VMCAS Application Fees and Fee Waivers

Fees

VMCAS charges $241 for the first program you apply to and $132 for each additional program.

Some programs may have an additional supplemental fee; contact your programs to learn if they require this and how to pay it.

Supplemental Applications and Fees

VMCAS Fee Assistance Program

Starting on June 2, 2025, a limited number of fee waivers are provided by VMCAS 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.

Keep in mind that fee waiver funds can be quickly depleted. Contact customer service at 617-612-2884 before you submit a fee waiver request to determine if waivers are still available.

Note that all fee waiver requests must be submitted by August 14, 2025.

Qualification Requirements

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

Financial-based
Service-based
International-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 14 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.

Income-based Waivers

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, VMCAS requires you to use that individual's Federal Income Tax Return instead of your own.

Puerto Rico Residents

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

Complete the AAVMC Letter of Explanation process.
Submit your 2024 Puerto Rico Planilla de Contribucion sobre Ingresos de Individuos Form. If you were claimed as a dependent by a parent or guardian on their 2023 Planilla de Contribucion sobre Ingresos de Individuos Form, VMCAS requires you to use that individual's form 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**	Low Income Level***
1	$45,180
2	$61,320
3	$77,460
4	$93,600
5	$109,740
6	$125,880
7	$142,020
8	$158,160
For each additional person add:	$5,380

* The low income level is based on 300 percent of the US Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines. It is used to determine what constitutes a low-income family for the 2025-2026 cycle.

** 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 most recent filed federal income tax return 1040.

Service-based Waivers

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

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.

International-based Fee Waiver

United Nations Least Developed Countries List

Use the following to determine if your country is included in the United Nations Least Developed Countries list.

Afghanistan
Angola
Bangladesh
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Kiribati
Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Niger
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Republic of Tanzania
Yemen
Zambia

Applying for a VMCAS Fee Waiver

Determine when to apply for your waiver.	Keep in mind that fee waivers are limited and only valid for 14 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 either financial- or service-based fee waiver from the drop-down. 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, select the service program or international option from the drop-down. Then upload a copy of the completed document.
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, the waiver amount of $241 will be automatically deducted from your total fees, and you are responsible for any remaining balance. Contact customer service immediately if you do not see the waiver amount deducted. Remember to submit your application within 14 days of your approval (including holidays and weekends). Outstanding transcripts, recommendations, and/or test scores do not have to be received within this timeframe.

AAVMC Fee Assistance Program

The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) also provides fee assistance waivers, separate from the fee assistance process provided by VMCAS.

You must complete and submit the required survey forms before you submit your application and wait to submit your application until a decision is made. Additionally, submitting these forms does not guarantee that you will be awarded fee assistance.

Note that all fee waiver requests must be submitted by August 14, 2025.

Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP)

This AAVMC fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance.

To qualify for this fee waiver, you must be a current participant in the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program (MSP). Complete this survey form and upload a completed MSP form with a certifying officer's or program administrator's signature.

International-based Fee Waiver for Non-UN Least Developed Countries

This AAVMC fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance.

AAVMC offers fee waivers to international applicants who are not from a country on the United Nations Least Developed Countries list. To qualify for this fee waiver, you must currently reside in the US and have a valid US address. Eligibility decisions are tied to the US Department of Health and Human Services poverty guidelines (see Low Income Levels for 2025-2026 Cycle Awards above). Complete this survey form and upload proof of your US address and a foreign income letter.

Letter of Explanation

This AAVMC fee waiver covers only the initial application fee, so if you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance.

VMCAS considers extreme financial need or living at or below 300% of the 2024 US Poverty Guidelines as potential considerations for fee assistance. If you cannot provide the required documents to apply for the VMCAS Fee Assistance Program (e.g., the 2024 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040), you can submit a letter of explanation instead.

The letter of explanation must include:

Details of extreme financial need.
Explanation for why you could not provide the 2024 Federal Income Tax Return Form 1040 for the VMCAS fee waiver.
Your current method of financial support. You can select one of the following for proof of financial support.:
- Financial Aid Award Notification/Summary
  - Submit a copy of your Financial Aid Award Notification/Summary for the 2024-2025 academic year. If you did not receive financial aid for the 2024-2025 academic year, submit a letter from your institution's financial aid office that states that you did not receive financial aid. This letter must be on official letterhead and signed by a financial aid office's representative.
- Other Income or Financial Support Received
  - Submit proof of other income, such as:
    - Social Security
    - SNAP
    - Veteran’s benefits
    - Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
    - Housing vouchers
    - Child support
    - Alimony
    - Spousal support (monthly income, food, housing)

Letters of explanation that are missing details or supporting documentation will not be considered and will be automatically withdrawn from fee assistance consideration.

The Merck Animal Health Diversity Applicant Fee Assistance Program

This AAVMC fee waiver covers only one additional application program fee ($132). If you wish to apply to additional programs, you are responsible for the remaining balance.

To qualify for this fee waiver, you must be approved for any of the fee waivers above and be an applicant from a group that is underrepresented in veterinary medicine (URVM), a first-generation college student, or a Pell Grant-eligible student. Complete this survey form.

Applying for an AAVMC Fee Waiver

Determine when to apply for your waiver.	Keep in mind that fee waivers are limited and only valid for 14 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 only accepted via the online forms and surveys; they are not accepted by mail or email.
Complete and submit your fee assistance application.	Click the online survey forms above to complete and submit your fee assistance application.
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 your email address. While your fee waiver request is pending, you are unable to submit your application. To submit your application and forfeit your waiver request, contact AAVMC at ddabdub@aavmc.org. 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, AAVMC will email you with a coupon code that you can apply when you submit your application. The waiver amount will be automatically deducted from your total fees, and you are responsible for any remaining balance. Contact customer service immediately if you do not see the waiver amount deducted. Remember to submit your application within 14 days of your approval (including holidays and weekends). Outstanding transcripts, recommendations, and/or test scores do not have to be received within this timeframe.

Coupon Codes

Some programs provide coupons that offset application fees. If you received a coupon code from your program, use the information below to apply it to your payment.

Note that you cannot redeem a program’s coupon code after you submit your application to them. Additionally, if you miss a program deadline due to waiting for a coupon code, you must request a deadline extension from your program, not VMCAS.

Using a Coupon Code

You can apply your coupon code(s) 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 coupon code(s) you received from the program(s) under Apply Coupon.
Click the Apply Coupon button.
Complete the rest of the payment details pages.

Note the following:

When a coupon code equals the total transaction amount, you don’t need to enter additional payment information.
When a coupon code is less than the total transaction amount, you'll need to enter payment information for the additional balance.
When a coupon code is more than the total transaction amount, you don’t need to enter additional payment information. However, you'll forfeit the remaining balance offered by the coupon code, as VMCAS will not issue credits or carry remaining balances forward.
Coupon codes cannot be applied to chargeback fees.

If you used a coupon code when submitting to a program, the code will be listed under Payment History.