Employee Tuition Waivers & Discounts
These forms need to be completed online by the Employee.
Tuition Waiver Details
Eligibility is determined by the work status of the employee on the first day of class. Regardless of when the waiver is submitted.
- Tuition Waiver Priority Deadlines:
- Fall: Priority deadline August 1
- Spring: Priority Deadline: December 1
- Summer: Priority Deadline April 1
- Employees can receive a full SUU waiver for tuition waivers for as many credit hours as they'd like, as long as it does not interfere with their regular work schedule as described below.
- Students will pay all of the special course fees.
- Regular "student fees" are also waived if the employee takes 9 credit hours or less.
- If a class is determined to be work-related, a benefit eligible employee may request to have 3 work hours per week waived and another 3 work hours flexed and rescheduled.
- Spouses of employees are entitled to the same tuition waiver benefits as the employee.
- Unmarried dependent children to age 27 get half-tuition waivers.
- Tuition Waivers must be filled out each semester the student is enrolled and resubmitted if class schedules change or drop.
For all inclusions and exemptions, please review policy #8.2.1.
Tuition waivers are due, fully signed, prior to the full-price class drop date, each semester.
Find a full list of semester drop dates from the Academic Calendar
Exclusions
The following programs have tuition associated, but are excluded from the Faculty/Staff Tuition Waiver.
- PsyD program
- Concurrent
- Speedway
- ESL Program
IRS Income Tax Implications of Tuition Waivers
Graduate-level taxable tuition Information
Master’s tuition waivers for employees, their spouse, or their dependents (under 24) that exceed the $5,250 limit will be included in taxable earnings, reported on your W-2 form and the appropriate taxes will be withheld.
Dependant taxable tuition Information
Tuition waivers for dependents 24 years and older in undergraduate and graduate-level classes, will be included in taxable earnings reported on your W-2 and appropriate taxes will be withheld.
Using the “Qualifying Child Rules,” from the IRS, children age-out of “dependent child status” for tax purposes at age 19 unless they are a full-time student, then they are aged-out of “dependent child status” at 24 - unless they are permanently and totally disabled. If your dependent using the tuition waiver is 24 or older and is permanently and totally disabled, please contact HR.
If there is a taxable amount for your tuition waivers, you will be contacted by payroll via email prior to the additional amount added. Watch your email for information.
USHE Employee Scholarship
The Utah Board of Higher Education offers the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) Employee Scholarship to support full-time employees pursuing education at a different USHE institution. The scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition and fees, though an annual cap will likely be established due to demand.
Eligibility Requirements
- Be a full-time employee at a USHE institution
- Be admitted as a matriculated student to a USHE institution other than your current employer and plan to enroll during the 2026-27 academic year
- Pursue a degree/certificate aligned with your current job duties or a related career progression
- Continuing education programs are not eligible
Application Process
- Submit an online application: Applications open May 4 and close June 12, 2026.
- Provide a brief statement: Submit a 500-word (or less) explanation of why you are enrolling at a USHE institution other than the one at which you are employed.
- Submit a letter of support: Provide a letter on institutional letterhead from a Dean, Assistant Vice President, Director, or any more senior administrator in your department stating that your educational pursuit is related to your current job duties or a related career progression.
- Recipients must reapply each year to be eligible to continue receiving the scholarship.
- USHE Employee Scholarship Application