AACOMAS Application Fees and Fee Waivers

AACOMAS charges $198 for the first program you apply to and $57 for each additional program.

Some programs may have an additional supplemental fee; contact your programs to learn if they require this and how to pay it.

Fee Waiver Program

Beginning at the start of the cycle, a limited number of fee waivers are provided to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis. Each fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance. If you received a fee waiver during a previous cycle, you may still apply for another in the next cycle.

Qualification Requirements

Review the fee waiver qualification requirements for Dependent Applicants and Independent Applicants below. You must request a fee waiver before you submit your application. Requests received after an application has been submitted will not be honored.

If you are approved for a fee waiver, you are required to submit your application within 14 days (including holidays and weekends). Extensions will not be granted; failure to submit your application on time will void your fee waiver and you will not be allowed to reapply for a waiver.

Dependent Applicants

Applicants who are listed as a dependent on a parent or guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 are classified as Dependent Applicants. AACOM requires you to submit that individual's Federal Income Tax Return instead of your own.

You qualify for a fee waiver if your parent/guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040 has an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Levels.

Independent Applicants

Applicants who are not listed as a dependent on a filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 are classified as Independent Applicants. AACOM requires you to submit both your and your parent or guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040.

Review the table below to learn if you qualify for a fee waiver. Note that this table refers to the adjusted gross income on the 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040.

. and your parent/guardian's 1040 is below the Low Income Levels,

. and your parent/guardian's 1040 is above the Low Income Levels,

If your 1040 is below the Low Income Levels.

then you qualify for a fee waiver.

then you do not qualify for a fee waiver.

If your 1040 is above the Low Income Levels.

then you do not qualify for a fee waiver.

then you do not qualify for a fee waiver.

If you selected the Deceased, Incarcerated, or Legally Emancipated exceptions for submitting your parent/guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040, then your request will be reviewed based on your filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040 that has an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Levels.

If you selected the Other Extenuating Circumstances exception for submitting your parent/guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return 1040, then AACOM will review your fee waiver request. Be aware that your request might take more than 10 business days to process.

Low Income Levels for 2024-2025 Cycle Awards*

If applicable, use the following chart to help you determine if you come from an economically disadvantaged background.

For each additional person add:

The low income level is based on 200 percent of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. It is used to determine what constitutes a low-income family for the purposes of the SDS and LDS programs.

* Size of family means the number of exemptions listed on the qualified income tax return forms. For example, a family size of 4 may include two parents and two dependents.

** Income Level refers to the adjusted gross income stated on the federal income tax return 1040.

Applying for a Fee Waiver

Determine when to apply for your waiver.

Keep in mind that fee waivers are limited and only valid for 14 days (including holidays and weekends) from the time you are approved. Be ready to submit your application if you are approved.

Start your AACOMAS application.

You must have an account to apply for a fee waiver. Fee assistance applications are not accepted by mail or email.

Start your fee waiver application.

  1. Click on your name in the upper right corner of the application, then select Fee Assistance Program.
  2. Select whether you were considered Independent or Dependent on your 2023 Federal Income Tax Return.

If you selected Independent:

  1. Enter your household's adjusted gross income for 2023 and the current number of members in your household. This includes all people claimed as dependents.
  2. Upload a copy of your filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040. You must upload the full tax return form; summary printouts are not accepted.
  3. Enter your parent/guardian household's adjusted gross income for 2023 and the number of members in their household. This includes all people claimed as dependents. If you cannot provide this information, indicate the reason and enter an explanation in the field provided.
  4. Upload your parent/guardian's filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040. You must upload the full tax return form; summary printouts are not accepted.

If you selected Dependent:

  1. Enter your household's adjusted gross income for 2023 and the current number of members in your household. This includes all people claimed as dependents.
  2. Upload your parent/guardian’s filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 where you are listed as a dependent. You must upload the full tax return form; summary printouts are not accepted.

Submit your fee assistance application.

  1. Click the checkbox to indicate that you read and understand the fee waiver process and that you uploaded the appropriate documentation.
  2. Click Submit.

Once you submit your fee waiver request, it can take up to seven business days to process. The status of your request will be sent to both your email address and your application inbox.

While your fee waiver request is pending, you are unable to submit your application. To submit your application and forfeit your waiver request, return to the Fee Assistance Program section and click Cancel Request. Once you submit your application, you are ineligible to apply for another fee waiver.

Submit your application and pay any remaining balance.

If you are approved, the waiver amount of $198 will be automatically deducted from your total fees, and you are responsible for any remaining balance. Contact customer service immediately if you do not see the waiver amount deducted.

Remember to submit your application within 14 days of your approval (including holidays and weekends). Outstanding transcripts, evaluations, and/or test scores do not have to be received within this timeframe.

Coupon Codes

Some programs provide coupons that offset application fees. If you received a coupon code from your program, use the information below to apply it to your payment.

Note that you cannot redeem a program’s coupon code after you submit your application to them. Additionally, if you miss a program deadline due to waiting for a coupon code, you must request a deadline extension from your program, not AACOMAS.

Using a Coupon Code

You can apply your coupon code(s) when you are ready to submit your application.

  1. Click the Submit Application tab at the top of the application.
  2. Click Submit, or to submit to more than one program, click Submit All.
  3. On the payment page, enter the coupon code(s) you received from the program(s) under Apply Coupon.
  4. Click the Apply Coupon button.
  5. Complete the rest of the payment details pages.

Note the following:

If you used a coupon code when submitting to a program, the code will be listed under Payment History.

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