The Office of Graduate Education provides Institute-level application fee waivers for participants of the specific programs listed below. To be eligible, you must provide the required documentation at the time of application. Go to “How to Request a Waiver” for more information.
If you don't meet the criteria for an Institute-level waiver, we encourage you to reach out directly to the graduate program you are applying to. They may have department-level fee waivers or other options available.
Institute-Level Fee Waivers
Applicants with Financial or Other Hardship
Federal Pell Grant recipient
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, provide a screenshot from your Federal Student Aid account showing your Pell Grant disbursement within the last two years. Your name must be visible in the top right corner of the screen. You can access this info by clicking "View Details" under "My Aid." Select "Grants" and scroll to "Pell Grants by Year."
Perkins or other subsidized loan recipient
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, provide a screenshot from your Federal Student Aid account showing your Perkins or other subsidized loan disbursement within the last two years. Your name must be visible in the top right corner of the screen. You can access this info by clicking "View Details" under "My Aid." Select "Loans," "View Breakdown," "View Loans," and take a screenshot of the Perkins or other subsidized loan details.
SAI or EFC of less than $2,000
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- From your most recent FAFSA Application, upload a screenshot showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) or Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of less than $2,000. Your name or other unique identifier must be visible. FAFSA must be less than two years old.
SNAP, SSI, TANF, or WIC recipient
Website(s):
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official award letter showing that you received benefits under one of these programs within the past six months. Your name or other unique identifier must be visible.
GRE Fee Reduction recipient
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the email showing that your request for an official GRE Fee Reduction Voucher was approved within the past 12 months. Your name or other unique identifier must be visible.
Residing in FEMA Declared Disaster Areas
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload a screenshot from FEMA locations showing your city, state, or zip, the named disaster, and active dates within six months.
Residing in regions under crisis (war or natural disasters)
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload a document indicating that you are requesting an application fee waiver due to a crisis in your region (war or natural disasters) within the past six months.
International Applicants:
- F and J visa applicants should first contact their graduate program about department-level application fee waivers.
- The Office of Graduate Education does not review or approve requests based on financial hardship for international applicants.
Applicants from Qualifying Programs
DOCNET Recruiting Forum
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email indicating current membership that began at least 12 months prior to the submission of your waiver request.
- If you attended a conference within the past 12 months, upload a copy of the badge with your name or other unique identifier visible.
GEM Fellowship Program
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- Email the Georgia Tech GEM fellowship representative at gtgem@coe.gatech.edu stating that you are requesting consideration for an application fee waiver as a GEM Fellowship applicant. In the email, be sure to include (1) whether you are a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident and (2) include the chosen degree program you are applying to. After you receive the reply that confirms you as an eligible GEM applicant, you must upload that email confirmation with your fee waiver request. Without this specific documentation, your request will be denied.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being confirmed by the Tech GEM Fellowship Representative as an eligible GEM applicant, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
GT-ENGAGES
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from GT-ENGAGES verifying active participation within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
GT-EQUAL
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Bridge program verifying active participation within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
GT-ESTEEMED
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from GT-ESTEEMED verifying active participation within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
GT FOCUS
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from the GT FOCUS Program confirming your selection into the program for the same year that you intend to start your graduate education.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being selected into the FOCUS Program, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
Fulbright Scholar
Documentation Needed:
In the online application, upload the official Fulbright Program letter verifying active enrollment within the past 12 months.
McNair Scholar
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from your McNair Program Coordinator verifying active enrollment as a current undergraduate student within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
National Name Exchange (NNE)
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official email from the Council of Graduate School's National Name Exchange program showing you successfully registered for the NNE within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Awardee
Website:
You must be listed on the current year's Graduate Research Fellowship Program Award Offers and Honorable Mentions List to qualify for this fee waiver.
Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
NSF REU
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from NSF REU or an approved NSF REU site, verifying active participation within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering/Sciences (SURE)
Website:
Documentation Needed:
- In the online application, upload the official letter or email from GT SURE verifying active participation within the past 12 months.
- Please Note: If you pay the application fee prior to being approved for a fee waiver, you will not be eligible for an application fee refund.
Other Qualifying Applicants
Approved Georgia Tech bilateral exchange partners
Your application will qualify for a waiver of the fee based on the school information you provide in the application.
U.S. Veterans and U.S. Military Service Members
Documentation Needed:
- Active Military or Reservist: In the online application, upload a copy of your Enlisted or Officer Record Brief (ERB/ORB) or a copy of your current military orders
- Veterans: In the online application, upload a copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) showing Honorable Character of Service on line 24
- Reservists: In the online application, upload NGB 22
First-generation college students
Qualifications:
- Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident and neither parent has earned a bachelor's degree (or equivalent).
Your application will be reviewed based on information you provide in the online application.
How to Request a Waiver
Requesting an application fee waiver is part of the online graduate admission application. Please follow these steps carefully to guarantee the efficient processing of your fee waiver request.
Please note that the limit is one approved institute-level application fee waiver request per application year. If you received one for any 2025 admission application term, you will not be eligible to receive another until a 2026 application term or later.
- Confirm your eligibility for the requested fee waiver.
- Ensure you submit valid documentation at the time of application. Inadequate documentation will result in the denial of your fee waiver request.
- A decision on your fee waiver request will be communicated via email within 5-10 business days, along with any additional steps you need to follow.
Do not pay the application fee before receiving a decision on your waiver request. The application fee is non-refundable. As long as you have submitted your waiver request before the graduate program's deadline, your admission application will be counted as on time. If your waiver request gets approved, your admission application will then be queued for review by your chosen program. If your waiver request gets denied, you’ll be prompted to make payment before your admission application can be queued for review by your chosen program.