College Application - Fee Waivers

Guide to Fee Waivers

This is a general guide to how fee waivers work. Please keep in mind that different schools have different policies, so if you’re not sure how a specific school uses fee waivers, check with an admissions representative or your counseling staff and college adviser to make sure you won’t pay any fees!

You’ll generally be eligible for a fee waiver* if you fulfill one of the following guidelines:

  • You’re enrolled in or eligible for the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program.
  • Your family income meets the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
  • You’re enrolled in a program that aids students from low-income families, like Upward Bound.
  • Your family receives public assistance.
  • You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
  • You’re a ward of the state or an orphan.
  • You can provide a supporting statement from an official of your financial eligibility.
There are several types of fee waivers.  Below is information about many of them.  When in doubt, contact the school to which you are applying and ask.

Type

How it works

Common Application

When filling out an application on the Common App, you’ll be asked if you fit one of the above criteria (free/reduced lunch will cover it). You’ll sign electronically, and the counselor you put on your app will confirm this. If you received any other form of waiver to apply to this school, you should indicate it here.

College Board

If you registered for the SAT with a fee waiver, you will automatically receive 4 fee waivers once you receive your SAT score from the test you registered for.

NACAC

Mark down on an application that you will be paying with a check. You will then need to inform your counselor that you need a waiver sent to that school. You can use up to 4 NACAC waivers.

Code

You will have to use a specific code either in the Common App or on the school’s online website to waive your fee for the month of October.

Website

Some schools have a specific website that you can use in order to have your fee waived. You will need to send your application through this specific URL.

College Rep

You your counselor will have to contact a college representative to either get your fee waived or see if you qualify for a waiver.

No Fee

Some schools already have a free application. There is no need to pay any application fee.

 

Schools with Free Online Applications Year-Round

The following two or four year schools in Michigan have allowed students to apply for free.  Check each school's website to see if that policy is still in effect.

Adrian College
 Albion College
 Alma College
 Alpena Community College (CC)
Aquinas College
 Bay College
 Calvin College (Waived before November 15th)
College for Creative Studies
 Concordia University
 Cornerstone University
 Delta College
 Ferris State University
 Finlandia University
 Glen Oaks CC
 Grace Christian University
 Grand Rapids CC
 Henry Ford College
 Hillsdale College
 Jackson College
 Kalamazoo College
 Kalamazoo Valley CC
 Kellogg CC
 Kettering University
 Kirtland CC
 Kuyper College
 Lake Michigan College
 Lake Superior State University
 Lansing CC
 Macomb CC
 Madonna University
 Michigan Technological University
 Mid Michigan College
 Monroe County CC
 Montcalm CC
 Mott CC
 Muskegon CC
 North Central Michigan College
 Northwood University
 Oakland CC
 Oakland University
 Olivet College
 Rochester University
 Schoolcraft College
 Siena Heights University
 Southwestern Michigan College
 Spring Arbor University
 St. Clair County CC
University of Detroit Mercy
 University of Michigan - Flint
 University of Michigan - Dearborn
 Washtenaw CC
 Wayne County CC District
 West Shore CC

* Every college or university will not necessarily accept a fee waiver.  If you’re unsure, check out a university’s website, contact admissions, or ask a counselor to help you determine if you’ll be able to use a fee waiver.