How Much Does the SAT Cost in 2026? U.S. & International Fees
The SAT costs $68 in the U.S. in 2026. See international fees, late registration, cancellation, test-center, score-report and fee-waiver details.
This guide contains dates, fees or prices that change. Facts were checked against the official source on 15 September 2026; confirm anything you are about to pay for or register for on the official site.
For SAT Weekend testing, the current base registration fee is:
$68
If you test outside the United States, College Board currently charges:
$68 registration + $43 international fee = $111
before any additional test-center or service fees.
These fees are current as of September 15, 2026.
College Board labels several listed fees as applying through December 2026, so verify the official fee page before registering for a 2027 test. Check the SAT test dates 2026–27 guide for the current test-date schedule.
SAT fee table
| Service | Current fee |
|---|---|
| SAT registration | $68 |
| International fee | +$43 |
| Late registration | $38 |
| Change test center | $34 |
| Cancel by change deadline | $34 |
| Late cancellation | $44 |
| Waitlist — U.S. | $0 |
| Additional score report | $15 each |
| Rush score report | $31 |
| Scores by phone | $15 per call |
| Archived scores | $35 |
| Score verification | $55 |
International students may also face a $24 test-center fee at select locations through December 2026.
What does the SAT cost in the United States?
For a normal on-time registration:
[ $68 ]
Example:
You register before the regular deadline and do not buy any extra score services.
Total:
$68
What if you register late?
Current late-registration fee:
[ $38 ]
So a standard U.S. late registration would be:
[ $68+$38=$106 ]
assuming no other charges apply.
How much does the SAT cost internationally?
Base registration:
[ $68 ]
International fee:
[ $43 ]
Total:
[ $111 ]
Some international centers also charge the additional test-center fee. For more on registration and logistics from abroad, see our SAT for international students guide.
If your selected center carries the current $24 fee:
[ $111+$24=$135 ]
before other optional charges.
Is the SAT waitlist free?
For the new U.S. waitlist introduced for fall 2026:
College Board currently lists the waitlist fee as $0.
The waitlist does not guarantee a seat.
It lets you request automatic placement if an eligible seat opens within your selected radius.
What does it cost to change test centers?
Current fee:
$34
College Board notes that changing your test date works differently.
To change test dates, you generally cancel the existing registration and register for a new test.
SAT cancellation fees
Cancel by the change deadline
[ $34 ]
Late cancellation
[ $44 ]
The late-cancel window runs later, up to College Board's stated cutoff before test day.
Always check the specific test-date page because deadlines matter.
Score-report fees
College Board currently provides the first four score reports free if you order them by the stated deadline after test day.
After that:
$15 per additional score report
Optional rush processing currently costs:
$31
in addition to applicable score-report fees.
Can you take the SAT for free?
Yes, if you qualify for an SAT fee waiver.
College Board says eligible students can receive:
- 2 free SAT tests
- unlimited free score reports;
- no international fee for the covered free tests if an eligible U.S. student is testing abroad;
- no late-registration fee for the covered free tests;
- no cancellation fee for those tests;
- other college-application benefits.
Fee-waiver eligibility is aimed at qualifying low-income students.
For U.S. students, eligibility can include factors such as:
- eligibility for the National School Lunch Program;
- qualifying household income;
- participation in certain assistance programs;
- public assistance;
- qualifying housing/foster/ward status.
Check the official eligibility page rather than assuming.
Do fee waivers cover every possible charge?
No.
College Board says some optional costs may still apply, including certain:
- change fees;
- rush-score fees;
- select international test-center fees;
- scores-by-phone charges.
SAT cost vs SAT prep cost
These are different questions.
Cost to take the SAT
Starts at:
$68
for normal U.S. registration.
Cost to prepare for the SAT
Could be:
$0
because College Board provides substantial free official practice through:
- Bluebook;
- Student Question Bank;
- Khan Academy.
Students may choose paid prep for added:
- structure;
- targeted practice;
- explanations;
- accountability;
- tutoring.
You do not need to pay for preparation simply because you registered for the SAT. For a full breakdown of prep pricing, see our SAT prep cost guide.
Example budgets
U.S. student, on time
SAT:
[ $68 ]
Free official prep:
[ $0 ]
Total direct test + prep cost:
$68
U.S. student, late registration
[ $68+$38=$106 ]
International student, normal center
[ $68+$43=$111 ]
International student at a current $24-fee center
[ $68+$43+$24=$135 ]
These examples exclude optional score services or other charges.
How to keep SAT costs down
Register before the deadline
Avoid the $38 late fee.
Decide your date carefully
Changing plans can trigger cancellation/new-registration costs.
Use free score reports strategically
Check current College Board rules and your college list before sending.
Use free official preparation
Bluebook and the Student Question Bank are valuable even if you also use a paid study platform.
Check fee-waiver eligibility early
Do not wait until the registration deadline.
Should SAT cost affect when you retake?
Yes—but it should not be the only factor.
Before registering again, ask:
- Is the score likely to matter for my college list?
- Does practice suggest meaningful upside?
- Will the retake help a scholarship threshold?
- Do I have enough time to prepare differently?
A retake with no new plan can mean paying another registration fee for almost the same outcome.
Where MastaPrep fits
MastaPrep is optional preparation—not an SAT registration fee.
Use free official College Board practice regardless.
If you want a more structured day-to-day learning system, MastaPrep can add targeted practice, review and progress tracking around that official practice. Browse the rest of our SAT dates and test-day guides for more on registration and logistics.
Important 2027 note
College Board currently marks several additional fee amounts as applying through December 2026.
Before registering for a 2027 test, recheck:
- base registration fee;
- late fee;
- cancellation fee;
- international fee;
- test-center fee;
- score-service fees.
Official sources
- U.S. SAT test fees: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/fees-refunds/test-fees
- International fees: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/international-testing/fees
- Fee waivers: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/fee-waivers
- Fee-waiver eligibility: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration/fee-waivers/fee-waiver-eligibility
Trademark note: SAT® is a registered trademark of College Board. MastaPrep is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by College Board.
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