GSAS Application Fee Waivers

Eligibility for Fee Waivers

GSAS may grant an application fee waiver to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who meet at least one of the criteria listed below. Applicants who are citizen residents of a country on the United Nations’ List of Least-Developed Countries (LDC) may be eligible for an application fee waiver (Proof of citizenship must be submitted with the fee waiver request). International students who are not citizen residents of an LDC country are not eligible for a waiver of the application fee.

Please follow the application fee waiver request process outlined below. DO NOT email GSAS to request a fee waiver. All application fee waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis. Fee waivers are granted at the discretion of GSAS Admissions and are not guaranteed. Only one fee waiver per eligible applicant is permitted.

  • Applicants who are currently serving in the military or who are veterans may be eligible for an application fee waive. Submit copies of any one of the following with your fee waiver request:

    • Active Duty Orders
    • Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214, 215 or 256)
    • Military ID Card (active duty, National Guard, Reserves, IRR, or retiree).
    • VA Issued ID Card for Health Care
    • Veterans ID Card
    • Driver’s License with Veterans Designation or State Veterans ID Card
    • Veterans Group Membership Card

  • GSAS may grant an application fee waiver to U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program and who submit official documentation that demonstrates financial need. Applicants can submit one or more of the following to demonstrate financial need:

    1. An official letter that verifies your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), signed by you and a financial aid officer at your current institution.
    2. A copy of your FAFSA Submission Summary (available from the FAFSA website).
    3. A copy of your most current U.S. federal income tax return (Form 1040).

    GSAS reserves the right to request additional information beyond the above.

  • GSAS may also grant an application fee waiver on the basis of participation in certain programs within the last two years. Applicants must provide documentation of participation or affiliation, and include dates of participation. Applicable programs and/or affiliations include the following: 

    • American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
    • American Political Science Association Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Program (RBSI)
    • Americorps
    • Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minorities Students (ABRCMS)
    • Bill and Melinda Gates Millennium Scholar
    • Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program
    • Cientifico Latino Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative (GSMI)
    • Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program (CSTEP)
    • Fulbright Scholars
    • Gates Millennium Scholar Program (GMS)
    • Healthcare Leaders of New York (HLNY)
    • Jackie Robinson Foundation
    • Jesuit Volunteer Corps Members
    • Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program
    • Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
    • McNair Scholars
    • Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Program
    • Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)
    • Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (RISE)
    • National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP)
    • National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE)
    • National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives (NALHE)
    • Peace Corps Volunteers
    • Project 1000 Scholars
    • Questbridge
    • Rutgers Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy
    • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
    • Teach for America
    • Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program
    • TRIO Scholars

  • GSAS may also grant an application fee waiver to applicants who are citizen residents of countries on the United Nations List of least-developed countries (LDC). Applicants must provide documentation of proof of citizenship/residency. Acceptable forms of documentation include:

    • Copy of Photo Page of Passport from an LDC.
    • Government-issued National Identity Card (must clearly show country of citizenship).
    • Birth Certificate (must be issued by the civil authority of the LDC country, and accompanied by an official English translation if not in English).
    • Consular Registration or Certificate from your country’s embassy/consulate abroad.
    • Government-issued refugee travel document (if applicable and lists country of origin).

How to Request an Application Fee Waiver

  1. Submit your completed online application. DO NOT PAY THE APPLICATION FEE. Please note that if you pay the application fee prior to receiving approval, we are unable to issue a refund.
  2. Log into your Application Status Page and click the link to the Application Fee Waiver Request form.
  3. Complete the form as directed and upload all verification documentation by the application deadline for your program of interest. 

All completed fee waiver requests will be reviewed by GSAS Admissions. Applicants will be notified of the decision only when all necessary documentation has been submitted. GSAS reserves the right to request additional information beyond the above. Failure to submit the completed request form with the proper documentation by the application deadline will result in an incomplete fee waiver request and require payment of the application fee. Fee waivers are not guaranteed. Applicants not approved for fee waivers must submit the non-refundable application fee online.