ACT Fees

Prep Expert
Oct 19, 2021

While earning a great score on the ACT can help you earn scholarships and save money in the long run, there are a few fees you will have to pay upfront.

This guide will show you all of the fees associated with taking the ACT as well as a few steps you can take to help minimize these fees.

ACT registration costs

When you sign up for the ACT, you have to pay a registration fee. The amount you pay to register will depend on whether or not you are taking the ACT Writing section.

The ACT without the Writing section will cost $55.

The ACT with the Writing section will cost $70.

In addition to these registration fees, you may have to pay some additional fees to take the test:

  • International test fees: If you plan to take the ACT from a region outside of the United States or Canada, you will have to pay international test fees between $150-$166.50 depending on whether or not you are taking the ACT Writing section.
  • Late registration fees: If you register after the deadline, you will have to pay a $35 late registration fee.
  • Waitlist fees: If you are put on the standby list for an ACT test date, you will have to pay $56 if you are admitted on test day.
  • Date and center change fees: If you need to change the date of your test or the test center where you are taking the test, it will cost $35.

ACT scoring costs

While you are able to view your scores and send up to four score reports to colleges and universities for free, you will have to pay if you want additional score reports or test information.

Here are a few ACT scoring costs to consider:

  • Additional score reports: For each score report you request beyond your first four, you will have to pay $13
  • ACT Test Information Release: For detailed information about your test questions, test responses, and all correct test answers, you can pay $22 for Test Information Release.

Saving money on the ACT

Although there are several potential fees associated with the test, taking the ACT doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are a few ways you can save money when it’s time to take the ACT:

Sign up as early as possible

You can avoid paying any waitlisting or late registration fees (and make sure you have adequate study time) by signing up for the ACT several months in advance.

Not only will this save you money, but it will also save you stress. It will take roughly 6-7 weeks for colleges and universities to receive your score reports. You do not want to wait until the last minute to send your scores.

If you know there is a particular administration date where you have a clear schedule and plenty of time to study, go ahead and sign up for it as soon as possible.

Review your college list

It can be costly to send a lot of ACT score reports to different schools. Make sure you review your college list before taking the ACT so that you don’t waste one of your four free score reports on a school you aren’t really confident you would attend.

Request fee waivers

You can save a lot of money when you take the ACT by applying for a fee waiver.

According to ACT.org, in order to be eligible for a fee waiver you must:

  1. Be currently enrolled in high school in the 11th or 12th grade.
  2. Be testing in the United States, US territories, or Puerto Rico.
  3. Meet one or more of the indicators of economic need listed below:

• Enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program at school, based on US Department of Agriculture (USDA) income levels (see table).

• Enrolled in a program for the economically disadvantaged (for example,

a federally funded program such as GEAR UP or Upward Bound).

Note: If the student participates in a program, but is not economically

disadvantaged, they are not eligible for a fee waiver.

• Resides in a foster home, is a ward of the state, or is homeless.

• Family receives low-income public assistance or lives in federally

subsidized public housing.

• Family’s total annual income is at or below USDA levels for free or

reduced-price lunches on the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.

If you meet ALL of these requirements, you can receive up to four fee waivers which cover registration fees, late registration fees, and unlimited score reports.

Prepare for the test

The better prepared you are for the ACT, the fewer times you will end up needing to take it to reach your target score.

Sign up for an ACT prep course or private ACT tutoring through Prep Expert so that you can make sure you’re ready on test day.

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