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Education Benefits

Tuition Waiver Program

Tuition Waiver

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At Carolina, full-time permanent employees are eligible to waive some education expenses through our waiver programs. With the Tuition Waiver program, per academic year the cost of tuition can be waived for up to three courses taken through a University of North Carolina System institution.

Courses may be taken for career development or for personal interest. Participation in this program is voluntary.

About

Through the University’s tuition waiver program, eligible employees can have the tuition waived for an eligible course taken at any of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System. Employees use the tuition waiver to “pay” for the course.

Please note:

  • Before applying for the tuition waiver, the employee MUST already be accepted to a UNC System institution as a student and enrolled in class. For application and enrollment information, contact the institution and/or program of interest for details.
  • Not all classes and programs are eligible for tuition waivers; it is the employee’s responsibility to verify the use of tuition waivers with the program/department.
  • While up to three tuition waivers may be used each academic year, if the value of the classes taken/waivers used exceeds $5,250, federal law requires the employer to tax the amount over $5,250, which is done through a payroll process. For more information, please email the UNC Cashier’s Office at payplan@unc.edu.
  • Employees applying to multiple education benefits programs MUST first apply for the Tuition Waiver program; acceptance to and amount rewarded by other education benefits program is contingent upon amount awarded by this program.
Tuition charges will be waived for up to three courses per academic year. The academic year begins with the fall term and ends with the summer sessions.

Tuition may be waived for more than one course in the same academic term. For UNC-Chapel Hill courses, only ONE waiver may be used for a summer session course each academic year; check with the institution offering the classes you are taking for summer session use of tuition waivers.

Tuition waivers may be applied to:

  • Courses that are appropriations-funded, such as regular undergraduate- and graduate-level courses.
  • Online courses.
  • Self-paced courses.
  • Independent study courses.
  • Credit-earning courses through the Friday Center for Continuing Education.
The online tuition waiver application process allows an eligible UNC-Chapel Hill employee the ability to submit the tuition waiver request electronically to their manager for approval. Managers electronically approve the tuition waiver application, which then goes to OHR Benefits for eligibility check and approval of eligibility. The approval by OHR Benefits does not guarantee an accepted waiver as the UNC Cashier’s Office has final approval based on the number of waivers used for the year.

There is no cost to the employee’s department for the waiver use.

Eligibility

  • SHRA, EHRA Non-Faculty and Faculty employees who work in a permanent (non-temporary) position at least 30 hours or more per week are eligible to participate in the UNC Tuition Waiver Program.
  • Employee must maintain permanent employment status at 75% time (30 hours per work week) or more for the entire semester during which the course is taken.
  • Only the employee is eligible for this program. Employee’s spouse and/or children are NOT eligible to use this program.
Employee is responsible for the full cost of the waived class if:

  • Employee leaves the University during the semester.
  • Employee reduces FTE below 75% time.

Program Coverage

Tuition waivers may be applied to:

  • Courses that are appropriations-funded, such as regular undergraduate- and graduate-level courses.
  • Online courses.
  • Self-paced courses.
  • Independent study courses.
  • Credit-earning courses through the Friday Center for Continuing Education.
Please note:
Not all classes and programs are eligible for tuition waivers; it is the employee’s responsibility to verify the use of tuition waivers with the program/department.

How to Submit & Application Form

  • Tuition waivers may only be used at UNC System institutions.
  • A tuition waiver may be used each semester/session of the academic year.
  • A tuition waiver must be submitted on or before the deadline for each semester/session.
  • Submitting the tuition waiver counts as the form of tuition payment for the semester/session.

Before applying for the tuition waiver, the employee MUST already be accepted to a UNC System institution as a student and enrolled in class. For application and enrollment information, contact the institution and/or program of interest for details.

It is the responsibility of the employee to:

  • Complete the application in a timely way, including the manager approval, so that it can be fully approved prior to the tuition waiver deadlines.
  • Track their student account to ensure the payment comes through via the tuition waiver.
UNC Tuition Waiver Online Form
For courses at UNC-Chapel Hill or a UNC System institution

  1. Register for and be accepted into class.
  2. Complete the UNC Tuition Waiver Online Application as your form of payment; be sure to do so on or before the tuition waiver submission due date at the institution offering the course.
  3. Form automatically routes to the employee’s manager for approval.
  4. Manager approves form online.
  5. Form automatically routes to OHR Benefits for eligibility check and approval. However, UNC Benefits does not certify the number of waivers you have used.
  6. If the course is taken at UNC-Chapel Hill, form routes to the UNC Cashier’s Office; if the course is taken elsewhere, form routes to the Cashier or Bursar of the other UNC System institution.
For courses at NC State University

  1. Log in to the MyPack Portal and navigate to Student Home Page > Student Accounts tile > Employee Tuition Waiver Form (left menu, towards the bottom of the list).
  2. Select the term and add a waiver.
  3. Enter waiver information and electronically sign the form – this notifies UNC of your intent to use a waiver at NC State.
  4. Access the UNC Tuition Waiver Online Form and enter your waiver information for taking a class(es) at NC State.
  5. Form automatically routes to the employee’s manager for approval.
  6. Manager approves form online.
  7. Form automatically routes to OHR Benefits for eligibility check and approval. However, UNC Benefits does not certify the number of waivers you have used.
  8. Form routes to NC State Cashier’s Office, which uploads the form into the MyPack Portal.
Deadlines for tuition waivers may be different at other UNC Schools. Those using waivers are responsible for finding out about and adhering to these deadlines.

Submission due dates for classes at UNC-Chapel Hill
Please note the tuition waiver submission deadlines for each academic term given below:

  • Spring 2025 semester | 5 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025

Be sure to complete the application in a timely way, including the manager approval, so that it can be fully approved prior to the tuition waiver deadlines.

Contact UNC Benefits Team

Email | benefits@unc.edu
Phone | 919-962-3071
Fax | 919-962-6010

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