Hey everyone, money's a bit tight at home right now and I heard something about an ACT test fee waiver. Can anyone give me some insights about how this works, the eligibility criteria and how I can apply for one? Thanks in advance!
The ACT Fee Waiver is indeed a fantastic resource for students facing financial hardship who plan to take the ACT. If granted, the waiver will cover the entire cost of the ACT (no writing) or ACT (with writing) exam.
In terms of eligibility, you must:
- Be currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
- Be testing in the United States, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
Moreover, you also must meet one or more of the indicators of economic need listed below:
- Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school, based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) income levels.
- Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example, a federally funded program such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound). Note: If the student participates in a program, but is not economically disadvantaged, they are not eligible for a fee waiver.
- Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless.
- Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally subsidized public housing.
- Family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or reduced-price lunches on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
The waiver application process generally requires you to consult your school guidance counselor or another authorized school official. If you meet the eligibility requirements, your counselor will be able to provide you with a waiver form. A few things to notice - fee waivers are limited in number (4 per student) and they do not cover changes in registration, such as test date or test center changes. Missing out on your scheduled test without officially changing the date through ACT may result in using up your waiver without the test benefit.
Additionally, the fee waiver provides other benefits including free test score reports to up to 6 colleges, and free access to a test prep product from ACT.
Lastly, it's crucial to begin the process well before your intended test date to ensure sufficient time for the processing of your request. Good luck with your ACT preparation and testing!
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