Registration and policies
Who is eligible for an SAT fee waiver?
SAT fee waivers are for eligible low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the US or US territories, and eligible US citizens living abroad. Qualifying benefits include two SAT registrations and unlimited score reports.
The qualifying criteria
College Board lists several ways to qualify; you need at least one applicable criterion, plus the grade and location/citizenship requirements.
- Enrollment in, or eligibility for, the federal National School Lunch Program.
- Family income within the current USDA income eligibility guidelines.
- Enrollment in a qualifying low-income aid program, such as Upward Bound.
- Family receipt of public assistance.
- Being unhoused, living in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home, or being a ward of the state or an orphan.
Free lunch and adoption questions
A student eligible for the federal lunch program can qualify even if the family is not using that benefit. If the school offers meals free to everyone, confirm the student’s individual eligibility rather than treating universal free meals as proof.
Adoption by itself is not a listed qualifying criterion. Current foster-home status, public assistance, income, or another listed condition may qualify. Ask the counselor which criterion and documentation apply to your situation.
Which household income limit applies?
Use the school-year USDA table for your household size and region. For July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, the annual reduced-price meal limit for a nine-person household in the 48 contiguous states, DC, Guam, and territories is $113,590: the eight-person limit of $103,082 plus $10,508 for one additional member. The nine-person limits are $141,988 in Alaska and $130,611 in Hawaii.
These are reduced-price National School Lunch Program income limits, which help check the lunch-program eligibility route to an SAT waiver. Compare annual income with an annual limit, and use USDA’s income definitions, including income before deductions. Other listed qualifying criteria can apply without this calculation.
There is no SAT score requirement for the waiver. Ask your counselor which eligibility route and documentation fit your household; do not use a previous school year’s threshold.
Request and confirm the benefit
Ask your counselor about a fee waiver code, or use College Board’s request process if eligible. US citizens abroad should use the school-code route rather than assuming the US online request process applies to them.
After the benefit is attached to your account, confirm it appears before paying for registration. The benefit also removes late registration and cancellation charges for the free tests. College application fee waivers apply at participating colleges; that is not a promise that every application fee is waived. A US student testing abroad pays no international fee for the free tests. College Board issues fee-waiver benefits only once during high school; if you cancel a free registration, the unused benefit is returned to you.