Tuition Waiver

The tuition waiver is designed to enable benefited employees and retirees, their spouses and partners, and/or their dependent children under the age of 25 to enroll in for-credit courses at the University of Denver with reduced or no tuition charges. Documentation is required to verify the relationship of the student to the employee or retiree, and can include an Affidavit of Common Law Marriage, Affidavit of Domestic Partnership, recent tax return, birth certificate, or documentation of legal guardianship.

On this page, you will find an overview of the tuition waiver process, as well as details on eligibility and benefits available to employees, their spouses/partners, and their dependents. We will also go over the tuition waiver application and approval process, including eligible coursework and financial aid information. For details on how the tuition waiver affects employee taxes, see the Taxation and the Tuition Waiver page.

Note: Participation in the tuition waiver program is not automatic. Employees and their dependents must take action to have tuition waived for any course(s).

It is the right and responsibility of all tuition waiver users to know and understand the trustee board–approved tuition waiver policy.

View Policy

The Tuition Waiver Process

The tuition waiver must be requested/applied to for each course in every academic period via MyDU.

The tuition waiver must be re-requested for any course that has been changed.

  • Changes include add/drop of course, section, etc.
  • The waiver must be re-requested by the deadline.

All tuition waiver users must request by the, 100% Drop deadline.

  • Please see the DU Registrar webpage for specific deadlines to each colleges and schools.
  • If you have missed the 100% Drop deadline to apply for your tuition waiver credits, please login to your PioneerWeb account and submit a Tuition Waiver Appeal Request.

Tuition waiver courses dropped before web registration closes will be reallocated towards the annual maximum, and the tuition waiver must be reassigned to new classes for the term before web registration closes.


Questions about applying for the Tuition Waiver?

Contact Benefits@du.edu or 303-871-7420. 


Questions about using other types of Financial Aid?

Contact the Office of Financial Aid at 303-871-4020 or finaid@du.edu.

Find more answers on our Frequently Asked Questions document.

FAQ Document

Eligibility

Tuition waiver eligibility is determined on the first day of each term. Expand items in the list below for information specific to employee/retiree and spouse/partner eligibility, as well as dependent eligibility and changes in eligibility.

  • Employee/Retiree and Spouse/Partner Eligibility and Benefit Overview

    Employees and their spouses/partners become eligible to use the tuition waiver at the beginning of the first term following six months of benefited service. Eligibility levels are based on the work schedule of the employee, as outlined in the table below.

    Employee's Work Schedule

    Employee Eligibility per Academic Period

    Plan Year Credit Maximum Summer through Spring

    Spouse's Eligibility per Academic Period

    Full-time (.93–1.0 FTE)

    2 classes
    (9 credit max)

    20 credits

    5 credits

    3/4-time (.75–.92 FTE)

    2 classes
    (7 credit max)

    16 credits

    4 credits

    1/2-time (.50–.74 FTE)

    2 classes
    (5 credit max)

    12 credits

    3 credits

    Retiree

    5 credits

    N/A

    5 credits


    Academic periods are defined as follows:

    Academic Period

    Included Terms

    Deadline to Assign the Waiver to Courses

    Taxable Tuition Schedule

    Summer Period

    Summer Semester, Summer Interterm, Summer Quarter

    100% refund deadline for each term

    Aug & Sept

    Fall Period

    Fall Semester, Fall Interterm, Fall Quarter

    100% refund deadline for each term

    Nov & Dec

    Winter Period

    Winter Interterm, Winter Quarter, Spring Semester

    100% refund deadline for each term

    Mar & Apr

    Spring Period

    Spring Interterm, Spring Quarter

    100% refund deadline for each term

    June & Jul


    For employees and their spouses/partners who become eligible to use the tuition waiver midway through a plan year, the annual credit maximum is prorated for the remaining plan year. The annual limit will renew each summer period, as specified in the table below.

    Employee's Work Schedule

    Fall Period

    Winter Period

    Spring Period

    Full-time
    .93–1.0 FTE

    15 credits

    10 credits

    5 credits

    3/4-time
    .75–.92 FTE

    12 credits

    8 credits

    4 credits

    1/2-time
    .50–.74 FTE

    9 credits

    6 credits

    3 credits

  • Dependent Eligibility and Benefit Overview

    Dependents under the age of 25 become eligible to use the tuition waiver on the first day of the academic term (quarter or semester) following one year of the employee's benefited service.

    For employees without tenure/less than five years of service:

    Employee's Work Schedule

    Undergraduate Dependent

    Graduate Dependent

    Full-time
    .93–1.0 FTE

    70%

    50%

    3/4-time
    .75–.92 FTE

    45%

    35%

    1/2-time
    .50–.74 FTE

    35%

    25%


    For Employees with tenure/five years of service or more:

    Employee's Work Schedule

    Undergraduate Dependent

    Graduate Dependent

    Full-time
    .93–1.0 FTE

    90%

    50%

    3/4-time
    .75–.92 FTE

    60%

    35%

    1/2-time
    .50–.74 FTE

    45%

    25%

  • Changes in Eligibility

    Eligibility for the tuition waiver is determined on the first day of each term. Changes in eligibility become effective at the beginning of the following term. (Policy, Section A.2.c.) If there are eligibility changes between the time a student has registered and the start of the term, the student's bill will be adjusted through an overnight process to reflect the increase or decrease in benefit. A notification of the change will automatically be sent to both the student and employee.

    Federal regulations require a student to no longer be considered an undergraduate once all undergraduate degree requirements are complete. As a result, dual-degree students will be eligible for the graduate-level waiver after an undergraduate degree has been earned. Graduate-level coursework covered by the tuition waiver is considered taxable income by the IRS, and will be taxable to the employee through whom the student is receiving the tuition waiver. Please see the Taxation and the Tuition Waiver page for further information.

    When an employee leaves the University due to resignation, release eligible for rehire, release ineligible for rehire, or end of temporary assignment, the following will apply:

    • Any students using the waiver at the time of separation will have it prorated based on the number of weeks remaining in the term. (Policy, Section A.5.d.)
    • The total number of credits for which the waiver was assigned at the 100% refund deadline for the term will be counted against the annual maximum. (Policy, Section A.5.c.) For example, if an employee leaves during week 5 of a 10-week quarter, the Bursars Office will bill 50% of the value of the tuition waiver to the student and the total credits for which the waiver had been assigned will be counted against the annual maximum.

    When an employee leaves the University due to layoff, the following will apply:

    • If using the waiver at the time of separation, employees will continue to be eligible for the remainder of that term and two additional quarters or one additional semester. (Policy, Section A.5.e.)
    • If the waiver extension spans summer quarter, the employee will have the option to use the additional waiver allowance during spring and fall periods or fall and winter periods.
    • Dependents will be eligible to continue using the tuition waiver through the end of the current term. There will be no extension of benefit for additional terms.

    When an employee leaves the University on leave without pay (LWOP), the following will apply:

    • Any students using the tuition waiver at the time of leave will have it prorated based on the number of weeks remaining in the term. The total number of credits for which the waiver was assigned at the 100% refund deadline for the term will be counted against the annual maximum. (Policy, Section A.5.c.) For example, if an employee leaves during week 5 of a 10-week quarter, the Bursars Office will bill 50% of the value of the tuition waiver to the student and the total credits for which the waiver had been assigned will be counted against the annual maximum.
    • Eligibility will resume the first term following the employee's return. (Policy, Section A.2.e., Section A.5.h.)
    • Continuing full-time faculty and staff members on at least nine-month appointments are accorded tuition waiver privileges for the full year.

Using the Tuition Waiver

Upon hire, employees' tuition waiver eligibility is automatically post-dated for the first term following six months of benefited service at the University. Waivers will become available to the employee and his/her spouse/partner and dependents for each term following, according to eligibility. See the sections below for information on how to use the tuition waiver that is specific to employees/retirees and their spouses/partners, as well as their dependents.

Note: Participation in the tuition waiver program is not automatic. Employees and their dependents must take action to have tuition waived for any course(s).

  • Employees/Retirees and Their Spouses/Partners
    1. Apply for admission.
    2. Register for classes via MyDU under the "Student" tab.
    3. After registering, return to the "Student" tab in MyDU. Under "Banner Self-Service," choose "Tuition Waiver Menu," and then "Tuition Waiver Course Selection." Indicate the academic period for which you'd like to assign your tuition waiver. Once the deadline to assign your tuition waiver for the current academic period has passed, you will only have access to future academic periods. A summary of the previous and current usage totals can be review by clicking on the "Tuition Waiver Usage" link.
    1. Your registered course list will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. Indicate the course(s) to which you'd like the waiver applied.

    Graduate-level employees only:

    • If applicable, indicate job relatedness and select "NEXT."
    • If you indicated job relatedness for one or more of your courses, you will be asked to provide a brief explanation of how each course is related to your job responsibilities. This will be sent via Workflow to your supervisor for review.

    5.After reviewing your tuition waiver selection, choose "Confirm." Within 48 hours, the waiver will be applied to these courses and a new electronic bill will be available via MyWeb/Student tab.

    • Tuition waiver benefits not assigned to courses by the close of web registration for the term will be forfeited for that term.
    • Tuition waiver courses dropped before web registration closes will be reallocated towards the annual maximum, and the tuition waiver must be reassigned to new classes before web registration closes.
  • Dependents

    Tuition waiver eligibility for employees' dependent children is automatically post-dated for the first term following 12 months of benefited service at the University. A Dependent Tuition Waiver Request Form (log-in required) will be required 10 days prior to the start of the first term for which a dependent intends to use a tuition waiver. Waivers will automatically become available to that dependent each term following, according to the employee's and dependent's eligibility.

    1. Apply for Admission.
    2. Register for classes via MyDU under the "Student" tab.
    3. Within 48 hours, the waiver will be applied to these courses and a new electronic bill will be available via MyWeb/Student tab.

Eligible Coursework

  • Courses must be taken for credit in order to be eligible for the tuition waiver, including continuous enrollment. (Policy, Section A.1.a.) The tuition waiver will cover any for-credit class, including the 2U degree programs and Executive Education short courses.  
  • The tuition waiver will cover tuition charges for dropped courses. If a class is dropped after the 100% Drop deadline, all credits used to cover that class will be counted toward the annual maximum and cannot be used in future terms.
  • Study abroad programs, both Cherrington and non-Cherrington, are covered as per the student's eligibility during the term in which the student registers.
  • The tuition waiver will cover only tuition charges associated with Executive and Professional MBA programs as defined by each course's cost-per-credit rate. Travel fees and other expenses will be the responsibility of the student. (Policy, Section A.1.c.)


Financial Aid and the Tuition Waiver

  • The tuition waiver benefit is separate from financial aid. Scholarships offered through of the Office of Financial Aid cannot be used in conjunction with the Tuition Waiver benefit. (Policy, Section A.5.o.)
  • GRA and GTA benefits can be used in conjunction with the tuition waiver as they are merit-based. (Policy, Section A.5.n.)
  • No combination of tuition waiver and activities or merit based financial aid, including room grants, can exceed the total amount of tuition and covered fees. (Policy, Section A.5.o.)

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