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.
Note: International students are not eligible for some fee waivers. Read descriptions below.
Monitor the status of your fee waiver request in your Applicant Center. If you decide you would like to pay the fee, or if your waiver request is denied, click "Pay Application Fee" in your Applicant Center.
Brazilian citizens who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and who have applied to a graduate or professional program at The Ohio State University may be eligible for a fee waiver. Email brazilgateway@osu.edu for details.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. No further action is required.
The Ohio State University Alumni Association and the Office of Distance Education have established an application fee waiver for Ohio State alumni who apply to a fully online degree or certificate program.
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. Not open to international applicants.
The Cientifico Latino Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative assists graduate school applicants from minoritized backgrounds in STEM fields.
You must be a participant in Cientifico Latino's Graduate Student Mentorship Initiative.
Follow the directions at the top of this page. No further action is required.
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. Not open to international applicants.
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.
You are eligible for this fee waiver if your graduate department has offered to pay your application fee. You must obtain this approval from your prospective department prior to submitting your application. You cannot be admitted until the application fee is paid.
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. Not open to international applicants.