College Credit Exam Fee Reductions
The Arizona Legislature has appropriated funding to support test fee reductins for certain students taking Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, and Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) A-Level and AS-Level exams, starting in SY2021-2022. This program helps support Arizona's Achieve60AZ postsecondary attainment goal, which strives to ensure that 60 percent of working adults in Arizona have a certificate or college degree by 2030. Since students exposed to higher learning opportunities such as advanced placement classes, dual enrollment, and early college experiences are more likely to pursue a postsecondary education, this initiative intends to increase the number of college graduates, as well as create a more diverse, knowledgeable, and innovative workforce in Arizona.
AP fee reductions are processed via a direct agreement between ADE and the College Board. Schools following the instructions below should not see any fees associated with those exams.
IB and CIE fee reductions are reimbursements to the schools themselves. IB and CIE schools must submit their test enrollment data to ADE in order to receive reimbursement for those exams.
The Exam Fee Reduction program IS ACTIVE for the 25—26 school year.
Increased prices for exams will be included in the Exam Fee Reduction program, with the continued expectation that low-income students will bear little-to-no individual financial responsibility for eligible exams.
Qualified students taking eligible exams that grant college credit shall have their test fees fully covered. For each student who qualifies, ADE will reimburse schools to cover the full price for qualified exam fees.
Qualifying exams are eligible for college credit at any of Arizona’s public universities (ASU, NAU, UA). These exams include:
- Cambridge International Education exams: Usually these are Cambridge A- and AS-level exams.
- International Baccalaureate exams: Usually these are IB HL- and SL-level exams.
Schools are expected to determine the eligibility of each student, and must attest to student eligibility on the submitted form. Any student who meets any of the following requirements is considered eligible:
- CEP Eligibility: All students enrolled in a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
- FRPL Eligibility: All students with individual eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Lunch, or attending schools that grant them eligibility.
- Other Eligibility: Students not eligible under either of the prior definitions may still be eligible to receive exam fee waivers. Schools may determine individual student eligibility by:
- Alternate FRPL eligibility, as determined by:
- Direct certification; or,
- The provision of an FRPL form. Or,
- Enrollment in a local, state, or federal program that aids students from low-income families;
- Evidence that family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA;
- Evidence that students are:
- homeless or unhoused;
- wards of the state or orphans;
- live in group homes or in federally subsidized public housing;
- in foster care;
- receive public assistance; or,
- in a federally funded Head Start program. Or,
- Other evidence determined by the school that supports the student meets sufficient financial need.
- Alternate FRPL eligibility, as determined by:
Process:
- Schools with eligible students are expected to purchase exams on behalf of the student.
- Reimbursement for qualified exam fees is available through ADE Connect – Grants Management Enterprise (GME).
- Search for the College Credit Examination Grant and follow the instructions.
- Include submission of the student eligibility exam fee form:
- The form below is also available on Grants Management.
- Note: By submitting the form, schools attest to verifying student eligibility.
- Once the grant is “Director Approved”, the district may draw down reimbursement funds.
- See the Grants Guidance for further information.
Form:
- College Credit Examination Grant Form - this is a duplicate of the version on Grants Management.
- Please contact [email protected] for details and forms if you have any questions.
The Exam Fee Reduction process for AP exams is managed directly by the College Board.
College Board policies and available state funding determine the Fee Reduction amount for qualified students taking eligible AP exams. For exams taken in May 2026, test fees shall be reduced to $13 per exam.
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee Reductions
Learn more about the College Board's Fee Reduction Eligibility Criteria here
For public school students who qualify for the College Board fee reduction of $37 per exam, the state of Arizona will pay:
- Up to $40 per AP Exam (except AP Seminar and AP Research Exams)
- Up to $88 per AP Seminar Exam and AP Research Exam
The final fee for any AP Exam (including AP Seminar and AP Research Exams) for a qualifying student is expected to be $13 per exam. See the College Board guidelines for details.
What the School Must Do:
- Forego their $9 rebate per exam for these students.
- Verify and identify eligible students.
- Guide students through the registration process.
- Ensure that any processing or other fees are paid by the school (or student). The SY2026 expected rate is approximately $13 per student. The Arizona Department of Education will not pay this or any difference if the College Board changes their fee reduction.
Your school’s AP coordinator should take the following steps.
Before the exams:
- For your invoice to accurately reflect any fee reductions, the AP coordinator must indicate the fee reduction status for each eligible student in AP Registration and Ordering.
- For each student who is eligible for the College Board fee reduction, check the box for reduced fee next to their name in the student roster.
- For students who aren't eligible for the fee reduction, no action is needed.
- Fee reduction status is indicated only once per student, not for each exam.
- A best practice is to indicate the fee reduction status for each student by the time you submit your exam order, if possible, to ensure you have time to plan for and collect the appropriate exam fees from students. However, if you need more time to verify this information, the deadline to indicate students' fee reduction status in AP Registration and Ordering is April 30, 2026 (11:59 p.m. ET).
After the exams:
- Your invoice will be sent to you via email after the late-testing administration. At that point, you can also access and print the invoice through AP Registration and Ordering.
- The College Board will bill the state directly for eligible reduced-fee student exams.
- June 15th is the historic postmark deadline for any payment due to the College Board.
- AP coordinators do not need to submit a copy of their invoice to the Arizona Department of Education.
For more information about indicating fee reduction status in AP Registration and Ordering, please see the AP Coordinator’s Manual, Part 1.
Title IV, Part A funds may also be used by schools and districts to help "promote access to accelerated learning opportunities, including Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, dual or concurrent enrollment programs, and early college high schools*"
Examples of support may include:
- Providing funding to cover part or all of the cost of AP Exam fees for students in all schools (not just Title I schools)
- Increasing student access to, and improving student achievement in, postsecondary level instruction and exams, including AP
- Funding specific AP courses/exams
*Reference: Non-Regulatory Guidance, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant
Please visit the ADE Title IV-A website for more information.
