NursingCAS Application Fees and Fee Waivers

Fees

Fee Assistance Program

Applying for a Fee Waiver

Click to view more information about the 2025-2026 Fee Assistance 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.

You may request a fee waiver as soon as you create an application, but keep in mind that fee waiver funds can be quickly depleted. Contact customer service at 617-612-2880 before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if waivers are still available.

Note that fee waivers are no longer available for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

Qualification Requirements

There are two types of fee waivers applicants can qualify for:

• Income-based
• Service-based

You can only apply for one type of fee waiver per cycle. Additionally, 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 30 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.

Financial Based Fee Waiver

To qualify for an income-based fee waiver, you must have either:

• Filed a 2024 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Level listed below, or
• Been listed as a dependent on a filed 2024 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Level listed below. If you were claimed as a dependent by a parent or guardian on their 2024 Federal Income Tax Return, NursingCAS requires you to use that individual's Federal Income Tax Return instead of your own.

Low Income Levels for 2025-2026 Cycle Awards*

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

Size of Family*	Income Level**
1	$31,300
2	$42,300
3	$53,300
4	$64,300
5	$75,300
6	$86,300
7	$97,300
8	$108,300
For each additional person add:	$11,000

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.

Service-Based Fee Waiver

To qualify for a service-based fee waiver, you must have participated in one of the eligible service-based organizations:

• Active AmeriCorps Volunteer
• McNair Scholar
• Peace Corps In-Country Volunteer or Alumni

Click on the organization above to download the fee waiver form. Complete the form, and if necessary, also have a certifying officer or program administrator complete their section of the form.

Applying for a Fee Waiver

Determine when to apply for your waiver.	Keep in mind that fee waivers are limited and only valid for 30 days (including holidays and weekends) from the time you are approved. Be ready to submit your application if you are approved.
Start your application.	You must have an account to apply for a fee waiver. Fee assistance applications are not accepted by mail or email.
Complete and submit your fee assistance application.	Click on your name in the upper right corner of the application, then select Fee Assistance Program. Select the type of fee waiver you want to apply for. If selecting financial-based fee waiver, enter your household's adjusted gross income for 2024 and the current number of members in your household. Note that “size of family” includes the number of people claimed as dependents on the tax report. Then upload a copy of the filed 2024 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040. This form was either filed by you or by someone who listed you as a dependent (such as a parent or guardian). You must upload the full tax return form; summary printouts are not accepted. Remember, if you were listed as a dependent, you must submit that individual's tax return form instead of your own. If selecting service-based fee waiver, upload official documentation showing proof of service, such as: Confirmation of attendance Form with a certifying signature Certificate of completion, etc.
Await notification.	Once you submit your fee waiver request, it can take up to 10 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, you will receive a coupon code to redeem your fee waiver amount of $65 (undergraduate programs) or $85 (graduate programs). You are responsible for any remaining balance. You can apply your coupon code when you are ready to submit your application. Click the Submit Application tab at the top of the application. Click Submit, or to submit to more than one program, click Submit All. On the payment page, enter the fee waiver coupon code under Apply Coupon. Click the Apply Coupon button. Complete the rest of the payment details pages. Remember to submit your application within 30 days of your approval (including holidays and weekends). Outstanding transcripts, references, and/or test scores do not have to be received within this timeframe.

Click to view more information about the 2024-2025 Fee Assistance 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.

You may request a fee waiver as soon as you create an application, but keep in mind that fee waiver funds can be quickly depleted. Contact customer service at 617-612-2880 before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if waivers are still available.

Note that fee waivers are no longer available for the 2024-2025 application cycle.

Qualification Requirements

There are two types of fee waivers applicants can qualify for:

• Income-based
• Service-based

You can only apply for one type of fee waiver per cycle. Additionally, 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 30 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.

Financial Based Fee Waiver

To qualify for an income-based fee waiver, you must have either:

• Filed a 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Level listed below, or
• Been listed as a dependent on a filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 with an adjusted gross income that falls below the Low Income Level listed below. If you were claimed as a dependent by a parent or guardian on their 2023 Federal Income Tax Return, NursingCAS requires you to use that individual's Federal Income Tax Return instead of your own.

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.

Size of Family*	Income Level**
1	$30,120
2	$40,880
3	$51,640
4	$62,400
5	$73,160
6	$83,920
7	$94,680
8	$105,440
For each additional person add:	$10,760

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.

Service-Based Fee Waiver

To qualify for a service-based fee waiver, you must have participated in one of the eligible service-based organizations:

• Active AmeriCorps Volunteer
• McNair Scholar
• Peace Corps In-Country Volunteer or Alumni

Click on the organization above to download the fee waiver form. Complete the form, and if necessary, also have a certifying officer or program administrator complete their section of the form.

Applying for a Fee Waiver

Determine when to apply for your waiver.	Keep in mind that fee waivers are limited and only valid for 30 days (including holidays and weekends) from the time you are approved. Be ready to submit your application if you are approved.
Start your application.	You must have an account to apply for a fee waiver. Fee assistance applications are not accepted by mail or email.
Complete and submit your fee assistance application.	Click on your name in the upper right corner of the application, then select Fee Assistance Program. Select the type of fee waiver you want to apply for. If selecting financial-based fee waiver, enter your household's adjusted gross income for 2023 and the current number of members in your household. Note that “size of family” includes the number of people claimed as dependents on the tax report. Then upload a copy of the filed 2023 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040. This form was either filed by you or by someone who listed you as a dependent (such as a parent or guardian). You must upload the full tax return form; summary printouts are not accepted. Remember, if you were listed as a dependent, you must submit that individual's tax return form instead of your own. If selecting service-based fee waiver, upload official documentation showing proof of service, such as: Confirmation of attendance Form with a certifying signature Certificate of completion, etc.
Await notification.	Once you submit your fee waiver request, it can take up to 10 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, you will receive a coupon code to redeem your fee waiver amount of $65 (undergraduate programs) or $85 (graduate programs). You are responsible for any remaining balance. You can apply your coupon code when you are ready to submit your application. Click the Submit Application tab at the top of the application. Click Submit, or to submit to more than one program, click Submit All. On the payment page, enter the fee waiver coupon code under Apply Coupon. Click the Apply Coupon button. Complete the rest of the payment details pages. Remember to submit your application within 30 days of your approval (including holidays and weekends). Outstanding transcripts, references, and/or test scores do not have to be received within this timeframe.

Coupon Codes