Last Updated: September 20, 2026
2026-27 SAT fee waiver codes start with “FW26” and are 12 digits long. According to College Board’s official fee waiver page, codes expire in August each year.
Last year’s FW25 codes stopped working on August 13, 2026. If your code starts with anything other than FW26, ask your counselor for a new one.
Who Is Eligible for an SAT Fee Waiver in 2026-27?
College Board offers fee waivers to low-income 11th- and 12th-grade students in the U.S. or U.S. territories. You qualify if one or more of these apply:
- You are enrolled in, or eligible for, the National School Lunch Program (free or reduced-price lunch).
- Your family income falls within the USDA Food and Nutrition Service income eligibility guidelines.
- You are in a federal, state, or local program for low-income students, such as TRIO Upward Bound.
- Your family receives public assistance.
- You are unhoused, or you live in federally subsidized public housing or a foster home.
- You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
U.S. citizens living abroad: You can qualify if you meet the same criteria. Your school must provide the code.
International students living in the U.S.: Nationals of other countries qualify only if they live and test in the U.S. or its territories.
Be accurate about your eligibility. False information can get your College Board account banned, and College Board may cancel your SAT scores.
How to Get Your SAT Fee Waiver Code
There are two paths. Both give you a single set of benefits, so choose the one that fits your situation.
Through Your School Counselor
College Board sends codes to high schools each August. Counselors download them from the K-12 score reporting portal.
Your counselor confirms you qualify, then hands you a code. Expect a request for proof, such as a tax return or program enrollment records.
Counselors give each student a code only once during high school. Ask early, because each school receives a limited number of codes based on past usage and need.
If your counselor says the new codes are missing, point them to Downloadable Reports in the K-12 portal. The FW26 codes are listed there.
Directly From College Board
If no counselor is available, submit the SAT Fee Waiver Request Form. It is available only to students in the U.S. and its territories.
Sign in to your College Board account first. You must list an adult who can verify your eligibility.
Expect an email within 1-2 weeks. Submit your request at least 1-2 weeks before the registration deadline.
Approved benefits appear in your My SAT account. The form is blocked if you already have benefits or were denied before.
What the Waiver Covers vs. Doesn’t Cover
The waiver covers more than many guides claim. It even includes late registration fees on your free tests.
| Covered | Not Covered |
|---|---|
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You cannot get a second set of benefits. Plan your two test dates carefully to avoid paying change fees.
How to Use Your Code When Registering
- Sign in to your College Board account at My SAT.
- Enter the code in the “Got a Code?” banner or on the payment page. You can also add it on your My SAT dashboard.
- Type all 12 characters exactly as shown, with no extra spaces.
- Finish registering. Look for the “You have benefits” banner at the top of My SAT to confirm your full set of benefits.
Once entered, benefits stay attached to your account. You do not need to enter the code again for future eligible tests.
For Homeschooled Students
Homeschooled students have no home counselor to issue a code. Contact a counselor at any local high school instead.
Bring proof of eligibility, such as tax records or proof of enrollment in an aid program.
You can also request benefits directly from College Board. List your school on your My SAT profile as AI 970000 (Home School).
Direct requests take 1-2 weeks to review. Apply well before your registration deadline.
SAT Fee Waiver Code FAQ
How many times can I use my SAT fee waiver code?
Once. Each code can be redeemed a single time, but it covers two SAT tests.
Eligible students receive fee waiver benefits only once during high school. College Board cannot issue more after you use them.
Do SAT fee waiver codes expire?
Yes. Codes expire in August each year. FW25 codes ended on August 13, 2026.
College Board has not published the exact 2027 date. Plan to use your FW26 code before August 2027.
Benefits already loaded into your College Board account do not expire.
My fee waiver code isn’t working — what should I do?
Work through these checks:
- Confirm the code starts with FW26.
- Re-enter it carefully, with no extra spaces or wrong characters.
- Review the eligibility criteria to confirm you qualify.
- Ask your counselor for a new code if it was already used or expired.
Common mistakes include extra spaces before or after the code and wrong characters. Copying and pasting the code from your counselor’s message helps.
You can also submit the SAT Fee Waiver Request Form. If a valid code still fails, contact College Board before trying again.
Can international students get an SAT fee waiver?
Sometimes. Nationals of other countries qualify if they live and test in the U.S. or its territories.
Outside the U.S., only U.S. citizens qualify. They must get a code from their school, because the request form is U.S.-only.
Ask your school counselor which route applies to you.
Does the fee waiver cover SAT Subject Tests too?
No. College Board discontinued the SAT Subject Tests in 2021, so no waiver applies to them.
The waiver covers the SAT itself. Use it for your two free tests.