Educators

Fee Waivers and Low Income Students

          Fee waivers!   It seems that every year when I go back into my high schools, I get the same questions about fee waivers. I work for a TRIO program and since almost 100% of my students qualify for fee waivers, the schools I serve consider me somewhat of an expert in this matter.  So, let us discuss fee waivers.

       What waivers do students qualify for and what are the guidelines?  First let us determine the different kinds of fee waivers.  Then who gives them out and therefore determines who is eligible to receive the waivers.  This might seem simple but not so.

        Basically, fee waivers are available for three different venues: college admissions testing programs (College Board and ACT), financial aid applications, most notably for the College Board Profile and college admissions applications.  You might think there would use a uniform guideline for granting waivers, but this is far from the case.

First, let me explain some different income guidelines. 

Trio programs guidelines are 150% of poverty as established by the US Census Bureau and published annually by the US Department of Health and Human services.  Further, TRIO uses taxable income which is the figure upon which parents pay taxes; this is not to be confused with adjusted gross income.  As an example, a family of 4 with an adjusted gross income of $52,800 has in reality a taxable income of $30,000 (assuming no itemized deductions).  That family qualifies for a TRIO program.

Free and reduced lunch guidelines are determined by the US Department of Agriculture.  These programs count all income, both taxed and untaxed.  It also counts all income that is earned by anyone in the household even if not related such as a significant other, grandparent or an older or younger working sibling.  For the reduced lunch program, the income for a family of 4 is $25,155.

Now, let us talk specifics. 

The College Board AP fee waiver program uses the same guidelines as the Department of Agriculture. (When College Board AP fee waivers are used in conjunction with AP money available from the AP State Initiative program, student can often get 100% of the AP test fee waived.)

The College Board PSAT/SAT reasoning/SAT subject area test fee waivers use either free and reduced lunch guidelines orqualifying programs such as TRiO and/or GEAR UP.  When students register online for the SAT, it will prompt them with 5 questions to determine eligibility.

The College Board Profile fee waivers use the free and reduced lunch guidelines with an additional asset qualifier.  College Board grants fee waivers after the students and parent enter credit card informnation and after they determone eligibility. 

The ACT uses some combination of all three; however participation in a TRIO program is also sufficient for a waiver.

Individual colleges offer admissions fee waivers and each has their own eligibility criteria.

     By sharing this information, I hope that all parties can better understand the confusion that exists regarding fee waiver eligibility.  I know that our goal in Vermont's TRiO programs is the same; to help the students get the waivers they need and deserve and move on to college.  The College Board and NACAC are currently in the process of exploring a better way to simplfy the fee waiver process. They will be seeking input at the NACAC National conference as well as at regional meetings of the College Board.  I hope that we as professionals will take an active interest in this dialogue and that there will eventually be an agreement as to what guidelines to use.

This info piece was written by Steve McGrath Lead Outreach Advisor for Educational Talent Search/UNH a TRiO program, Edited by Carolyn Julian Associate Director ETS/UNH, with help and support from Julie–Shields Rutyna, the College Board, Charles Parmalee, ACT, David Hawkins NACAC, Thanks to all