Auburn University is committed to ensuring that an Auburn education remains affordable and accessible to the best and brightest of Alabama. Students benefit from dual enrollment, but we realize that cost can be prohibitive. The Auburn First tuition waiver makes dual enrollment a possibility for Alabama residents with demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and financial needs.

TO QUALIFY FOR AN AUBURN FIRST TUITION WAIVER:

  • Get Admitted to Auburn First
  • Be an Alabama resident.
  • Demonstrate financial need by meeting eligibility requirements for free or reduced lunch.

SECURING A WAIVER

  • Step 1: Complete an Auburn First Application.
  • Step 2: Select Application Fee Waiver and complete the Application Fee Waiver Form. This will let our team know that you could qualify for a tuition waiver!
  • Step 3: Once accepted into the Auburn First program, a member of the Auburn First team will reach out to verify your eligibility.
  • Step 4: Once your eligibility has been verified, your enrollment deposit will be waived, and the Auburn First team will reach out about our orientation and registration process.

  • Step 1: Complete an Auburn First Application and select Application Fee Waiver on the “Payment Options” page.

  • Step 2: Once accepted to the Auburn First program, make sure you have completed and submitted the “Intent to Enroll” form.

    • Auburn First cannot start the verification process or award a tuition waiver for any student who does not have an Intent to Enroll form on file.

  • Step 3: A member of the Auburn First team will reach out to verify your eligibility when your “Intent to Enroll” form has been received.

  • Step 4: Complete the verification process for a tuition waiver and the online Student Orientation course to register for classes.

FAQS

  • Who is eligible for an Auburn First Tuition waiver?
  • How can I request an Auburn First tuition waiver?
    • Select that you are eligible for an Application Fee Waiver on your Auburn First application. You’ll need to upload a completed application fee waiver form. This form can also be sent directly to aufirst@auburn.edu. Once you have been fully admitted to Auburn First, a member of our team will reach out to verify your eligibility.
  • How does Auburn First verify my eligibility for a tuition waiver?
    • Our program has modeled our verification process after the free or reduced lunch program by using the same income and categorical eligibility guidelines for free or reduced lunch. There are many different situations that can impact eligibility. If you have questions about whether you are eligible, feel free to reach out to Sarah-Rachel Smith at aufirst@auburn.edu.
  • Are textbooks and course materials covered by the waiver?
    • A tuition waiver will cover the tuition for your Auburn First coursework. At this time, the cost of textbooks, course materials, and online proctoring is not included in the tuition waiver.
  • How long does my waiver status last?
    • Your tuition waiver status will last until the end of the academic year (Fall to Summer), in which you were approved. Tuition waivers initially approved for a summer semester will last until the end of the following academic year.
  • Can my tuition waiver be renewed?
    • Your tuition waiver is eligible to be renewed as long as you remain eligible to participate in Auburn First and continue to qualify for free or reduced lunch. A member of our team will reach out when it is time to renew your tuition waiver.
  • Are there limits on what classes I can take or how many?
    • The tuition waiver waives tuition up to 24 credit hours of coursework in approved Auburn First courses.
    • Like any other Auburn First student, you are limited to courses offered by our program until you qualify for senior experience courses. With a tuition waiver, you can earn up to 24 credit hours of approved Auburn First coursework.

Our tuition waiver program waives the tuition of Auburn First courses for Alabama students who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program. This means that eligible students are not responsible for tuition, only the cost of textbooks and course materials.

Alabama residents, as well as students attending a school in the Fulton County School System (GA), who demonstrate a financial need by qualifying for the free or reduced lunch program will qualify for a tuition waiver. You do not need to actively receive free or reduced lunch to qualify for a tuition waiver.

Select that you are eligible for an Application Fee Waiver on your Auburn First application. This will waive your $50 application fee and let our team know that you may qualify for a tuition waiver. Once you have been fully admitted to Auburn First, a member of our team will reach out to verify your eligibility.

Three things are required to be considered for a tuition waiver:

  • An “Intent to Enroll” form – this form waives a student’s enrollment deposit and is required to register for classes.

  • An AFTW Eligibility Worksheet – this worksheet helps us gather information about your household size and income in order to request supporting documentation.

  • Supporting Documentation – the documentation requested varies based on your situation.

Current Auburn First students are also eligible to receive a tuition waiver if they meet the eligibility guidelines for the free/reduced lunch program. To begin the verification process, please reach out to aufirst@auburn.edu.

At this time, textbooks and course materials are not included in the tuition waiver. The average cost of course materials is $75 per course.

Tuition waivers are approved through the current academic year (Fall to Summer). This means that a student who was approved to begin receiving a tuition waiver in a Fall semester is eligible to receive one through the following Summer semester. Tuition waivers that were initially approved for a Summer semester will extend through the end of the following academic year.

Your tuition waiver is eligible to be renewed as long as you remain eligible to participate in Auburn First and continue to qualify for free or reduced lunch. A member of our team will reach out when it is time to renew your tuition waiver.

Students can earn up to 24 credit hours of Auburn First coursework, regardless of tuition waiver status.

For the purposes of the tuition waiver program, there is no distinction between free and reduced lunch. All students who qualify for free or reduced lunch are eligible to receive a full tuition waiver.

Eligibility for a tuition waiver will be determined for individual students using the free/reduced lunch program’s eligibility guidelines. At this time, students attending a school receiving free lunch under the Community Eligibility Provision do not automatically qualify for a tuition waiver.