Your Guide to SAT Fee Waivers

The costs associated with applying to college can quickly add up and taking advantage of the SAT fee waiver program can help you save money. At College Board, we believe that there should be no cost barriers for students applying to colleges. This post will provide you with key details on this program: who qualifies, what fees are waived, what fees are not waived, how to access your fee waiver, and more.

What Does an SAT Fee Waiver Cover?

Your SAT fee waiver lets you take two free SATs and receive two free Answer Services reports for explanations of how you performed on a test and how you can improve. Not sure what an Answer Services report is? Read more about them for a full explanation of these services.

Your fee waiver covers the cost of two SAT registrations. If you register after the regular deadline but before the late registration deadline, late fees will also be waived. Most students improve their scores when they take the SAT again, so you’ll want to take advantage of both registrations. For example, take the SAT the first time in the spring of your junior year, and then again in the fall of your senior year. If your school offers the SAT for free on a school day, you can still use your fee waivers to take the SAT two more times on a weekend. 

Score higher by retaking the SAT, along with using free, personalized practice on Khan Academy. 

Students who use an SAT fee waiver also get free unlimited score sends to colleges, waived application fees at participating colleges, and unlimited CSS Profile application fee waivers to apply for financial aid from participating colleges.

What an SAT Fee Waiver Doesn’t Cover

This program does not waive fees for other College Board programs, like Advanced Placement® Exams. Also, if you register for the SAT and then change your test date you will be charged a fee as the SAT fee waiver does not cover these changes. Additionally, you will have to pay a fee for rushed scores or receiving scores over the phone.

Am I Eligible for an SAT Fee Waiver?

SAT fee waivers are available to low-income 11th and 12th graders in the U.S. or U.S. territories. U.S. citizens living outside the country may be able to have test fees waived. 

You're eligible if you say "yes" to any of the following:

• You’re enrolled in or eligible to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
• Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
• You’re enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., Federal TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
• Your family receives public assistance.
• You live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home or are homeless.
• You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

Check with your counselor if you’re not sure whether you fall into one of these categories. Once you’ve confirmed your fee waiver eligibility, you’ll have access to your full set of fee waiver benefits. You won’t need to ask your school counselor for more fee waivers.

How Do I Get an SAT Fee Waiver?

If you have not used a fee waiver in the past, check with your counselor to see if you qualify and they will assist you in getting a fee waiver.

If you’re homeschooled, you can get a fee waiver by contacting a local high school counselor. You will just need proof of eligibility, such as tax records, or proof of enrollment in an aid program.

How Do I Register Using an SAT Fee Waiver?

If you took PSAT/NMSQT or SAT on a school day, your College Board account should already reflect your fee waiver benefits. You'll just need to take a few simple steps to accept your benefits. If your counselor has given you a fee waiver, you'll input the 12-digit fee waiver code when you register for the SAT. After your registration is complete, you will see your full set of fee waiver benefits online and will automatically have access to all the benefits. You won't need to enter this code again.

If you don't enter a fee waiver code when registering, you can enter your code during score release to access these benefits. Remember: you’ll only need to confirm your fee waiver once with your counselor, and you'll be good to go to access the full set of benefits as long as you’re in high school.

Not Sure What the Next Step Is?

If you haven’t already, get in touch with your school counselor and see if you qualify for a fee waiver. Even if you don’t know for sure, we recommend talking to your counselor to find out what you’re eligible to receive.

Not registered for the SAT yet? The SAT is offered multiple times a year, so you can choose the date that best fits your schedule. See all the dates the SAT is offered and sign up today.

For more free SAT resources, take a look at Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy^® and our printable SAT practice tests. 

Want to learn more about fee waivers? Check out additional information on the SAT fee waiver program.