefly and ask whether a waiver is available. Admissions offices field this request often and rarely see it as unusual.
For universities with multiple graduate programs, request waivers through the central graduate school office when a program-specific option is not listed, since central offices sometimes issue waivers to spare individual departments the administrative work.
Documentation You May Need
Financial need waivers commonly require proof such as a FAFSA Submission Summary, a letter from your undergraduate financial aid office, or documentation of household income. Keep these documents ready before you start requesting waivers so you are not scrambling close to a deadline.
Waivers tied to a specific status, McNair Scholar, veteran, TRIO participant, usually require a short verification letter from the sponsoring program rather than financial documents.
Other Ways to Get a Waiver
ETS runs a GRE Fee Reduction Program for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who demonstrate financial need, reducing the GRE registration cost and issuing a voucher you can show to schools, according to ETS's fee reduction page . Many universities automatically waive their own application fee once you show this approval, since it confirms your financial need through a separate process.
Attending a program's open house, diversity recruitment weekend, or virtual info session often comes with a fee waiver code you enter at application time. Watch for these events on department websites and mailing lists starting in the fall before you apply.
A current graduate student or faculty member you have talked to about the program can sometimes request a waiver code on your behalf. This works especially well if you met them at a conference or through a formal mentoring or bridge program.
If Your Waiver Request Is Denied
Ask what specific documentation would change the decision, and whether you can reapply with additional proof. Some offices deny a first request simply because a form was incomplete rather than because you do not qualify.
If cost remains a barrier after a denial, ask about application fee payment plans, or whether the program accepts a delayed payment until after a financial aid decision comes through.
Fee Waivers Do Not Affect Your Admissions Decision
Admissions committees generally review waiver requests separately from the application itself, and requesting one does not signal anything negative about your candidacy. Programs build waiver processes specifically because they want cost to stay out of the applicant pool.
Budget for the Programs You Cannot Waive
Not every program grants waivers, especially smaller, highly funded departments with few applicants each year. Set aside money for at least a few full-price applications when you build your overall grad school application budget, so a denied waiver does not derail your plans.
Time Your Request Well
Request waivers as early as possible in the application cycle. Departments often set aside a limited number of waiver approvals each year, and popular programs can run through that allocation before later-round applicants ask.
If a program uses a shared application platform across multiple departments, submit your waiver request separately to each department you apply to, since one approval does not always carry over automatically.
Watch for Automatic Waivers
Some universities waive fees automatically for applicants who complete a free profile through a partner platform, submit before an early deadline, or apply to more than one program within the same graduate school. Check the application FAQ page for language like fee waived or no application fee before you assume you need to request one.
If You Still Do Not Qualify
Ask whether the program offers a reduced fee instead of a full waiver, or whether the fee is refunded if you enroll. Some schools also drop the fee entirely for applications submitted after a certain date to fill remaining seats, so a quick email to admissions can save you money even outside formal waiver categories.