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Get the GRE Fee Reduction Request Form

GRE Fee Reduction Request Form (pdf)

Mail the completed GRE Fee Reduction Request Form to:

Northern Illinois University
Student Financial Aid Office
245 Swen Parson Hall
DeKalb, IL 60115

GRE Fee Reduction Certificate

The Graduate Records Examination (ETS) offers a limited number of GRE fee reduction vouchers on a first-come, first-served, basis that are available for college seniors and unenrolled college graduates who meet eligibility requirements. A fee reduction voucher may be used for one General Test and/or one Subject Test. Eligibility for participation in the fee reduction program is limited to one time only. Thereafter, the full test fee will be charged for additional tests for which the candidate registers. Individuals meeting the eligibility requirements will be required to pay 50 percent of the full test fee. The reduced fee is $70 for the General Test and $65 for a Subject Test. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien who is a college senior or an unenrolled college graduate.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to request a GRE Fee Reduction Certificate an applicant must meet ALL of the following criteria:

  • You must be admitted to NIU.
  • You must be one of the following at the time you take the GRE test:
    • an enrolled NIU college senior or
    • an INDEPENDENT unenrolled NIU college graduate or
    • an unenrolled Student-at-Large at NIU
  • You must have applied for financial aid at NIU for the GRE testing year (see test dates below). To determine your expected family contribution (EFC), your dependent/independent status is determined by the FAFSA Federal Methodology as listed:
  • Dependent student: Eligible for a GRE fee reduction if the FAFSA shows a parental contribution of no more than $1,400 for the senior year.
  • Independent student: Eligible for a GRE fee reduction if the FAFSA shows a student contribution of no more than $1,800 for the senior year.
  • Independent unenrolled college graduate or unenrolled student-at-large: Eligible for a GRE fee reduction if the FAFSA shows a contribution of no more than $1,800.

If you meet the criteria above, but have already paid for the GRE Test in advance, you are NOT eligible to receive a GRE Fee Reduction Certificate. GRE Fee Reduction Certificates are not retroactive and they cannot be replaced if lost or stolen.
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GRE Testing Year

Test Dates

July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009: Complete the 2008-2009 FAFSA.

July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010: Complete the 2009-2010 FAFSA
(available January 1, 2009)

  • Undergraduate students must be enrolled at NIU at the time they take the test.
  • Graduate and Student-at-Large (SAL) students must NOT be enrolled at the time they take the test.

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What you must do once The Student Financial Aid Office sends you your GRE Fee Reduction Certificate

  • Before submitting your registration materials to ETS, refer to the 2007-2008 GRE Information and Registration Bulletin to get information on where to mail your materials, about the test, identification for test day, test center procedures and regulations, etc. The bulletin can be downloaded from the GRE - ETS website. You can also contact the GRE Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey at
    1-866-473-4373 if you have questions.  
  • Mail the enclosed GRE Fee Reduction Certificate and Institutional Student Aid Report (ISIR) along with the appropriate registration forms to ETS at the address listed in the Bulletin.
  • Once you receive your voucher number from ETS, contact Thomson Prometric Testing Center to register for the test. Prometrics offers computer-based testing every day except Sunday. You must have received your voucher number from ETS to register.

    Thomson Prometric Testing Center (Located behind Carpetland)
    1715 DeKalb Avenue
    Sycamore, IL 60178
    Phone: 815-899-0292