Common App Fee Waiver: Eligibility, Requirements, and How to Get One
The Common App Fee Waiver allows eligible students to submit college applications through Common App without paying application fees. You may qualify based on family income, participation in certain assistance programs, eligibility for an SAT or ACT fee waiver, or other indicators of financial need. You request the waiver directly in the Profile section of your Common App, and your school counselor is asked to confirm your eligibility. If application fees would create a financial hardship for your family, it is worth checking whether you qualify.
Key Takeaways
The Common App Fee Waiver is available to students who meet at least one recognized indicator of financial need.
Eligibility may be based on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, family income, public assistance, SAT or ACT fee waiver eligibility, participation in certain programs, housing circumstances, or other qualifying conditions.
Request the waiver in the Profile section of My Common Application and certify that you meet the eligibility requirements.
Your counselor is asked to confirm your eligibility, but you can still submit applications without paying while that confirmation is pending.
International students may request a Common App Fee Waiver, but individual colleges have their own policies for international applicants.
What Is the Common App Fee Waiver?
The Common App Fee Waiver allows eligible students to apply to colleges through Common App without paying the application fee.
College application fees vary by school, and many colleges do not charge an application fee at all. For students applying to several colleges that do charge fees, however, those costs can add up quickly.
The fee waiver is designed to prevent application costs from becoming a barrier for students with financial need.
You request the waiver once through your Common App profile rather than completing a separate Common App Fee Waiver request for every college.
Some colleges also offer their own fee waivers. These college-specific waivers can be useful for students who do not qualify for the Common App Fee Waiver or who are applying through another application platform.
Who Is Eligible for a Common App Fee Waiver?
You may qualify for a Common App Fee Waiver if you meet at least one recognized indicator of financial need.
Common eligibility criteria include:
You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program.
You have received or are eligible to receive an SAT or ACT testing fee waiver.
Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines established by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
You participate in a federal, state, or local program that supports students from low-income families, such as TRIO or Upward Bound.
Your family receives public assistance.
You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are experiencing homelessness.
You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
You have received or are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.
A school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader can provide a supporting statement about your financial circumstances.
You do not need to meet every condition. Meeting one qualifying criterion may be enough to request the waiver.
Income guidelines can change over time, so use the current eligibility information shown in Common App rather than relying on an income figure from an older article or application cycle.
Not sure if you qualify for a Common App Fee Waiver or how to request it correctly?
Alexis College Expert can help you through the application process.
What Are the Common App Fee Waiver Requirements?
The Common App Fee Waiver request itself is relatively simple.
You will need to indicate that you meet the eligibility requirements and certify that your request is accurate.
The standard Common App process does not require you to upload tax returns or pay stubs when requesting the waiver. Your school counselor is asked to confirm your eligibility.
That does not mean you should select the waiver simply because you would prefer not to pay application fees. The waiver is intended for students who meet one or more of the financial-need criteria listed in the application.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, talk with your school counselor before submitting your applications. Your counselor can help you review the criteria and determine whether requesting the waiver is appropriate.
How to Get a Common App Fee Waiver
You can request the fee waiver directly through your Common App account.
Follow these steps:
Sign in to your Common App account.
Open My Common Application and go to the Profile section.
Find the Common App Fee Waiver section.
Review the eligibility criteria carefully.
Answer yes if you meet at least one qualifying condition.
Enter your signature to certify your request.
Let your school counselor know that you requested the fee waiver.
Your counselor will be asked to confirm that you are eligible.
You do not need to wait for your counselor's confirmation before submitting an application. Common App allows eligible students who have requested the waiver to submit without paying while counselor confirmation is still pending.
How Does the Common App Fee Waiver Work?
Once you request the Common App Fee Waiver, you do not need to complete a new Common App waiver request for every college.
For first-year applicants using Common App, the waiver is designed to remove the application fee for colleges you apply to through the platform.
If your counselor has not yet confirmed your eligibility, you can still submit without paying while the confirmation is pending.
Keep in mind that the Common App Fee Waiver applies to application fees. It does not automatically eliminate other possible college-related costs.
Some colleges also have their own fee-waiver programs. If you are applying somewhere outside Common App or have questions about a particular school's fee policy, check the college's admissions website.
Does Your Counselor Need to Verify Your Fee Waiver?
Yes. Your school counselor is asked to confirm that you are eligible for the Common App Fee Waiver.
The counselor's role is to confirm your eligibility, not to decide whether your application deserves special consideration.
If you request the waiver, it is a good idea to tell your counselor so the request does not come as a surprise.
You also do not need to delay an application deadline while waiting for the counselor to complete the confirmation. Common App states that you can submit without paying while the confirmation is pending.
If you do not have access to a traditional school counselor or are unsure who should confirm your request, contact Common App support or speak with the appropriate school official before your deadline.
Do All Colleges Accept the Common App Fee Waiver?
For first-year students applying through Common App, the Common App Fee Waiver is intended to waive the application fee for colleges you apply to through the platform.
Some Common App colleges do not charge application fees in the first place, so no waiver is necessary at those schools.
Colleges may also provide their own institution-specific fee waivers. These can have different eligibility requirements from the Common App Fee Waiver.
If you apply to a college through another application system, do not assume that your Common App Fee Waiver automatically carries over. Check that school's application fee policy separately.
International applicants also need to pay closer attention to individual college policies because fee-waiver rules can differ by institution.
Can International Students Get a Common App Fee Waiver?
International students may be eligible for a need-based Common App Fee Waiver.
You can request the waiver through the Profile section of Common App just as other applicants do.
However, international students should not assume that every college will handle the request the same way. Common App states that individual colleges have different fee-waiver policies for international applicants.
A college may accept the waiver, while another may require the application fee after you submit.
Before applying, check each college's admissions website for its international application fee policy. If the information is unclear, contact the admissions office and ask whether the school accepts the Common App Fee Waiver for international applicants.
This is one area where checking each college individually is worth the extra time.
What If You Do Not Qualify for a Common App Fee Waiver?
Not qualifying for the Common App Fee Waiver does not necessarily mean you have to pay an application fee at every college.
Start by checking whether the colleges on your list charge application fees at all. Many colleges accept applications without charging one.
You can also look for:
College-specific application fee waivers
Other recognized fee-waiver programs accepted by the college
Fee-waiver codes or programs offered directly by admissions offices
Schools that do not charge an application fee
If application costs would create a hardship but you do not clearly meet one of the Common App criteria, speak with your school counselor. One of the eligibility options allows certain school officials, college access counselors, financial aid officers, or community leaders to provide supporting information about a student's financial circumstances.
Do not claim eligibility if you do not meet the requirements. Instead, ask what legitimate fee-waiver options are available.
Use the Common App Fee Waiver If You Qualify
College application fees should not prevent you from applying to schools that are a good fit.
If you meet one of the Common App Fee Waiver eligibility criteria, request the waiver in your Profile section and let your counselor know. You can submit applications without paying while counselor confirmation is pending.
If you do not qualify, check whether your colleges charge application fees or offer their own waiver options.
A little research before you submit can reduce application costs and help you build your college list without letting unnecessary fees determine where you apply.
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Common App Fee Waiver Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I qualify for a Common App Fee Waiver?
You may qualify if you meet at least one indicator of financial need listed in Common App. Examples include eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, an SAT or ACT fee waiver, qualifying family income, public assistance, certain low-income student programs, foster care or housing circumstances, Pell Grant eligibility, or a supporting statement from an appropriate official.
Do I need proof of income for a Common App Fee Waiver?
The standard Common App request does not require you to upload tax returns or pay stubs. You certify that you meet the eligibility requirements, and your school counselor is asked to confirm your eligibility.
Does my counselor have to approve my Common App Fee Waiver?
Your counselor is asked to confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements. You can still submit your application without paying while the counselor's confirmation is pending.
Does an SAT or ACT fee waiver qualify me for a Common App Fee Waiver?
Receiving or being eligible to receive an SAT or ACT testing fee waiver is one of the recognized indicators of economic need for the Common App Fee Waiver.
Is there an income limit for the Common App Fee Waiver?
Family income can be one way to qualify. Common App refers to the income eligibility guidelines established by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Because these guidelines can change, check the current criteria in Common App rather than relying on an older dollar amount.
Does the Common App Fee Waiver apply to every college on my list?
For first-year applications submitted through Common App, the waiver is intended to remove the application fee for colleges you apply to through the platform. It does not automatically apply to applications submitted through other systems. International applicants should check each college's individual fee-waiver policy.
Can international students use the Common App Fee Waiver?
Yes, international students may be eligible for a need-based Common App Fee Waiver. However, individual colleges have different policies for international applicants, and a college may ask you to pay its application fee after submission.
What should I do if I do not qualify for the Common App Fee Waiver?
Check whether your colleges charge application fees, look for college-specific fee waivers, and talk with your counselor if application costs would create a financial hardship. Many colleges have additional ways to waive application fees.