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Application Fee Waivers

Application Fee Waivers

Nearly 60% of all New York State high school seniors can apply to SUNY for free with application fee waivers.

Students may receive a maximum of seven application fee waivers. Fee waiver types include:

Financial Hardship
Military-Connected Students
EOP
Designated High Schools
AmeriCorps Alumni
Transfer
Download the Fee Waiver Request Form
Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an economic hardship fee waiver from the State University of New York, students must:

  • Meet the financial eligibility displayed on the chart below
  • Be a resident of New York State or citizen of the United States
  • Indicate on your application that you qualify for a financial fee waiver
Financial Eligibility Guidelines
Academic Year 2025-26
Household Size
(including head of household)		 Total Annual Income
1 $27,861
2 $37,814
3 $47,767
4 $57,720
5 $67,673
6 $77,626
7 $87,579
8 $97,532*
*For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $9,953 for each additional person.

 

Foster Care Fee Waiver

You’re eligible for an application fee waiver if:

  • You are in foster care as established by a court.
  • You are a ward of the state or a county

If you are seeking a foster care fee waiver, you should have your counselor certify your request for a fee waiver in the SUNY Application Manager. All other students seeking a foster care fee waiver should download the fee waiver request form and follow the instructions.

Download the Fee Waiver Request Form
Military Fee Waiver

You’re eligible for an application fee waiver if you qualify as one of the following:

  • Active-duty service member
  • National Guard or active Reserve member
  • Veteran
  • Spouse or dependent child of an active-duty, National Guard, active Reserve, or veteran sponsor
Download the Fee Waiver Request Form (Military)

Students applying to the Educational Opportunity Program can have up to seven application fees waived.

In order to obtain this waiver:

  • Indicate your interest in EOP on the SUNY Application
  • Complete the EOP Financial Information Form
  • Campus confirms that you are financially eligible for EOP
EOP Economic Eligibility Guidelines
Academic Year 2025-26
Household Size
(including head of household)		 Total Annual Income
1 $27,861
2 $37,814
3 $47,767
4 $57,720
5 $67,673
6 $77,626
7 $87,579
8 $97,532*
*For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $9,953 for each additional person.

INCOME GUIDELINES DO NOT APPLY IF:

  • The student's family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; or through a county Department of Social Services; or Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance;
  • The student is in foster care as established by the court;
  • The student is a ward of the state or county.
Automatic Application Fee Waivers

All students at designated public high schools across New York State can apply to up to seven SUNY schools for free.

Students at the designated schools do not need to request a fee waiver. It will be automatically applied in the SUNY Application.

List of eligible schools

What if my school is not listed?
If you do not attend a school listed above but your household income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level, you are also eligible for automatic economic hardship fee waivers for applications to up to seven SUNY schools.

If you are a high school student seeking an economic hardship fee waiver (see "Financial Hardship" tab), you should have your school counselor certify your eligibility for a fee waiver in the SUNY Application Manager.

How are the schools chosen for automatic fee waivers?
The automatic fee waiver policy applies to New York State public high schools where more than 75 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, measured on a three-year rolling basis. In total, it applies to more than 500 high schools across the state. It is updated annually.

AmeriCorps Alumni Fee Waiver

You’re eligible for an application fee waiver if you have completed service through AmeriCorps, including State or National, VISTA and NCCC programs.

Download the Fee Waiver Request Form (AmeriCorps)

Students graduating with an AA or AS from SUNY or CUNY, applying directly to a SUNY four-year campus, will have up to seven application fees waived.

In order to obtain this waiver:

  1. Indicate your AA or AS degree on the SUNY application when you apply
  2. On the payment screen select “Transfer Fee Waiver for Qualified Applicants”
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