Policies and Fees

The total fee includes the test fee and the MATS fee. The test fee payment is sent to the testing agency, either EXPLORE, ACT or SAT. The MATS fee payment is used to process your registration and to prepare and send MATS follow-up materials to help you interpret your test scores.

Fees for 2008 are listed below:

*Beginning December 14, a late fee of $18.00 is added to all EXPLORE registrations, making the total fee $74.00.

Refunds

Neither the test fee nor the MATS fee is refundable for any reason. If you are unable to test on the date for which you registered, we encourage you to reschedule to take the test on a later date. To do so, call the testing agency directly:

• EXPLORE: (319) 337-1369
• ACT: (319) 337-1270
• SAT: (866) 756-7346
  

Returned Checks

There is a $30.00 charge for returned checks.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to MATS students in the form of MATS fee waivers and test fee rebates.

MATS Fee Waivers

The Center for Talent Development waives the MATS processing/benefits fee for students who qualify for a federally funded school program, such as free or reduced-fee lunch.

To receive a MATS fee waiver, you must submit the following three items:

1. MATS registration, either online or paper
2. Letter written on school letterhead and signed by a school official stating that you qualify for a federally subsidized program. Click here for an example of a fee waiver letter.
3. Payment of the test fee (see test fees above). Online registrants pay with their Visa or MasterCard credit card. Paper registrants should send a check or money order payable to Midwest Academic Talent Search or MATS.

Test Fee Rebates

The testing agencies offer a limited number of test fee rebates, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Any student who requests a MATS fee waiver by submitting the three items listed above will automatically receive a test fee rebate if one is available. Students who register early have a better chance of receiving a test fee rebate in addition to the MATS fee waiver.

If you registered online, you will know if you received a test fee rebate when your credit card account is credited the test fee amount, usually several weeks after we receive your fee-waiver eligibility letter.

If you registered by paper and you receive a test fee rebate, your check or money order will be returned by mid December. Families paying by money order should keep the money order receipt to facilitate refund of the money order.

If payment is not returned, you can assume that a test fee rebate was not available.

Note:

• Registrations are not processed until the fee-waiver eligibility letter and the test fee payment are received.
• Qualified students are eligible for only one fee waiver/rebate per academic year.