The $75 nonrefundable application fee is required to complete your application. You may pay the application fee using a credit card when you submit your application for admission.

Fee Waiver

Fee waiver due to financial circumstances

As part of Washington University’s commitment to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students, we are happy to waive our $75 application fee when it presents a financial hardship. Please review the information below to see if you qualify for an application fee waiver. If you do qualify, simply indicate on the Common Application or Coalition Application that you qualify for a fee waiver. 

Any student who applies for financial assistance

We are happy to waive our $75 application fee for any student who applies for need-based financial assistance.

Students who participate in a college access organization

Organizations such as College Bound, Houston EMERGE, LEDA, QuestBridge, A Better Chance, Target H.O.P.E., and many other local, national, and international organizations.

Students who meet any of the requirements listed on the Common Application or Coalition Application

Common Application Requirements

Students using the Common Application can request a fee waiver on the Profile screen in the Common Application Fee Waiver section. Applicants must meet at least one of the following indicators of economic need:

You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.

You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).

Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).

Your family receives public assistance.

You live in a federally subsidized public housing, a foster home or are homeless.

You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

Coalition Application Requirements

Students using the Coalition Application will answer a brief series of questions while creating their Coalition profile, which will give an early indication of their ability to qualify for the application fee waiver. Students who receive free or reduced lunch in school, participate in a TRIO program, and/or qualify for fee waivers from the ACT, College Board, and/or NACAC will be eligible for the Coalition application fee waiver.

WashU fee waiver

WashU grants application fee waivers to students who are applying for need-based aid and to selected students who have attended an eligible academic program. Eligible students will have the opportunity to indicate that they have been granted a WashU Fee Waiver when they submit either the Common Application or the Coalition Application. We will verify your eligibility when we process your application for admission.

We also grant application fee waivers to U.S. veterans who are applying for first-year or transfer admission. Veterans of the U.S. military should indicate on their Common Application or Coalition Application that they are eligible for a WashU fee waiver and their applications should reflect previous military service.

Check your application status

If you request a fee waiver, you will be able to check the status of your fee waiver(s) when you log in to the WashU Pathway. Your application will not be complete until you pay the application fee or the application fee is waived. If you have any questions about the application fee or fee waiver, please contact your application processor.