Wow, time sure inflates those costs. I too had payments of about $40 per rank test with the Shodan test running $150 and then another $100 to be certified as Sensei.
That's about what it is for us, too. I don't think any part of
the fees goes to our school; we turn it all in to our association.
We're hosted by a student organization at the local university,
so our school expenses don't typically include rental of space
(except when the university screws us over on room reservations).
Thus, we don't have the "keep the lights on" overhead; just
equipment, supplies, and special event expenses (such as
the occasional party, travel expense reimbursements for
guest instructors, awards, subsidizing roadtrips for
tournaments, etc.)
Color belt testing fees vary by rank (depending on expenses such
as how many boards are needed for the breaking requirements and
whether the rank involves a whole new belt or just a strip of electrical
tape), but are $30-50.
First dan is, I believe, $125 and includes KKW certification, a new
dobak, embroidered belt, and a souvenir challenge coin from our
association engraved with the candidate's registration number.
The fee is pretty rock-bottom, but trying to squeeze more cash
than necessary out of college students would only hurt the
school.
I strongly suspect that our total expenses on a first dan testing
exceed the revenue, and dues might be subsidizing it a little.
Oh, there's also annual blackbelt dues of $100(?) that the blackbelt
pays to the association. I don't know whether they have to pay
that up front or if the first year's included in the testing fee.
Don't know. . .not there yet myself.
Dan
