Requesting Fee Reduction/
Waivers

In order to minimize your expenses during this process, there are two types of fees for which it is worth your time to request reductions or full waivers: GRE test fees, and graduate program application fees. Making these requests is rarely straightforward, so make sure to stay organized and follow any instructions carefully to ensure you are fairly considered.

GRE Fee Reduction Program

For general information and up to date instructions, please read the ETS informational page on this program. This program is only available to US citizens and resident aliens who have completed a FAFSA for the current year and are qualified as senior undergraduates (many STEM students satisfy the credit requirements during their 3rd year). You will need to sign up for an ETS account before applying for the fee reduction. Note that no payment is required when applying - it is more convenient to wait until you have the voucher, and register/pay online through ETS at that time. In order to apply, you will need to mail to ETS:

We recommend that if you satisfy the credit requirements at any point during your junior year, that you apply for the voucher at that time.

Graduate Program Application Fee Waivers

Planning is extremely important for graduate application fees, because some programs and schools do not offer fee waivers at all. When you are initially searching programs and have narrowed down 10-15 that you have an interest in, that is the time to seek out information about their application fees. Every US graduate program in a STEM field will have some sort of website describing the type of research and training involved, as well as active faculty and current students. This is your first point of contact for each program, and (though it will sometimes be hard to find) should include information on whether fee waivers are available, and how to apply/ask for one. If it is not readily apparent, try to find an "application FAQs" section, as they usually contain key information about fees. Remember to keep this information organized in a spreadsheet to avoid confusion and having to look things up multiple times.

Typical ways that graduate programs handle fee waivers are:

  • Providing an online form that must be filled out 1-2 months before applications are due

  • Providing a form within the application itself, to be filled out during the application process

  • Specifying a person or email to contact with your circumstances (may be a department head or potential advisor, so be professional and polite)

  • Directing students to a national program like FreeApp

Most departments have a limited number of fee waivers available to them, so be sure to make your request as early as possible. Be prepared with alternatives if you are not able to get a fee waiver, and stay open minded. Many excellent programs you may not have considered are free to apply.