Fee Waivers
College application fees can add up! Although some colleges offer free or low-cost applications, many campuses charge between $50 and $100 for each application submitted. For many families, this cost can be prohibitive and challenging. Below is some information on how different applications offer support to students that may qualify for a fee waiver.
Common Eligibility Requirements for Fee Waivers
• You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver
• You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the federal free or reduced price lunch program (FRPL)
• Your annual family income falls within the Income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service
• You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound)
• Your family receives public assistance
• You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan
• Your family income/financial situation has changed since your last year's tax information entered in the application
CSU Applications
Fee waivers are automatically calculated through the CSU application (they do not share the formula they use) and they do not accept outside waivers; however, if you don't automatically qualify, you can appeal.
If you qualify for a fee waiver you can get up to four campus application fees waived.
They advise that you contact the individual campuses directly to explain the situation. Find the contact info for the CSU campuses you are applying to: https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/Pages/contact-a-campus.aspx
UC Applications
Fee waivers are automatically calculated through the UC application (they use the free and reduced lunch federal criteria), but they also accept outside fee waivers available through College Board and/or NACAC (see info below).
If you can get a fee waiver, then you can get 4 campus fees waived. You can't combine fee waivers, so 4 campuses is the max number waived.
If using a NACAC or College Board waiver for the UC:
Select "Pay by Mail" when submitting the applications
Send waiver to the UC address showing on the payment page
They also advise this approach if circumstances have changed and you believe your income has fallen to the free and reduced lunch income level:
Choose "Pay by Mail" when submitting the applications
Contact the UC to request a fee waiver explaining the income change
If approved, then you will not need to send the fee(s).
NACAC & College Board Fee Waivers
If you qualified for an SAT fee waiver, College Board also gives you college application fee waivers that can be used at many schools. You can chat with your RCHS counselor about an SAT/College Board fee waiver. More info here: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/college-application-fee-waivers
NACAC also offers some college application fee waivers. Here are their criteria: https://www.nacacfairs.org/learn/fee-waiver/fee-waiver-eligibility/
Contact with your RCHS counselor if you think you qualify for a NACAC fee waiver.
Additional Tips
Applying to schools on the Common App? You can also request a fee waiver directly through the application for any schools using this application. https://appsupport.commonapp.org/applicantsupport/s/article/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-the-Common-App-fee-waiver
The College Essay Guy has prepared a handy guide to application fee waivers that includes some additional tips and suggestions. Check it out here: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/college-application-fee-waiver
Some private or out of state schools will give you a code to use if you email their admissions office and ask. Explain your situation and why a fee waiver would be helpful, and they might be able to provide you one!
Some schools offer fee waivers to students that attend info sessions or college visits. Always ask if they don't mention it!