---
title: "Add or Waive Application Fees"
slug: "charge-application-fee"
updated: 2026-03-23T15:33:42Z
published: 2026-03-23T15:33:42Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
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> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Charge an Application Fee When an Application is Submitted

You can charge and waive application fees with the Rules Editor. Included in this article are some example rules that apply or waive fees. You can adapt these examples to your own unique policies.

If you are using the Slate-Hosted

#### Examples in this article

- **Example A:** A rule that charges all applicants with one fee
- **Example B:** Program- or round-specific fees, accompanied by a catch-all default rule

#### What Trigger Should I Use?

When making a rule for the applications population, select if a rule should run only at the time of the application submission, or if it should run any time the application is updated. There are very few rules that should use the 'Upon Application Submission Only' trigger. An application fee rule is an example rule that should use this trigger. If a desired action should be able to occur at points after the application submission, then select the 'Upon Update (Deferred)' trigger.

## Example A: One fee for all applicants

Add an application fee to an application upon submission.

1. Select **Database** from the main navigation.
2. Select **Rules**under Automations.
3. Click **New Rule***.*
4. Configure the following settings:
  - **Name:**Application Fee
  - **Base:** Applications
  - **Type**: Activity
  - **Trigger:** Upon Application Submission Only
  - **Folder:** Keep rules organized by placing them in folders. Create a new folder by selecting *Other* and entering a name.
  - **Exclusivity Group**: None
  - **Status:** Preview
5. Click **Save**. You are redirected to the Edit Rule page.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Application Fee Rule.png)
6. Under**Action,** configure the following settings:
  - **Code:** Payment
  - **Payment Type**: Payment Due
  - **Payment Amount (USD)**: Enter the amount due upon application submission.
  - **Payment Account**: Select the appropriate payment account. Typically the payment account is *Application Fee.*
  - **Expires Type:**If access to the payment page should be limited to a specific time frame, select *Relative to Activity Date* or *Static Date,*and enter a number or a date, respectively. If access does not expire, leave blank.
7. Click **Save.**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Application Fee Rule - Action.png)

## Example B: Program- or round-specific fees

Add an application fee for a specific application round or program upon submission.

#### Create the program- or round-specific fee rule

1. Select **Database** from the main navigation.
2. Select **Rules**under Automations.
3. Click **New Rule***.*
4. Configure the following settings:
  - **Name:** [Program or Round] Application Fee
  - **Base:** Applications
  - **Type**: Activity
  - **Trigger**: Upon Application Submission Only
  - **Folder:** Keep rules organized by placing them in folders. Create a new folder by selecting *Other* and entering a name.
  - **Exclusivity Group**: Select *Other,* then enter "Application Fee"
  - **Non-deterministic**: Rule is deterministic and has an exclusive priority
  - **Priority**: 1
5. Click **Save**. You are redirected to the Edit Rule page.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Program or Round Specific Application Fee Rule.png)

1. Configure the following settings:
  - **Filters:**
    - ***Round Key:***Searches for all applicants who have an application in the selected round(s).
    - ***Custom Program Field Filter:***Determine the filters that best describe the population that should receive this application fee.
  - **Code**: Select Payment
  - **Payment Type**: Select Payment Due
  - **Payment Amounts (USD)**: Determine the amount due upon application submission.
  - **Payment Account**: Select the appropriate payment account. Typically the payment account is labeled 'Application Fee.'
2. Click **Save.**

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/2026-03-18_13-16-59.jpg)

#### Create the default rule

Add a default application fee rule for all other submitted applications.

1. Select **Database** from the main navigation.
2. Select **Rules**under Automations.
3. Click **New Rule***.*
4. Configure the following settings:
  - **Name:** [Program or Round] Application Fee Default
  - **Base:** Applications
  - **Type:** Activity
  - **Trigger:** Upon Application Submission Only
  - **Folder:** Application Fee
  - **Exclusivity Group:** Application Fee
  - **Non-deterministic:** Rule is deterministic and has an exclusive priority.
  - **Priority:** 2
5. Click **Save**. You are redirected to the Edit Rule page.

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Program or Round Specific Application Fee Default Rule.png)
6. Configure the following settings:
  - **Code:** Select Payment
  - **Payment Type**: Select Payment Due
  - **Payment Amounts (USD)**: Determine the amount due upon application submission.
  - **Payment Account**: Select the appropriate payment account. Typically the payment account is labeled 'Application Fee.'

![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/cd8ea7a6-07f3-4846-a554-627ac016d3e3/Images/Documentation/Application Fee Rule - Action(2).png)