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Tuition Remission Memo - 3/12/2015

Tuition Remission Memo - 12/14/2006

Tuition Remissions - Bursar's Office

Policy for Graduate Assistant Payment of Segregated Fees - Bursar's Office

Tuition Remission Policy - Bursar's Office

Graduate Student Compensation - NOT-OD-02-017

Tuition Remission

Page Updated: September 16, 2025

Background

Tuition Remission is a benefit to graduate students holding a Research Assistant, Teaching Assistant, or Program/Project Assistant appointment to help alleviate the cost of tuition. The tuition charges, although not segregated fees, are waived for eligible graduate students.

A new tuition remission framework starts fall 2025 (FY26). The details on what is changing are described on the FY26 Changes for Tuition Remission Eligibility for RA, TA, PA, and LSA page. This page and the Division of Business Services website contain the most current and accurate information.

To qualify for a tuition waiver, a grad student must have a 33% FTE or higher RA/TA/PA/LSA appointment (33% FTE means 33.0% FTE, not 33.33% FTE.).

Tuition Remission: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can tuition remission be transferred without the associated stipend?
If tuition remission is allowed on the project, the tuition remission should not be transferred separately. Stipend should be transferred first and tuition remission will follow. Stipend and tuition remission are all part of the student’s compensation package and should remain allocated and proportioned to amount of work that the student performed on the project(s). (See FAQ #2 for how to handle tuition remission if it is not allowed on an award.)
2. If an award does not allow tuition remission, can the tuition remission be transferred without the associated stipend?
Yes. The tuition remission surcharges can be transferred to a non-sponsored source.
3. What amount of tuition remission surcharge should be included on grant proposal budgets when an RA's effort is proposed to be covered by multiple grants?
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs recommends that you include the full cost of the tuition remission surcharge on each proposal.
4. What happens if a grant budget doesn't cover the full cost of the tuition remission surcharge?
The PI/Department will be responsible for identifying alternative sources, including re-budgeting, to cover the surcharge. If re-budgeting is not an option, the overage should be transferred to non-restricted funding. If a project is overspent and tuition remission is allowable and allocable on the award, other expenses should be used. Here is the order of priority:
  • Unallowable costs
  • Non-salary expenses
    • Travel
    • Supplies
    • Other Supplies/Services
    • Equipment
  • Salary expenses
    • Student Hourly
    • Classified/LTE
    • Academic Staff (not including RA/PA/TA)
    • RA/PA/TA
    • Faculty
5. How will the tuition remission surcharge be applied to grants/awards?
Starting fall 2025 (FY26):
  • The tuition remission (TR) surcharge rate will change from $6k/semester to $5,363.76/semester (standard grad in-state tuition at plateau).
  • The TR surcharge will not be assessed on the January A pay period. Fall will run from September A pay period – December B, and spring will run from January B through May B. This more closely aligns with the academic calendar and mirrors the period of time that grad students actually work.
    • There will be no surcharge associated with summer.
  • Funding for a single qualifying appointment can be split multiple ways.
    • If a 40% FTE appointment is funded equally on 4 different funding strings, the surcharge associated with that appointment will be split equally on those 4 funding strings.
  • Funding changes and salary transfers will be picked up by Business Services monthly. Surcharge will follow the salary/stipend.
  • For budgeting purposes only, include a 3% annual increase in tuition costs starting with FY27. FY26 tuition remission surcharge will be $5,363.76 per semester.
6. How does the 3rd party deferral process relate to the tuition remission policy?
The 3rd party deferral process is not affected by this surcharge policy.
7. Does tuition remission cover segregated fees?
No. The student is responsible for paying their segregated fees by the due date.
8. Will tuition on T32 training grants continue to be posted as actual tuition paid?
Yes. The surcharge policy only affects graduate assistants with RA and PA appointments. There will be no change in how tuition for Fellows and Trainees is handled.
9. If a student is eligible for tuition remission (holds a qualifying RA/PA/TA appointment) but also holds a NIH fellowship or traineeship appointment that would usually include a third-party deferral, will the surcharge still apply?
Yes. The surcharge will still apply but the segregated fees can be covered by the NIH fellowship or training grant.
10. Is there a limit on the amount of salary, fringe benefits and tuition remission for graduate students on NIH grants?
Yes, per notice NOT-OD-02-017. The maximum allowable amount should not exceed the zero level of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service award stipend level in effect at the time of the competing award. Information on current stipend levels can be found on the Office of Training Grant Support website.
11. Who should I contact if I have questions?

For eligibility questions, please contact Ginger Perkins at the Bursar's Office.

For general tuition remission questions, including surcharge questions, please contact Aaron Ranke at Business Services.

For questions related specifically to sponsored projects, please contact Karen Ryan at Research & Sponsored Programs.