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Every year, school counselors help remove barriers that stand between students and their futures. As you prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, now is the perfect time to order ACT fee waivers and identify eligible students who can benefit from this important resource.
Get Started
Whether you're ordering fee waivers for the first time or preparing for another busy admissions season, these resources can help you get started.
More Than a Test Fee
An ACT fee waiver is more than a way to cover the cost of testing. It helps remove financial barriers so eligible students can take an important step toward college and career success.
Students who qualify receive:
- Up to two free ACT test registrations
- Free access to The Official ACT Self-Paced Course, Powered by Kaplan
- ACT My Answer Key at no additional cost on eligible test dates
- Unlimited additional score reports
- The opportunity to request college application fee waivers at participating institutions
These resources give students the opportunity to prepare, test with confidence, and continue their postsecondary journey.
The Impact Goes Beyond Test Day
Every fee waiver has the potential to change more than a student's test day.
For Gary Hopkins, that change started with a school counselor who saw beyond his circumstances. Growing up in foster care, Gary had already overcome significant challenges by the time he reached high school. His counselor recognized his potential and helped connect him with resources he qualified for, including an ACT fee waiver.
After taking the ACT once, Gary wanted another opportunity to improve his score. Because the fee waiver covered the cost of retesting, he was able to take the test again with more confidence and less financial pressure. As Gary says, "It became me versus me." That shift in mindset helped him focus on what he was capable of achieving.
Gary went on to earn a degree from Michigan State University and now serves as a youth success associate at Developing KIDS, where he mentors students and helps connect them with scholarships, FAFSA support, academic guidance, and other resources that can change the course of their futures.
His story is a reminder that when counselors connect students with the right resources at the right time, the impact can extend far beyond a single ACT test.
Help Open Doors This School Year
For many students, an ACT fee waiver is the first step toward realizing what's possible. By identifying eligible students early and ensuring they have access to these resources, counselors continue to make a lasting difference—one student, one opportunity, and one future at a time.
Have questions or need additional support? Reach out to us anytime at counselor@act.org.
