Tuition Benefits

Faculty, Staff, and Retirees

• Full-Time Faculty and Staff of Howard University who have completed a minimum of one year of continuous service are entitled to remission of tuition benefits for a maximum of two (2) courses per semester (not to exceed eight (8) credit hours) for undergraduate studies only.
• Retirees who are actively receiving benefits under the Howard University Retirement Plan are entitled to remission of tuition benefits for a maximum of 22 credit hours per semester for undergraduate studies only.
• Half-Time Faculty and Staff who have served a minimum of 50% time for one year are entitled to remission of tuition benefits for a maximum of one (1) course per semester (not to exceed four (4) credit hours) for undergraduate studies only.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Employees and retirees must maintain good academic standing (as defined by the Office of Enrollment Management) while receiving tuition remission benefits.

Dependent Children

• Eligible Dependent Children of full-time employees (active, deceased, or retired) are eligible for remission of tuition benefits for undergraduate studies only.

Eligibility Criteria for Dependent Children:

• The employee has been continuously employed at Howard University for a minimum of one year.
• The dependent was admitted as a new student by age 23 or younger.
• Dependent children who take a break from their studies and are subsequently readmitted to the University must provide current proof of dependency (as defined by the Internal Revenue Service Code) when applying for tuition remission benefits.

A separate application must be submitted for each semester the student is in attendance.

Summer Sessions

If an eligible participant plans to attend Summer Sessions I and II, a separate application is required for each session. Both applications must be submitted at the same time.

Note: The University equates two contiguous summer sessions (i.e., Summer Sessions I and II) in an academic year as one semester.

We have created a new application form, which covers all participant types (active employees, dependents, and retirees), to reflect the updated policy. We will also announce the Spring 2025 application period in December.

Important Updates:

• New Video Tutorial: This video tutorial to guide you through submitting your Tuition Remission application via Workday.
• General Application Guidelines:
  • Tuition Remission only applies to undergraduate courses. Graduate courses are not covered by this benefit.
  • Only employees can submit tuition remission requests for their dependents in Workday.
  • Tuition remission requests must be submitted within the announced application period for each semester.
  • Completed applications and the required documents must be submitted via Workday.
  • Applications without the required documentation will not be approved.

Required Documents for Tuition Remission Requests:

• For Employees:
  • Completed tuition remission application form.
  • Unofficial transcript from the previous semester. If you are a new student, please submit your acceptance letter.
• For Dependents:
  • Completed tuition remission application form (submitted by the employee).
  • Copy of the dependent's birth certificate (required for first-time applicants).
  • Unofficial transcript from the dependent (if applicable). For new students, an acceptance letter is required.

Important Notes for Graduate Education:

• Graduate courses are not eligible for Tuition Remission. This benefit is exclusively for undergraduate coursework.
• Graduate Educational Assistance Plan (GEAP): Effective January 1, 2025, graduate courses will no longer be covered under Tuition Remission. Instead, they will be covered under the Graduate Educational Assistance Plan (GEAP).
  • Eligibility for GEAP: Full-time faculty and staff who meet the eligibility criteria for the plan will be able to access benefits for graduate courses.
  • Benefits under GEAP:
    • The plan provides a tax-free graduate tuition discount up to maximum of $5,250 per calendar year. (calendar year is from Jan. 1- Dec. 31) 
    • The benefit is applied directly to tuition costs for eligible graduate-level courses, with participants responsible for any tuition amounts exceeding the $5,250 limit.
    • Employees must submit a completed application and supporting documentation via Workday to be considered for GEAP.
  • Graduate Educational Assistance (GEAP) Coverage:
    • This plan is available to full-time faculty, staff, and retirees who have completed at least one year of continuous service with the University.
    • Benefits are subject to proration for part-time employees, based on the proportion of time worked.
    • Applications must be submitted after enrolling in the course but before the course start date.
  • Limitations:
    • Benefits are limited to two courses per semester, and up to eight credit hours per semester.
    • Employees may not combine this benefit with other university scholarships.

Tax Information:

By signing the tuition remission form, I acknowledge that I am applying for Tuition Remission for my own education in undergraduate-level courses. There is no tax implication for undergraduate tuition remission, but please note that graduate-level courses are not covered under this benefit.

For employees accessing GEAP, the tax-free graduate tuition assistance is subject to the $5,250 annual limit, as provided by Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Financial Aid Reminder:

Howard University mandates that all students, including those applying for tuition remission, must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file for domestic students, or an International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) for international students. The FAFSA or ISFAA is required for the Office of Financial Aid to process any merit or award funds (including approved tuition remission).

• FAFSA can be completed at www.studentaid.gov. Howard University’s School Code is 001448.
• For questions about financial aid, please contact financialservices@howard.edu.

If you have any questions about tuition remission please email benefits@Howard.edu