Illinois AP Exam Fee Assistance
Funding for Illinois Schools for May 2026 AP Exams
Fee-Reduced Students
“Fee-reduced students” qualify for the College Board fee reduction of $37 per exam. For eligibility criteria, visit AP Exam Fee Reductions.
For fee-reduced students in public schools, the State of Illinois will pay $33 per AP Exam. This brings the final fee for qualifying students down to $20.
Standard-Fee Students
“Standard-fee students” don’t qualify for the College Board fee reduction. The State of Illinois doesn’t provide funding for these students.
Note: It remains a school-level decision whether to keep or forgo the $9 per exam school rebate from standard-fee students. For more information on rebate policy and procedures, please see State AP Exam Fee Assistance.
Fees for Illinois Public School Students
| AP Exam | $9 Rebate Collected from Students? | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee-Reduced Students | $20 | No |
| Standard-Fee Students | $99 | At school's discretion |
Steps for AP Coordinators
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 Reduced Fee box 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.
- If possible, indicate each student’s status by the time you submit your exam order. This ensures you have time to plan for and collect the appropriate exam fees.
- 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
- College Board will bill the Illinois State Board of Education directly for $33 per AP Exam taken by fee-reduced students.
- Your invoice will be automatically generated and emailed to you after late-testing administration ends. At that point, you can also access and print your invoice through AP Registration and Ordering.
- June 15, 2026, is the postmark deadline for payment due to College Board.
- College Board will bill the Illinois State Department of Education directly for its share of the AP Exams taken under this subsidy program.
For More Information
For questions and more information, contact the Standards & Instruction Department of the Illinois State Board of Education.
T. 217-782-4322