PMB Graduate Program application fee waiver

You may be eligible for an application fee waiver through the University of Minnesota or the PMB Graduate Program.

University of Minnesota

Submit a Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) FreeApp to determine your eligibility for a fee waiver through the University of Minnesota Graduate School Diversity Office. 

Each university grants FreeApp waivers on a case-by-case basis according to local criteria. In addition to the local BTAA criteria, applicants requesting a FreeApp from the University of Minnesota must meet the following minimum criteria to receive consideration:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale).
  • Must intend to pursue an academic or research career.
  • Must not be a current graduate student or have already received a post bachelor's degree.

PMB Graduate Program

If you are not eligible for a fee waiver through the University of Minnesota Graduate School Diversity Office, you may be eligible for an application fee waiver from the PMB Graduate Program. Send an email to [email protected] with a brief statement explaining your situation. Attach to the email a transcript (an unofficial one suffices) and, if applicable, copies of recent financial aid awards or similar evidence for financial need. Send any questions about fee waivers to Sara Eliason.

Decisions on fee waivers are made based on:

Personal background

  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • First-generation college student
  • Financial need (Pell Grant recipient, Ronald E. McNair Scholar, etc.)
  • Military service

Experiences

  • Life Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research Program (LSSURP)
  • Summer research program at the University of Minnesota
  • Summer research program at another institution
  • Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
  • other

Questions

  • Who do I contact with questions? Email Sara Eliason, PMB Graduate Program Coordinator, at [email protected].
  • Can I defer payment of the application fee until the department makes a decision on admission? No, the application fee cannot be deferred. To be eligible for admission and financial support, you must submit your application and pay the application fee (or get a fee waiver) by December 1.
  • Can I have a friend or relative in the United States pay the application fee for me? Yes. The payment must be made by credit card before you can submit your application.