Is the GRE Fee Reduction Program for You?

If you are just beginning your GRE prep and are concerned about the costs you may have to incur to study and take the GRE, there is a way to save some money through the GRE Fee Reduction Program. In this article, I’ll discuss who is eligible for the fee reduction and how to apply for it.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• What Is the GRE Fee Reduction Program?
• Am I Eligible for the Fee Reduction Program?
  • If You Are a College Senior
  • If you Are an Unenrolled College Graduate
  • If You Are Unemployed
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  First, let’s discuss the GRE Fee Reduction Program.

  What Is the GRE Fee Reduction Program?

  ETS offers a fee reduction program for those in financial need. With a fee reduction voucher, you can take the GRE General Test or GRE Subject Test for a discounted price. The GRE General Test fee is $100, instead of $220. Additionally, if you receive a GRE Fee Reduction voucher, you get free access to two POWERPREP PLUS practice exams and ScoreItNow, the Analytical Writing scoring service offered by ETS. The value of those additional items is $100.

  The GRE Fee Reduction Program allows recipients to take the GRE General for a reduced price and receive free prep materials.

  Am I Eligible for the Fee Reduction Program?

  GRE Fee Reduction Vouchers are generally available only to US citizens or resident aliens who are college seniors, college graduates currently not enrolled in school, or unemployed individuals. Let’s discuss the criteria necessary to qualify in each of the three cases.

  If You are a College Senior

  If you are in your senior year of college, to be eligible for the fee reduction, you must meet both of the following criteria:

  1. You receive financial aid through an undergraduate college located in the US, Puerto Rico, or any of the US Territories.
  2. You are a dependent who has a FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) report that shows a parental contribution of $2,700 or less for your senior year, OR you are self-supporting and have a SAR that shows you have contributed $3,200 or less for your senior year.

  If You Are an Unenrolled College Graduate

  If you are an unenrolled college graduate, you must meet the following criteria:

  1. You have applied for financial aid.
  2. You can produce a SAR that proves you are self-supporting and have contributed $3,200 or less.

  If You Are Unemployed

  If you are currently unemployed and plan to take the GRE in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the US Virgin Islands, you may also be eligible for a Fee Reduction Voucher. However, you need to meet the following criteria:

  1. You are a US citizen or resident alien and 18 years of age or older.
  2. Within the last 6 months, you became unemployed and are currently unemployed.
  3. You can provide a copy of your Unemployment Benefits Statement (no older than 90 days) to prove unemployment.

  A test-taker may qualify for the fee reduction if he or she is a college senior, an unenrolled college graduate, or currently unemployed.

  How to Apply to ETS for the GRE Fee Reduction Voucher

  If you meet the requirements for any of the three categories described above, you can apply directly to ETS for your GRE Fee Reduction voucher. You will need to fill out a fee reduction form and send in the appropriate supporting documentation, such as your FAFSA SAR or your unemployment paperwork.

  If ETS approves your fee reduction request, you will receive your GRE Fee Reduction Voucher within two weeks of the approval date. Note that you should not register for your test until after you have received the voucher.

  Do not register for your test until after you have received your fee reduction voucher.

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  Programs That Support Underrepresented Groups

  There are a number of programs and organizations that directly offer underrepresented test-takers GRE Fee Reduction Vouchers for the General Test. Remember that even if you are a part of one of the organizations below, you do not automatically qualify for a voucher. To learn more, you should reach out to staff members of the organization to which you belong. The full list of organizations offering the fee voucher:

  • Admit.me Fellows
  • Charles B. Rangel Fellowship Program
  • EducationUSA Opportunity Fund Program
  • Gates Millennium Scholars Program
  • Graduate Applications International Network (GAIN)
  • i-Scholar Initiative
  • Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT)
  • Leadership Brainery
  • Management Leadership for Tomorrow
  • Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) Program
  • MT Scholarship Program
  • National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science Program (GEM)
  • National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
  • NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program
  • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)
  • Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
  • The Beinecke Scholarship Program
  • TheDream.US
  • Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship Program
  • TRIO Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program
  • TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program

  One Final Option to Receive a Fee Voucher

  If you do not qualify for a Fee Reduction Voucher based on any of the criteria we’ve already discussed, there is one final option: ETS offers a GRE Prepaid Voucher Service, which allows any institution (such as an organization, school, or business) to purchase prepaid vouchers and distribute them at their discretion.

  Unlike the Fee Reduction Vouchers, these vouchers cover the entire cost of the GRE and any score report fees, and they are good for one year. These fee waiver vouchers are available to all GRE test-takers, including non-US citizens. While there is no list of who offers these vouchers, it certainly could not hurt to ask your school or place of employment whether vouchers are available. Even if they are not, perhaps you could convince the organization to purchase a voucher on your behalf.

  Two additional ways to receive a GRE fee reduction or a full-fee waiver are through private organizations or certain institutions that might offer a GRE prepaid voucher.

  How to Save Additional Money During Your GRE Prep

  Going to graduate school is expensive, so if you are concerned about GRE fees, there are things you can do to save money besides applying for a fee reduction.

  Shop around for your prep materials. While many GRE courses can cost thousands, there are far less expensive self-study options. For example, the Target Test Prep GRE Course is just $149 per month, and you can purchase 6-month packages for a significant discount.

  The best way to save both time and money during your GRE prep is to make sure that you are ready to do your very best on test day. If you’re not well-prepared, you won’t perform at your best, and then you’ll have to retake the GRE, thus incurring an additional test fee.

  Furthermore, if for any reason you do not feel ready for your test date and have to reschedule your exam, you will incur another fee. By being ready, taking your test on your planned test date, and achieving your score goal, you certainly can save yourself some money.

  Another way to save money is at the test center. As soon as you accept your score at the end of the test, you can send your scores for free to your chosen graduate programs, thus saving $35 Additional Score Report (ASR) fee to send your scores at a later time. Note that you must pay 35 per score recipient.

  Taking the GRE a second time is expensive, so be sure that you are ready to do your absolute best the first time you take it!

  GRE Fee Reduction: Key Takeaways

  There are 3 ways to save money on registering for the GRE:

  1. The GRE Fee Reduction Program allows you to take the GRE and receive free prep materials for $100. To receive a Fee Reduction Voucher, you’ll have to meet specific criteria based on your current situation.
  2. If you are a member of an underrepresented group, many organizations offer GRE Fee Reduction Vouchers. If you are a member of one of the organizations listed above, reach out to the organization to learn how to receive a voucher.
  3. The GRE Prepaid Voucher Service allows institutions to purchase and distribute GRE vouchers that cover the full exam and Additional Score Report fees. Check with your school or employer to see if they have vouchers or are willing to purchase on your behalf.

  What’s Next?

  Now that you know how to apply for a waiver of your GRE registration fee, read more about how to register for your GRE as well as how to get started with your GRE prep. Good luck!