Ohio State works with a variety of programs that provide fee waivers to applicants, and also manages several of its own programs. You can check your eligibility by selecting from the waiver programs in the drop-down below.
International students are not eligible for application fee waivers.
If your waiver request is denied, you will be asked to return to your admission application and pay the application fee. Processing times vary. For most programs, you will receive an email response regarding the outcome of your request within three to five business days.
The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Office of Distance Education have established a benefit for Ohio State alumni. Those who apply to an online degree or certificate program are eligible for an application fee waiver.
You must be a graduate of The Ohio State University at the time of application who is applying to one of Ohio State's online degree or certificate programs.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. No further action is required.
ABRCMS attendees may receive a code to waive the application fee for graduate study.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. When you check the box in the application, you'll be asked to enter your ABRCMS fee waiver code.
The Big Ten Academic Alliance is a consortium of the Big Ten member universities plus the University of Chicago. The FreeApp program is designed to increase access to graduate education for students who bring qualities and experience that will enhance the diversity of graduate students at member universities.
To be eligible to submit a FreeApp waiver request form, you must meet BTAA's criteria.
BGPSC attendees may receive a code to waive the application fee for graduate study.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. When you check the box in the application, you'll be asked to enter your BGPSC fee waiver code.
Ohio State undergraduate students applying to an undergraduate professional major do not have to pay the application fee.
On the "Final Steps/Submit" tab of the application, under the Application Fee Waiver section, click the box that reads, "I am a current or former Ohio State undergraduate student." No further action is required.
Applicants who have limited financial resources and qualify for federal financial aid may be eligible for an application fee waiver from Ohio State. (International students are not eligible but are encouraged to research EducationUSA Opportunity Funds, which, if awarded, can be used to pay the application fee.)
Submit one of the following via email to esue-gpfeewaivers@osu.edu.
Applicants to the Ohio State Office of Diversity and Inclusion Graduate/Professional Student Recruitment Initiative (GPS) program and those who have attended the GPS program are eligible for an application fee waiver. You must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the U.S.
Send an email to lipscomb.3@osu.edu indicating you have checked the GPS fee waiver box on your admission application.
If you attended the Graduate Engineering Open House in October, you are eligible for an application fee waiver from Ohio State.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. No further action is required.
If you are a McNair Scholar, you are eligible for an application fee waiver from Ohio State.
Attendees at various graduate recruitment events may receive a code to waive the application fee for graduate study.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. When you check the box in the application, you'll be asked to enter your fee waiver code.
You are eligible for this type of fee waiver if your graduate department has offered to pay your application fee.
Have your program send confirmation of your participation to esue-gpfeewaivers@osu.edu.
Former Ohio State graduate students who finished a degree but would like to take classes can apply for graduate non-degree status and are not required to pay the application fee.
Note: Current or former Ohio State graduate students applying for a degree or certificate program should submit an Intra-University Transfer application. There is no fee for this application.
On the "Final Steps/Submit" tab of the non-degree application, under the Application Fee Waiver section, click the box that reads, "Previous OSU Graduate Student." No further action is required. Previous enrollment status will be verified after submission. Waiver must be selected at the time of application.
SACNAS attendees may receive a code to waive the application fee for graduate study.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. When you check the box in the application, you'll be asked to enter your SACNAS fee waiver code.
If you have participated in a Summer Research Opportunities Program sponsored by the Big Ten Academic Alliance (formerly CIC), such as Ohio State's SROP program, you are eligible for an application fee waiver from Ohio State.