Costs
Testing and applying to college can cost money, and fee waivers exist so that cost does not keep a student out. This guide describes in general terms how SAT fee waivers work. College Board sets the rules and they change, so use this to know what to ask and use College Board and your school counselor for the current details.
A fee waiver lets an eligible student take the SAT without paying the registration fee. College Board describes what a waiver includes on its site. In the past, it has also covered additional items such as sending score reports to colleges and fee waivers for college applications. Because the contents of a waiver can change, confirm what yours includes.
Eligibility is based on financial need. Students often qualify through indicators such as participation in a free or reduced-price lunch program, or through household income guidelines, or because their family receives certain public assistance. College Board publishes its current criteria. Your school counselor is usually the person who confirms eligibility and provides the waiver.
Do this early, since registration deadlines come before test dates.
The ACT has its own fee waiver for eligible students, with its own rules. Many colleges also waive application fees for students who have financial need, and common application platforms include a way to request a waiver that a counselor typically confirms. These are separate from an SAT waiver, so ask about each one.
A waiver may not cover every cost around testing, such as travel to a test center or a device if you do not have one. Ask your counselor or school whether devices are available for the test, and whether your school offers a school-day test. College Board lists current options on its site.
For help beyond testing, the scholarship search and the FAFSA guide cover paying for college itself.
A waiver makes retaking less costly, but time is still limited. Decide on a plan before you register for a second date. Our guide to retaking the SAT offers a short way to choose, and when to take the SAT lays out a typical timeline.
College Board sets the criteria, and your school counselor usually confirms eligibility and provides the waiver.
It has in the past offered related benefits, but the contents change. Ask your counselor and check College Board for the current terms.
Yes, the ACT has its own fee waiver for eligible students. Ask your counselor, and see the ACT website for current rules.
Last reviewed 2026-10-14. This guide is general information, not advice for your situation. Test and admissions policies change, so check the official College Board, ACT or college page for the current rule.
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