The Tuition Exemption program provides UW Faculty/Staff, Washington State Classified Employees, or Members of the Washington State National Guard an opportunity to enroll in college free of tuition charges.
Certain restrictions apply to Nursing and MBA students, see:
Students wishing to enroll under these exemptions programs must meet the eligibility criteria established for UW faculty/staff or by the employing agency of the state of Washington for non-UW employees.
University of Washington Employees
Professional staff, faculty and permanent classified staff who meet all of the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Tuition Exemption Program:
- Employed half-time or more;
- Employed on the first day of the quarter;
- Paid monthly (except for employees in the Print Plant Craft Bargaining Unit) and not hourly; and
- For classified staff new to the University, have completed the probation period prior to the first day of the quarter.
State of Washington Employees
State of Washington employees who are employed half time or more and who meet one of the following criteria are eligible to participate in the Tuition Exemption Program:
- The employee is not a University of Washington permanent classified employee; or
- The employee is a permanent classified or exempt technical college paraprofessional employee; or
- The employee is a faculty member, counselor, librarian or exempt employee at another state of Washington public higher education institution.
Steps to Apply
- Apply for admission and be accepted into a University Program, apply as a nonmatriculated, or reapply as a returning former student. Admissions based on program approval.
- Request Tuition Exemption.
- Print UW Faculty/Staff Tuition Exemption Request (UoW 1374)
- Print Washington State Tuition Exemption Request (UoW 1250)
- Pick up Application at the Registrar's Office, UW1 Room 160
Dates
Your request for tuition exemption must be submitted by the quarterly deadline listed in the Academic Calendar.
Fees
- An application form must be accompanied by an application fee of $60. Send a check or money order (U.S. dollars only) payable to the University of Washington. Do not send cash. The application fee is nonrefundable.
- A $30 non-refundable registration fee and any additional tuition for credits over 6 will be billed to the employee's student account.
- A $25 late registration fee will be assessed if the student initially registers for the quarter on or after the eighth calendar day of that quarter. A $75 late registration fee will be assessed if the student initially registers for the quarter on or after the 15th calendar day of that quarter.
- A $20 fee will be charged for all registration changes made on a single day beginning the eighth calendar day of the quarter.
- Tuition Exempt students must pay the quarterly Technology Fee.
- Under the University of Washington's Internal Revenue Code, University of Washington employees who are taking non-job-related graduate courses are subject to taxation if the amount of the tuition exemption exceeds $5,250 in a year. Please read Employee's Tuition Exemption Tax Withholding.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register at the University of Washington Bothell?
After the tuition exemption request has been received by the Registration Office, you can register using the Registration option of the Personal Services on MyUW on or after the appropriate registration eligibility dates. See the Academic Calendar for specific registration dates. Course enrollment is not permitted prior to the appropriate space-available eligibility date for all courses when using a tuition exemption. However, students may attend classes with instructor permission prior to their registering during the first week of the quarter. Students registering before the assigned tuition exemption registration date will not be permitted to convert to the tuition exemption program and will be required to pay regular tuition for all registered credits.
Do I need to apply for Tuition Exemption each quarter?
Yes, A separate Tuition Exemption Form must be submitted each quarter to be eligible for the tuition exemption.
What if I need to take a quarter off?
Subject to college, school and departmental enrollment policies, an undergraduate student who has completed a quarter at the University of Washington Bothell may take the following quarter off and remain eligible to register for the subsequent quarter without submitting applications as a returning student. Students who have completed a quarter at the University but do not maintain continuous enrollment must submit a Returning Student Re-enrollment Application by the published deadline.
Do I get all the same student services under the tuition exemption program?
Tuition-exempt students who register for 6 credits or less do not pay the student services fees and therefore are not entitled to services funded by those fees, such as those available from the Intramural Activities Building, nor are they eligible to purchase tickets to athletic or performing arts events at student rates. Tuition-exempt students who do register in excess of 6 credits may use these services as long as they have a student ID card.
May I use the Libraries?
For participating UW employees, your Husky Card (faculty/staff identification card) may be used for library services. Participating Washington State employees and members of the National Guard may obtain ID cards for library services from the Public Safety and Security Office, LB2 005.
Am I eligible for a UPASS?
Washington State employees and members of the National Guard who are tuition-exempt students may purchase a UPASS sticker at the student rate from the Cashier's Office, UW1 Room 160.