The Graduate School offers graduate application fee waivers and discounts for applicants who meet specific criteria. If you have questions about fee waivers or discounts that aren’t listed below, please contact the Graduate School.
Applying for a Fee Waiver or Discount
All waivers are requested and approved through the Graduate School application, with the exception of Need Based (International Applicants) and program specific waivers such as the Coverdell Fellows program.
Applicants answer a series of questions on the initial application screening to initiate the process of applying for a fee waiver or discount.
If an applicant is eligible to apply for a fee waiver or discount, the questionnaire will prompt them to provide further documentation.
The approval process is not automated. All requests are reviewed by Graduate School staff and are processed within 5 business days after submission of required documentation.
Requests are processed in the order received. A payment page indicates that a fee waiver has been denied or not yet processed.
Eligibility and Required Documentation
Application fee waivers or discounts are available to qualified applicants from the following categories but are not granted until the following steps are completed:
- Applicant has submitted all required documentation
- Applicant fee waiver request has been reviewed and approved as eligible by the Graduate School
Entire Application Fee Waived ($70 Domestic Applicant/$90 International Applicant)
| fee waiver Type | Eligibility | Required Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Need-Based (Domestic Applicants) | U.S. citizens, permanent residents or undocumented applicants with demonstrated financial need. Eligible recipients are either:
| Unemployment benefits statement dated within the previous three months or a signed and dated statement from caseworker verifying receipt of benefits within the previous three months OR A copy of part one of your FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) or a letter indicating your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from a financial aid representative at the institution where you are currently enrolled |
| Need-Based (International Applicants) | The Graduate School offers a limited number of fee waivers for international applicants with significant financial need. Applicants must be nominated by their prospective program for a fee waiver | Program applies on behalf of the applicant |
| National Name Exchange Participant | Registrant of the National Name Exchange database for the current year | Applicant's name as it appears in National Name Exchange and Undergraduate Institution |
| UO Employee | Half-time or greater UO employee eligible for staff tuition rates | UO ID Number |
| Undergraduate Research Program Participant | Participant in undergraduate research programs for minority students. Program examples: McNair Scholars Program, Project 1000, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), and Gates Millennium Scholars program. | A signed letter from the applicant's program director, research mentor, or academic advisor verifying the applicant's participation |
| Deferral | Applicants who were offered admission to a graduate program for Summer or Fall 2020 who have been approved by their prospective program to defer admission to Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall 2021. | A copy of the deferral letter issued to the applicant by their program |
$40 Application Fee Discount
| discount Type | Eligibility | Required Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Service-Based Organization Participant | Participant in AmeriCorps, ESPIRIT, National College Advising Corps, Peace Corps*, Teach for America or Sapsik'ʷałá within the past year | A signed letter from program director verifying the applicant's participation within the past year of application date |
| U.S. Armed Services | Active member, reservist, or veteran of the U.S. armed services | Copy of current orders or DD-214 or NGB 22 |
$30 Application Fee Discount
| discount Type | Eligibility | Required Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| Previous Applicants | Applicants who have already submitted a UO graduate admission application and paid the graduate application fee within the same admissions cycle. The admissions cycle runs Summer through Spring. Example: Summer 2020, Fall 2020, Winter 2021, Spring 2021 | Applicant Login Name |
| UO Graduate Student | Current or former UO graduate or law students | UO ID Number |
*Returning Peace Corps Volunteers applying for the International Studies program as a Coverdell Fellow are eligible for application fee waivers. Read more here.
To begin your graduate application to the University of Oregon, please contact the program of interest for application information.