TOEFL Fee Waiver

TOEFL Fee Waivers and Cost Reduction (2026)

TOEFL has very limited official fee waiver options compared to SAT or ACT. This guide explains the specific ETS programs that do offer waivers, who qualifies, the full cost breakdown, and the most practical ways to reduce the total cost of taking the TOEFL.

Last updated: 2026 · 10 min read

Full TOEFL Cost Breakdown

The TOEFL iBT registration fee is approximately $235 USD in most countries, though the exact cost varies by location. Here is the complete breakdown of every fee you might encounter.

Service	Fee	Notes
TOEFL iBT registration	~$235 USD	Varies by country; includes 4 free score sends
Additional score sends	$20 per institution	Beyond the 4 included free sends
Late registration surcharge	+$40	Registering 3–6 days before test date
Rescheduling fee	$60	Change test date with more than 4 days notice
Cancellation partial refund	+$130 back	If cancelled 4+ days before test (you lose ~$105)
Score review — Speaking	$80 per section	Human re-scoring of Speaking section
Score review — Writing	$80–100 per section	Human re-scoring of Writing section
Score reinstatement (cancelled score)	$20	Reinstate a previously cancelled score
TOEFL at Home	Same as in-center ~$235	No travel required; identical score validity

Important context: Unlike the SAT and ACT, which have robust federally-tied fee waiver programs for US high school students, TOEFL has very limited official fee waiver availability. Most TOEFL test-takers will need to pay the full registration fee.

1 Attempt vs. 2 Attempts vs. 3 Attempts: Total Cost

Every retake adds to your total cost. Understanding the full multi-attempt expense reinforces why thorough preparation before your first attempt is the most important cost-saving strategy.

Scenario	Registration	Extra score sends	Total
1 attempt — hit target	$235	—	$235
1 attempt + 4 schools via sends	$235	$0 (4 free included)	$235
1 attempt + 8 schools (4 extra sends)	$235	$80 (4 × $20)	$315
2 attempts — retake needed	$470	—	$470
2 attempts + 4 extra score sends	$470	$80	$550
3 attempts — multiple retakes	$705	—	$705+
Worst case: 3 attempts + late fees + extra sends	$705 + $80 + $80 (late fees)	$100+ (5+ extra sends)	$965+

Key insight: A test-taker who takes the TOEFL once at $235 vs. three times at $705 pays $470 more — with no additional benefit if the third score is still below target. Every dollar spent on preparation before your first attempt has a better return than paying for retakes after inadequate preparation.

ETS Fee Reduction Programs for TOEFL

ETS provides fee waivers or reductions for TOEFL through a small number of specific partner programs. These are not broadly available and are typically tied to formal program enrollment.

McNair Scholars Program

The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program is a federally funded TRIO program that prepares first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented undergraduate students for doctoral study. McNair Scholars may be eligible for TOEFL fee waivers through their program director. Contact your McNair program coordinator to inquire about fee waiver availability for the current year.

TRIO Programs

ETS has historically offered fee assistance to students enrolled in certain federally funded TRIO programs (including Upward Bound, Student Support Services, and Educational Opportunity Centers) who are preparing for graduate school. Availability is limited and depends on program funding in a given year. Contact your TRIO program director to determine if current fee waivers are available.

Fulbright Program

US Fulbright grantees may have TOEFL testing costs covered through their Fulbright program allocation. This is handled at the program level — contact your Fulbright commission or program officer. Coverage is not guaranteed for all Fulbright programs.

Institutional Partnerships

Some universities and educational foundations have negotiated agreements with ETS that allow specific students (typically financially sponsored exchange students, funded fellowship programs, or institutional scholarship programs) to have TOEFL fees covered. This is handled at the institutional level and is not publicly available. Ask your university's international office or scholarship program whether TOEFL costs are covered.

Realistic expectation: ETS does not operate an open, broadly available fee waiver program equivalent to College Board SSD or ACT's fee waiver. For most test-takers, fee waivers are not available unless you are enrolled in a specific qualifying program.

Who Qualifies

Eligibility for ETS TOEFL fee assistance depends on the specific program:

Program	Eligibility requirement	Benefit
McNair Scholars	Active McNair program enrollment at a US institution	Possible full waiver — check with program director
TRIO programs	Active Upward Bound / SSS / EOC enrollment at participating institution	Possible waiver — availability varies by year and program funding
Fulbright Program	Active Fulbright grantee status	Possible coverage — check with your Fulbright program officer
Institutional partnership	Enrolled in funded exchange / fellowship at a partner institution	Fee covered by institution — check with international or scholarship office

General income-based eligibility (such as the College Board SAT fee waiver) does not exist for TOEFL. There is no application for a standalone TOEFL fee waiver based on financial need alone.

How to Apply

1
Confirm your program eligibility
Contact your McNair, TRIO, Fulbright, or institutional scholarship program coordinator and ask whether TOEFL fee assistance is available for the current testing year. Availability changes annually based on program funding.
2
Obtain fee waiver authorization from your program
If your program confirms eligibility, they will provide you with either a fee waiver code, a voucher, or instructions for how to register with the waiver applied. The exact mechanism varies by program.
3
Register for TOEFL using the waiver
Go to ets.org/toefl and register for your test date. Apply the fee waiver code or voucher during the checkout process. Confirm that the fee reduction has been correctly applied before completing registration.
4
Keep documentation
Save your registration confirmation showing the reduced fee. If you have any issues with the waiver being applied, contact ETS customer service with your program confirmation and voucher details.

What Is Covered

ETS fee waivers for TOEFL typically cover the following, depending on the program:

Test registration fee: The primary ~$235 registration fee is the main cost covered
Score sends: 4 free score sends are already included in standard TOEFL registration; these remain available with a waiver. Additional sends beyond 4 are typically not covered by waivers
Not covered: Late registration surcharges, rescheduling fees, score review fees, or additional score sends

Score sending strategy: Whether you pay full price or use a waiver, use your 4 included free score sends wisely. Designate up to 4 institutions at registration. Additional sends after your test date cost $20 each — plan your school list before test day.

International Fee Comparison

TOEFL fees vary by country. The table below shows approximate current fees for major test markets. All figures are approximate and should be verified at ets.org for your specific country.

Country / Region	TOEFL iBT fee	Approx. IELTS fee	Cheaper option
United States	~$235	~$255–270	TOEFL
United Kingdom	~$240	~$260–275	TOEFL
Australia	~AUD 380	~AUD 380–420	Similar
Canada	~CAD 310	~CAD 310–350	Similar
India	~INR 15,000–16,500	~INR 16,500–17,500	TOEFL slightly
China	~CNY 1,800–1,900	~CNY 1,900–2,100	TOEFL slightly
Europe (typical)	~€215–240	~€200–270	Varies by country
Sub-Saharan Africa	~$190–220	~$180–230	Varies by country

TOEFL vs. IELTS decision: In most countries, the price difference between TOEFL and IELTS is small (under $30). Choose the test you perform better on, not the marginally cheaper one. A score that meets your target on the first attempt is far more cost-effective than a cheaper test you need to retake twice.

How to Minimize Total Cost Without a Waiver

Even without access to a fee waiver, these strategies reduce the total cost of TOEFL testing.

Prepare thoroughly before your first attempt

The single most effective cost-reduction strategy. A test-taker who passes on the first attempt pays $235. A test-taker who takes 3 attempts pays $705. Use full-length practice exams, AI scoring tools, and focused weak-area practice extensively before booking your real test date. Do not register for a real test until your practice scores consistently meet your target.

Use all 4 free score sends at registration

Finalize your school list before test day. At registration, designate all 4 target institutions for the free score sends. Additional sends ordered after the test cost $20 each. Sending to all 4 schools at registration vs. ordering 4 extra sends afterward saves $80.

TOEFL charges a $40 late registration surcharge for registering 3–6 days before the test. This surcharge is entirely avoidable by registering early. Register at least 7 days in advance to avoid this fee.

Use TOEFL at Home to eliminate travel costs

The TOEFL Home Edition costs the same as in-center testing (~$235) but requires no travel to a testing center. If your nearest Prometric center requires significant travel (airfare, hotel, meals), the at-home option saves meaningful money on total testing cost.

Don't reschedule unless absolutely necessary

Rescheduling costs $60. If you must change your test date, do it early — cancellation at least 4 days in advance gets a partial refund of ~$130, while rescheduling costs $60. Cancelling and rebooking may sometimes be cheaper than rescheduling, depending on your situation.

Budget Planning for TOEFL

Use this framework to plan your total TOEFL budget before you start.

Conservative budget (1 attempt)

Registration: $235
Score sends (included): $0
Prep materials: $0–$50 (free resources + 1 practice test)
Total: ~$235–$285

Typical budget (1–2 attempts)

Registration ×1–2: $235–$470
Additional score sends (2–4): $40–$80
Prep course or materials: $50–$150
Total: ~$325–$700

Full budget (2–3 attempts, comprehensive prep)

Registration ×2–3: $470–$705
Additional score sends: $60–$100
Tutoring or prep course: $200–$500
Total: ~$730–$1,305

Budget-minimizing approach

Use free prep resources (ets.org sample questions, YouTube, this site)
Take at least 3 full practice tests before booking
Register only when practice scores consistently hit target
Use all 4 free score sends at registration
Potential total: $235

Scholarship and Reimbursement Programs

Fulbright and government scholarships

Several scholarship programs cover TOEFL testing fees as part of their application support:

Fulbright Program: US Fulbright grantees may have TOEFL fees covered through their program allocation
Chevening Scholarships (UK): May cover IELTS or TOEFL testing costs for applicants (IELTS is more commonly required)
Australian Awards: Australian government scholarship program for developing-country applicants; testing costs sometimes included
Country-specific government scholarships: Some national scholarship programs (e.g., DAAD Germany, Swedish Institute) cover language testing costs for their grantees

Employer or institutional reimbursement

Some employers, universities, and professional organizations reimburse standardized testing fees as part of professional development, sponsored education, or employee benefits. Check with your HR department or institutional financial aid office.

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