Let’s be realistic, the GRE fee is not cheap, especially if you fail the test the first time. In these situations, students have to part with an extra amount of money to take the test again. Something like this could be a big problem for those on a tight budget.
In order to help students pay less for the GRE, I’ve decided to create this guide. I hope it will give you useful information about alternative financial aids to offset the majority of the fee.
4 Ways How Can You Get Financial Help for the GRE
Paying for the GRE test can be costly, especially for unenrolled college graduates and those who are unemployed and receiving unemployment reimbursement.
The GRE fee should not prevent anyone from pursuing their academic goals. Here is how you may get financial assistance for the GRE:
1. Fee Reduction Programs
A student seeking financial help might consider a GRE fee reduction program that can lower the cost of the GRE exam. These programs are valid for US citizens and residents.
National Students Aid
US candidates qualify for the GRE test fee reduction from the Department of Education. Before you qualify for this type of GRE fee reduction, you must meet the eligibility requirements. Also, make sure to check how much financial aid you can receive.
GRE Fee Reduction Voucher
US test takers that need financial assistance can apply for the GRE Fee Reduction Program that ETS offers.
However, when applying for this fee reduction program, you must demonstrate financial need. If you use the GRE general or GRE subject test voucher, you will have to pay only 50% of the regular test fee. However, you can use the voucher for only one GRE general test or one GRE subject test.
If you successfully qualify for the fee reduction program from ETS, you will also receive free access to POWERPREP PLUS Online Practice tests and ScoreItNow Online Writing Practice [1].
2. National Programs
Another option is to look for national programs that waiver the GRE fee. The waiver offers limited support to students. However, you must demonstrate the need for financial aid first.
Many schools offer GRE fee reduction vouchers, and the general and subject test voucher users pay nothing for practice material.
Test takers get free access to an online practice test from multiple educational testing service centers. Here is a list of some programs that waiver the test fee:
- College of Basic and Applied Science
- College of Education
- College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
- College of Liberal Arts
3. Institutions
Test takers might need financial help for the GRE general test or subject test, especially when they are undergraduates.
Institutions only provide financial aid for the GRE exam on a first-served basis, and before applying, you should confirm with your institution that this type of aid is available.
Some institutions also offer waivers on online practice tests, especially for first-generation college students.
The institutions may offer full financial support to test takers depending on the graduate study or other factors that might prove the need for financial aid, such as those receiving unemployment compensation.
Below are some institutions that offer the GRE fee reduction vouchers:
- Texas A&M University
- University of Illinois
- University of Minnesota Robotics Institute
- Kent State University
4. Competitions
When seeking financial help for the GRE test, competitions and contests are usually overlooked.
Those who attend and participate in organized contests sometimes may be awarded a fee reduction certificate.
Qualifying test takers from contests and competitions might get full access to online writing practice materials, get their study materials paid for along with a complete exam fee.
Below are some institutions that offer the GRE fee reduction vouchers:
- Texas A&M University
- University of Illinois
- University of Minnesota Robotics Institute
- Kent State University
How Do You Know if You Qualify for a GRE Waiver?
You can qualify for the GRE waiver by filling in the institutional student information report on the ETS website.
You need to ensure you meet these criteria:
- You are a US citizen
- You are a permanent US resident
- You are dependant on a parental contribution of less than $2,500 per month. Don’t forget to attach the institutional student information report for verification.
- You are a self-sufficient student with less than $3,000 monthly income. In this case, you must provide supporting evidence.
- You must have applied for financial help or are currently receiving financial assistance through an undergraduate college.
How to Apply for GRE Waiver
If you have limited finances, but want to take the GRE general test or subject test, here’s how to apply for the waiver:
- Visit your institution's financial office for guidance.
- Request for a fee reduction certificate. When requesting a fee reduction certificate, make sure to attach supporting evidence indicating you need financial assistance.
- Follow the procedure suggested by the financial officer when filling your form.
- Lastly, attach your student school report with the GRE national programs waiver application form and send it to the indicated email.
NOTE: When you fail to follow instructions or fill out the form incorrectly, you might not get a GRE waiver.
Claiming the GRE Financial Aid
Taking a GRE test can be expensive if your budget is limited. Luckily, you don’t have to pay the entire fee as you can get GRE financial help.
If you demonstrate the financial need, you may be eligible for GRE fee reduction if you meet the eligibility requirements mentioned above.
Besides getting your fee reduced, you can also get access to POWERPREP Plus online practice tests and ScoreItNow online writing practice.
References:
- https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/register/fees/reductions
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