Universities Without Application Fee in 2027
What is an Application Fee Waiver?
An application fee waiver allows eligible students to submit their graduate application without paying the standard application fee, or at a reduced cost. U.S. universities typically charge between $50 and $150 per application, so a waiver can lead to meaningful savings when applying to multiple programs.
Universities commonly offer fee waivers through:
- Admissions events, webinars, and information sessions
- Special waiver codes shared by the admissions office
- Demonstrated financial need
- Academic merit or strong profiles
- Program-specific or university-specific eligibility criteria
Eligibility requirements and waiver procedures vary by university and program.
Application Fee Waiver for Master's Programs in the U.S.
Applying to a master's program in the U.S. can be expensive, especially for students applying to multiple universities. Many universities offer application fee waivers to eligible applicants, helping reduce the overall cost of the application process.
This page provides university-wise application fee waiver updates for master's programs, based on information received from university admissions offices. Each update includes:
- Eligibility requirements
- Applicable programs
- Waiver codes, when available
- Steps to claim the waiver
Students should carefully review all requirements, instructions, and deadlines before applying. Fee waiver policies may change, so applicants should confirm the latest details directly with the university's official admissions office.
By reviewing university-specific requirements in advance, students can identify suitable opportunities, avoid missing deadlines, and save on application costs while applying to master's programs in the United States.
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1
New York University - Tandon School of Engineering
NYU Tandon School of Engineering is offering an application fee waiver to graduate applicants. Students can use the fee-waiver code TANDONBKLYN when completing their application. The code must be entered in the Supplemental Questions section of the application. Applicants should apply the code before submitting their application to ensure the fee is waived.
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2
University Of Pittsburgh - Katz Graduate School of Business
The Katz Graduate School of Business provides application fee waivers to eligible graduate applicants. Approved students receive a fee-waiver code directly from the admissions office. Applicants should enter the provided code while completing their graduate business application. The school also encourages prospective students to attend an admissions event to learn more about its programs.
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3
Cornell University - Johnson Graduate School of Management
Cornell Johnson offers application fee waivers to eligible MBA applicants and attendees of its virtual "Ask Admissions" events. Applicants must register using the same email address used for their MBA application. They must have an application in progress and attend the complete virtual session while logged in. Attendance is automatically recorded, and the fee waiver is generally applied within seven business days. Applicants should wait for the waiver to appear before submitting their application.
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4
Dartmouth College - Thayer School of Engineering
Dartmouth Engineering provides application fee-waiver information for applicants to its graduate programs. Students should review the official eligibility requirements before submitting their application. Prospective applicants may also attend a Dartmouth Engineering webinar to learn more about the waiver process. The email does not guarantee a waiver, so applicants must confirm their eligibility through the official admissions resources.
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Vanderbilt University - Owen Graduate School of Management
Vanderbilt MBA Admissions offers an application fee waiver to candidates who attend one of its virtual sessions. All prospective MBA applicants who participate in an eligible online event can receive the waiver. Students should register for an upcoming session through the official Vanderbilt MBA admissions portal. Applicants should attend the complete session and follow any instructions provided afterward to claim the waiver.
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University Of Virginia - Darden School of Business
UVA Darden charges a standard $250 application fee for its Full-Time MBA program. Applicants attending Darden-hosted webinars or selected partner events receive a $100 reduction, lowering the fee to $150. Those attending eligible in-person Darden events receive a $150 reduction, lowering the fee to $100. Complete fee waivers are available to applicants meeting selected criteria, including reapplicants, veterans, first-generation students and certain alumni. The reduction or waiver remains valid only for the application cycle in which it is granted.
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University Of Maryland - Graduate School
The University of Maryland offers a limited number of graduate application fee waivers, considered individually. Applicants should begin their online application but must not submit it before receiving a waiver decision. They must complete the official Graduate Application Fee Waiver Request Form before the program deadline. If approved, applicants can submit their application without paying the standard $90 fee. Approval is not guaranteed, and applicants may contact their specific graduate program for additional options.
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8
University Of Rochester - Simon Business School
Simon Business School offers application fee waivers to prospective MBA applicants through two available options. Students may attend a live Simon webinar or complete the school's Claim Your Free Waiver form. Upcoming events and webinars are listed on the official Simon Business School website. Applicants should complete either option and follow the admissions team's instructions to receive the fee waiver.
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9
Northeastern University
Northeastern University is waiving the application fee for all new applicants to its Master of Science and Graduate Certificate programs. The waiver applies to applications for the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 terms. Eligible students do not need to submit a separate fee-waiver request. Applicants should confirm that their selected program and admission term qualify before submitting the application.
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University Of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management
The Carlson School of Management provides information about MBA application fee waivers through its admissions team. Prospective students should schedule an appointment with the team or attend an MBA-specific event. During the appointment or event, applicants can learn about the available fee-waiver options and eligibility requirements. The email does not confirm an automatic waiver, so students should contact the MBA admissions team for further details.
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11
Indiana University - Kelley School of Business
The Kelley Full-Time +Flex MBA application for Fall 2027 does not require an initial application fee. Applicants can submit the first phase of the application free of charge. Kelley also provides Phase 2 fee waivers to candidates who attend its virtual roundtable discussions. These events are offered regularly throughout the year, so students should register early and plan before applying.
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12
Baylor University - Hankamer School of Business
Baylor University has currently waived the application fee for all of its MBA programs. Applicants do not need to submit a fee-waiver request or enter a promotional code. Students can begin and submit their MBA applications without paying an application fee. Applicants should confirm that the waiver remains available before completing their application.
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13
Southern Methodist University - Cox School of Business
The SMU Cox School of Business does not charge an application fee for any of its programs. Therefore, MBA applicants do not need to request an application fee waiver or use a waiver code. Students can submit their applications without paying an application fee. This makes the MBA application process more accessible and affordable for prospective students.
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14
Culinary Institute Of America
The Culinary Institute of America has provided an application fee-waiver code for prospective applicants. Students can use the code APPLY26 while completing their application. The code should be entered in the appropriate fee-waiver section before final submission. Applicants should contact the Admissions Department if the code does not apply successfully.
We will be updating this list as and when we find more universities waiving the GRE/GMAT requirement. Sign up to get notified of the same via email!
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Carnegie Mellon University - College of Engineering
At Carnegie Mellon University, application fee waivers for the College of Engineering are reviewed and granted by each department, not centrally. This means the eligibility rules and process can differ depending on the program you apply to. The admissions office has shared department-specific links for programs like Biomedical, Chemical, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Mechanical, and Materials Science and Engineering, along with Engineering and Public Policy, the Information Networking Institute, and the Integrated Innovation Institute. Applicants should visit the admissions page of their intended program to check the fee waiver guidelines, deadlines, and required documents before submitting their application.
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16
Brown University - School Of Engineering
Brown University allows graduate engineering applicants to request an application fee waiver directly through the online application. Students can find the fee waiver option in the Financial Information section of the application. Once logged into the application system, applicants can fill out their details there to request the waiver. There is no separate code or form mentioned, so students should complete this section before submitting their application.
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17
Rice University - Master Of Engineering Management and Leadership (MEML)
Rice University offers an application fee waiver for its Master of Engineering Management and Leadership (MEML) program. Any applicant who attends one of the program's info sessions is eligible to receive the waiver. Upcoming info session dates and times will be posted on the official program website: https://epmp.rice.edu/info-sessions#mem. Since the schedule is updated once sessions are confirmed, applicants should check the page regularly and register before applying.
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18
Harvard Business School (Harvard University)
Harvard Business School offers application fee waivers to eligible MBA applicants based on financial circumstances. Applicants must start their application and complete the waiver form at least two weeks before the deadline. Requests are generally processed within 7–10 business days.
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19
The Ohio State University – Fisher College of Business
The Fisher College of Business offers an application fee waiver to eligible applicants for its Full-Time MBA program. Students can complete the official fee-waiver request form to receive a promo code, which can be applied to their MBA application. Applicants should obtain and enter the waiver code before submitting their application and confirm the latest eligibility requirements with the admissions office.
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20
Carnegie Mellon University – College of Engineering
Carnegie Mellon University offers application fee waivers to graduate applicants through its individual engineering departments. The waiver process covers programs including Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and other engineering programs. Applicants should check their intended department’s requirements and submit any required waiver request before completing the application.
Frequently Asked Questions!
Students can get an application fee waiver through financial-need programs, university-sponsored events, information sessions, approved programs, or university-specific waiver codes. The process and eligibility requirements vary by university and program.
Applicants for an MS in the USA can look for program-specific fee-waiver forms, admissions events, promotional codes, and university-sponsored waiver programs. Some universities require applicants to request or receive approval before submitting the application.
Some U.S. universities or individual graduate programs may offer applications without a fee, while others provide fee waivers for eligible applicants. Students should check the current application requirements for their specific program because fee policies can differ across departments.
Yes. Some universities offer need-based application fee waivers to applicants who can demonstrate financial hardship. However, documentation requirements and eligibility restrictions differ by university, and some need-based waivers are limited to domestic applicants.
In many cases, yes. Some universities require applicants to receive approval or enter a waiver code before submitting the application and do not provide refunds after submission. Students should therefore confirm their waiver status before paying or submitting their application
Fee-waiver codes are usually provided through university admissions events, information sessions, recruitment programs, or directly by the admissions office. Some universities require applicants to complete a waiver request form instead of using a code.
Not always. Some fee waivers are need-based, while others are offered for attending admissions events, participating in specific programs, belonging to qualifying groups, or meeting university-specific criteria.
Some universities offer completely free applications, while others provide fee waivers during specific periods or to eligible applicants. Fall 2027 applicants should check individual university deadlines and waiver windows because these opportunities can be limited. For example, Rice has announced a Fall 2027 doctoral fee-waiver period open to eligible domestic and international students.
Yes, students may qualify for separate fee waivers at multiple universities, but each university has its own eligibility rules and application process. A waiver from one university does not automatically apply to another.
It is best to request a waiver well before the application deadline. Some universities require applicants to submit waiver requests several days or weeks in advance, and some have separate waiver deadlines. Stanford, for example, recommends submitting certain graduate waiver requests at least 10 business days before the program deadline
Yes, some universities offer fee-waiver opportunities to international students for Fall 2027. However, eligibility differs by university and program, so applicants should check whether the specific waiver is available to international applicants.
Application fees vary by university and program, with many graduate applications costing between $50 and $150 or more. Students applying to several universities can significantly reduce their total application expenses by using eligible fee waivers.
It depends on the university's policy. Some fee waivers apply to a single application, while others may cover multiple applications or specific programs. Applicants should check the waiver terms before submitting additional applications.
