Tuition Remission

One of the most important and “Only-at-GW” benefits the university can provide is access to our world-class courses and degree programs.

The tuition remission benefit extends GW's educational resources to our employees and their dependents. The benefit provides competitive, accessible, and valuable tuition benefits to those who seek to further develop themselves, both personally and professionally. If you have questions, contact [email protected].

View the Tuition Remission Benefit Policy

Eligibility and Coverage

Tuition remission benefits for eligible faculty and staff begin the semester that starts on or follows the date of hire or appointment date. Coverage for dependents varies based on years of benefits-eligible service at GW.

Additional eligibility details for employees, dependents, and GW courses and outlined below:

Tuition Remission Employee Eligibility

Eligibility for tuition remission benefits is dependent upon the employee classifications defined below. Tuition remission benefits for eligible faculty and staff begin the semester that starts on or follows their date of hire. 

For tuition benefit coverage details for you and your dependents based on your employee classification (as outlined below), please view the Tuition Remission Benefit Policy (PDF).

Faculty Full-Time Faculty

A full-time faculty member is a benefits-eligible employee who is appointed for at least one academic year in one of the regular, specialized (e.g., research and special service faculty) or visiting ranks listed in the Faculty Code, devotes 100 percent effort to the duties of the position and receives a salary through the university. Note: The full-time faculty member classification also includes partial retirees as provided in the Faculty Code.

Part-Time Faculty

A part-time faculty member is a benefits-eligible employee who is generally appointed for one academic year and who devotes less than 100 percent effort to the duties of the position (with the exception of a partial retiree, as described above).

Full-Time Staff

A full-time staff member is a benefits-eligible employee who is regularly scheduled to work at least 40 hours per week.

Part-Time Staff

A part-time staff member is a benefits-eligible employee who is regularly scheduled to work at least 14 but less than 40 hours per week.

Postdoc Associates

Postdoc Associates Postdoctoral Associate is the title given to a postdoc who receives financial support in the form of a salary, paid by GW payroll, that is typically funded by grants, contracts, or departmental funds secured by a faculty mentor.

Tuition Remission Dependent Eligibility

The level of tuition remission coverage for dependents is based on the employee’s hire date and years of full time equivalent benefits-eligible service. Please view the Tuition Remission Benefit Policy (PDF) for more details on Dependent Eligibility. 

Spouse/Domestic Partner

• Spouse with no legal separation or divorce in effect
• Common-law spouse
• Domestic partner with no dissolution in effect

Child Dependent must meet all of the following requirements:

• Relationship Status: Child must be a natural child, stepchild, legally adopted child, child placed for adoption or child for whom the employee or spouse/domestic partner is the legal guardian. Documentation supporting child’s relationship to the employee is required.
• Tax Dependent Status: Child must be a legal tax dependent of the employee and under the age of 24. Tax dependent status is defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). To determine whether a child qualifies as a tax dependent, please refer to the IRS Publication 501 at irs.gov.
• Student Status: Child must be enrolled in a degree program at GW. A child enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at another university may receive the tuition remission benefit for courses taken at GW as a non-degree student.
• If Pursuing a Graduate Degree: If the dependent child used tuition remission benefits in an undergraduate degree program at GW, he or she must have used less than the dependent child maximum of eight semesters of tuition remission benefits to be eligible for the graduate degree benefit. Unused semesters (the difference between eight and the number of covered undergraduate semesters) may be used towards a graduate degree program. (This is an overview of graduate degree requirements; please visit the Tuition Remission Benefit Policy, page 6) for more details.

How Tuition Coverage is Determined

The tuition remission benefit pays a percentage of tuition costs for courses and program at GW.

Once an employee is eligible, they may receive 100% of tuition remission coverage for eligible GW courses and programs. Coverage for dependents varies based on years of benefits-eligible service at GW.

Employees enrolled in graduate-level courses may be eligible for tax exemption. Please below for more information on the graduate tax exemption process.

Eligible Courses

The tuition remission benefit applies only to courses and programs offered at and billed by GW. Courses, certificates and certifications that are outsourced or have a shared revenue component (e.g., courses and programs offered by or funded through 2U or Colloquy) are ineligible for tuition remission coverage.

Please review the list of list of ineligible programs (PDF) programs (subject to change), including: 

• Executive Programs
• M.D. degree within the Medical School
• Consortium programs for other universities
• GW Pre-College programs
• Certificate and certification programs that are not offered or billed by GW ineligible courses and programs. 

Employees who wish to utilize the tuition remission benefit for a specific course or program must contact that school to verify eligibility for tuition remission coverage.

Tax Obligation and  Tax Exemption

Tax Obligation

The university manages its tuition remission plan in accordance with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. Undergraduate tuition benefits are generally exempt from tax withholdings, but tuition benefits received for all graduate-level courses are subject to tax withholdings.

Employees

The IRS allows up to $5,250 for graduate-level courses to be tax-exempt per calendar year. Tuition remission benefits received in excess of $5,250 are included in gross wages and are taxable (i.e. Federal, State, Social Security, and Medicare taxes) - see PDF example.

Dependents

Employees as sponsors whose dependents (spouse/domestic partner and/or dependent child) received tuition remission benefit for undergraduate courses will not pay taxes. The tuition benefit amount is considered taxable income when it's used for graduate-level courses taken by an employee's dependent (spouse/domestic partner and/or dependent child). The full amount of the tuition remission benefit is included in the employee's gross wages and is subject to tax withholding. The amount of withholdings is based on the tuition benefit amount received within the given semester.

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Tax Exemption (Employees Only)

For a graduate course to be considered tax-exempt, it should have a direct correlation to the employee's primary benefits-eligible position. The course should also help an employee maintain or improve the skills required for the position. However, a course that is intended to help an employee pursue a new career or promotion, and/or meet the minimum requirements of a primary position, is not eligible for tax exemption. 

The online graduate course tax exemption process is available only to university benefits-eligible employees and eligible affiliates from CNMC, VA, N/AROTC.  An online certification must be submitted for each work-related graduate course you intend to have reviewed for tax exemption.  

 

Resources to Help You Apply:

• Graduate Course Certification Online Application
• Tax obligation Overview (PDF)
• Tuition Remission Benefits Policy (PDF)

Apply for Tuition Remission

Online tuition remission applications must be submitted by GW employees/retirees for each semester that the student is enrolled in courses. Students must be enrolled in courses prior to the employee completing the online tuition remission application. Once course registration is finalized, GW employees will apply online using the Tuition Remission application. Indicate whether you are applying for yourself or on behalf of a spouse/domestic partner/dependent child and answer the prompted questions. If you and a spouse/domestic partner/dependent(s) are both applying for the Tuition Remission benefit, an application for each person must be submitted each semester.

Once you receive an email that your application was successfully submitted, the tuition remission benefit is applied to your student account within 48 business hours. If an error message is received, please follow the instructions provided. Visit the Student Accounts website to log into the eBill system and view your student billing statement.

go.gwu.edu/TRApplication

Retirees and eligible affiliate employees of Children's National, VA, N/AROTC will apply online for the tuition remission benefit. After receiving an email your application was successfully submitted, the tuition benefit will be posted to students' accounts within 3 weeks.  

Faculty and staff of the Medical Faculty Associates should contact the MFA Benefits Department for application information.

Applications will not be accepted following the close of the application period. Student Accounts may impose financial penalties for unpaid balances following the first day of the semester or class start date.  These charges are irrevocable and must be paid separately.

If you have any questions regarding eligibility or the application process, contact [email protected].

Resources to get started:

• Tuition Remission Benefit Policy (PDF) for information on eligibility, coverage details, and program eligibility. 
• Tuition Remission Online Application
• Review the recent Tuition Remission webinar slides (PDF) from November 19, 2024
• Visit the Student Accounts Office website to review tuition rates. Please note: The tuition remission benefit does not apply to deposit, fees and student account financial penalties 
• The tax obligation overview (PDF) will help explain how the tuition remission benefit may impact your taxes. 

Deadlines to Submit Tuition Remission Applications and Graduate Course Certifications by Semester: