Tuition Waiver

The Tuition Waiver Process

To request the activation of your DU Tuition Waiver, please email benefits@du.edu.

Currently the tuition waiver is automatically applied to all courses for the Summer 2024 academic period. For the Fall 2024 academic period and all future academic periods, the tuition waiver must be applied to each course via My4D.

The tuition waiver must be re-applied for any courses that have changed.

• Changes include adding or dropping a course or section. 

Deadlines to Drop a Course

• If you decide to drop a course, please see the DU Registrar webpage for specific deadlines for each colleges and schools.

If courses are dropped before the 100% drop deadline you will receive all credits back. Credits will be reallocated towards the annual maximum. Tuition waiver courses dropped after the 100% drop deadline will not receive all credits back.

Questions about 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.

Eligibility

Tuition waiver eligibility is determined on the first day of each academic period. 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	Plan Year Credit Maximum Fall Through Summer	Spouse's Eligibility per Academic Period
  Full-time (.93–1.0 FTE)	20 credits	5 credits
  3/4-time (.75–.92 FTE)	16 credits	4 credits
  1/2-time (.50–.74 FTE)	12 credits	3 credits
  Retiree	No Maximum	5 credits

  
  Academic periods are defined as follows:

  Academic Period	Included Terms	Taxable Tuition Schedule
  Summer Period	Summer Semester, Summer Interterm, Summer Quarter	Aug & Sept
  Fall Period	Fall Semester, Fall Interterm, Fall Quarter	Nov & Dec
  Winter Period	Winter Interterm, Winter Quarter, Spring Semester	Mar & Apr
  Spring Period	Spring Interterm, Spring Quarter	June & Jul

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

  Employee's Work Schedule	Fall Academic Period	Winter Academic Period	Spring Academic Period	Summer Academic Period
  Full-time .93–1.0 FTE	20 credits	15 credits	10 credits	5 credits
  3/4-time .75–.92 FTE	16 credits	12 credits	8 credits	4 credits
  1/2-time .50–.74 FTE	12 credits	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 period (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 academic period. Changes in eligibility become effective at the beginning of the following academic period. (Policy, Section II.B.3) If there are eligibility changes between the time a student has registered and the start of the academic period, 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 II.D.4)
  • 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 III.E) For example, if an employee leaves during week 5 of a 10-week quarter, the Office of Student Billing 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 II.D.5)
  • 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 II.D.6) For example, if an employee leaves during week 5 of a 10-week quarter, the Office of Student Billing 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 II.D.6)
  • 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 My4D under the "Student" tab.
  3. After registering, return to the "Student" tab in My4D. 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.
  4. 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 My4D 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. 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.

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.
• GRA and GTA benefits can be used in conjunction with the tuition waiver as they are merit-based.
• 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.