GRE waiver: what it means, and how to get one
“GRE waiver” gets used for two completely different things, and most pages blur them. One is a requirement waiver: a program dropping its GRE requirement so you do not have to submit a score. The other is a fee reduction: ETS lowering what you pay to take the test. They have different rules, different forms, and different people who qualify. Here is each one, in plain terms, for 2026.
The two things people call a “GRE waiver”
Before you go looking for a waiver, be clear which one you actually need:
- A requirement waiver means a program is not requiring the GRE from you, so you do not submit a score at all. This is set by the school or program, not by ETS.
- A fee reduction (sometimes called a fee waiver) means you still take the GRE, but ETS lowers what you pay for it. This is set by ETS, based on financial need.
They are unrelated. You can have one without the other. The rest of this page covers both, starting with the requirement waiver, which is what most people mean.
Requirement waivers: when you do not need a GRE score
A requirement waiver lives on the program's side. It is worth being precise here, because a program can land in one of several places, and they are not the same:
- Required You must submit a score. No waiver on offer.
- Optional You may submit. A strong score can still help, but it is not required.
- Waived The requirement is formally suspended for this cycle. Treat it like optional, and re-check next year.
- Not accepted Scores will not be reviewed at all. Do not send one.
A waiver is the third case. Some programs waive the GRE for everyone in a given cycle; others grant waivers case by case, on criteria like a strong undergraduate GPA, an existing graduate degree, substantial work experience, or completed quantitative coursework. The only way to know your program's stance is its own admissions page, which is exactly what our is the GRE required guide and our requirements directory track, with sources and dates.
How to request a requirement waiver
If a program grants waivers on request rather than automatically, the process is usually short:
- Check the program's page for a waiver policy. Many that offer waivers list the exact criteria and a request form or email address. If there is a form, use it; do not improvise.
- If you have to email, keep it brief and specific. State the program you are applying to, ask whether a GRE waiver is available, and give the one or two reasons you believe you qualify (for example, a relevant graduate degree or several years of quantitative work).
- Ask before the deadline, not at it. Waiver decisions can take days, and you want time to study and test if the answer is no.
If you are not sure whether a score would help even when it is optional, the fastest way to decide is to sit a free full-length mock and see your estimated percentile before you commit to the real exam.
The other waiver: the ETS GRE Fee Reduction Program
The second meaning is a price break on the test itself. Through the ETS GRE Fee Reduction Program, an eligible test taker receives a voucher that brings General Test registration down to $100, a substantial reduction from the standard fee.
According to ETS, the program is available to people who fall into categories including:
- Financial need: US citizens or resident aliens who are college seniors or unenrolled graduates, receiving financial aid through a US undergraduate college, with a FAFSA Submission Summary showing a Student Aid Index of zero or less.
- Unemployment: individuals receiving unemployment compensation, who can provide a recent Unemployment Benefits Statement.
- Peace Corps volunteers, and certain national programs serving underrepresented groups.
You apply with the GRE Fee Reduction Request form and the supporting documents it lists. Amounts and eligibility can change between cycles, so confirm the current details on ETS before you apply. (Last checked June 2026.)