The State Employee Tuition Exemption Program is one of the most valuable benefits offered to Washington State employees, covering up to six (6) credits of qualifying coursework per quarter on a space-available basis. We look forward to assisting you with taking advantage of this benefit.
The University’s Tuition Exemption Policy is governed by Chapter 28B.15.558 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and UW Administrative Policy Statement 22.1.
All quarterly application, registration, and payment dates referenced herein are based on the UW Academic Calendar.
Tuition Exemption at UW Tacoma and UW Bothell
UW Bothell and UW Tacoma maintain their own policies and procedures regarding tuition exemption. Please review the following resources and contact their respective registration offices for more information or assistance.
Tuition Exemption at Other Campuses
UW Human Resources assists UW staff and faculty who intend to request tuition exemption for qualifying courses at other participating colleges or universities.
Steps to Using Tuition Exemption at UW Seattle
The information on this page applies to state employees enrolling and registering for courses at the UW Seattle campus only.
Step One: Review Tuition Exemption Eligibility
The first step to being a tuition-exempt student at the University of Washington is to understand if you are eligible for this benefit.
Tuition Eligible Groups
The Office of the University Registrar cannot determine an employee’s eligibility to participate in the tuition exemption program. UW staff and faculty with questions about if your position is eligible to participate in the tuition exemption program, please contact HR Help Team, include your Employee ID number and quarter you wish to attend.
| Employment Program | Eligible for Tuition Exemption | Eligibility Begins |
|---|---|---|
| Classified Staff (minimum 50% FTE) | Yes | Completed six-month probationary period |
| Professional Staff (minimum 50% FTE) | Yes | First day of employment |
| Faculty (minimum 50% FTE) | Yes | First day of employment |
| Hourly or Temporary Staff | No |
Fixed duration classified staff project appointments are not eligible for the program, nor are most hourly employees (exceptions noted previously). Spouses and dependents of UW employees are not eligible.
“State of Washington employees” means persons employed half-time or more in one or more of the following employee classifications:
- Permanent employees in classified services under chapter 41.06 RCW
- Permanent classified employees and exempt paraprofessional employees of technical colleges; and,
- Faculty, counselors, librarians, and exempt professional and administrative employees at institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016
- Classified staff may receive waivers as part of teacher preparation programs (as an alternative to the current limitation to being relevant to their work assignment as defined in RCW 28B.15.558
Eligible state employees must hold this status on the day the exemption form is approved, and must be in that status on the first day of the quarter for which the tuition-exemption is granted.
Eligible Washington States employees may enroll for and receive a tuition exemption for up to six (6) credits each quarter on a space-available basis. Eligible students are allowed to enroll for more than six credits and will be charged tuition accordingly for the additional credits.
Space availability applies to degree programs as well as courses, and fully enrolled programs may not have space to accommodate students using the tuition exemption. Also, certain schools or majors may be limited or have exclusions to the tuition exemption program; read on for more information or contact the school or major for further details.
Non-UW state employees must contact their respective human resources office to determine eligibility and requirements for participating in the tuition exemption program.
Step Two: Admissions – Apply and Obtain Student Status
The second step to being a tuition-exempt student at the University of Washington is to decide the appropriate student status and how to apply for that status. The types of student statuses at UW and their contact information are as follows.
First, you must apply for admission to the University of Washington (Seattle). You will be required to pay the application fee. Applicants are subject to the same priority application dates as other new students. Individuals wishing to apply as a matriculated student, a non-matriculated student, or a graduate non-matriculated student should contact the academic program for details regarding the application process and space availability in the program.
Former UW Seattle students may re-enroll as a returning student and will return in the same classification, or as non-matriculated students.
Employees need only apply for student status once as long as continuous enrollment is maintained in the same status. In order to change statuses, employees will need to reapply for the appropriate status.
Types of Student Status
Employees who intend to enroll as an undergraduate student or Postbaccalaureate (Fifth-Year student) must apply to a program through the UW Office of Admissions. For additional information please call 206-543-9686 or visit their office at 301 Schmitz Hall.
Returning Undergraduate or Postbaccalaureate students: After taking off two consecutive quarters or more (not including summer quarter), students must follow the Returning Student Process and submit a Returning Student Application.
Employees who intend to enroll as a graduate student must contact the specific Graduate Program for advising and to determine if the program is eligible for tuition exemption. To apply to be a matriculated student in a graduate program, submit a Graduate application.
Continuous enrollment is required of Graduate students in order to maintain student status. Failure to maintain this status requires reinstatement to the University of Washington.
Students who desire to take a quarter or quarters off without going through the reinstatement process must apply for on-leave status for each quarter they do not register.
Employees who intend to apply as a first-time or returning non-matriculated (not seeking a degree) student under the tuition exemption program must complete the Non-Matriculated Application for tuition exemption. There is an $80 non-refundable application fee.
- Please Note: Non-matriculated students may take undergraduate and graduate level courses. However, graduate-level courses cannot be counted toward a graduate degree at UW.
- Taking off two consecutive quarters or more (not including Summer quarter), requires the student to submit an additional Non-Matriculated Tuition Exemption Application.
- Please be sure to complete and submit the Non-Matriculated for Tuition Exemption Application – not the Returning Student Form. Employees who have already graduated from or who have never attended UW in a matriculated student status should not complete the Returning Student Process.
Employees who intend to enroll as a GNM student must contact the specific Graduate Program for advising and to determine if the program accepts GNM applications or is eligible for tuition exemption.
To apply as a GNM student, submit a Graduate Non-Matriculated application. Continuous enrollment is required of Graduate students in order to maintain student status.
Employees who have previously attended the University of Washington as an undergraduate, post baccalaureate, or professional student that have not completed a degree, and are seeking to return to the same student status, must complete the Returning Student Process. This requires an $80 non-refundable enrollment confirmation fee.
- Students returning to a graduate program or as a GNM must contact Graduate Admissions.
- Students returning to non-matriculated status must complete the NM application.
Who does not qualify as a returning student
- Students who have already completed a Bachelor’s degree program at UW should not complete the Returning Student Form.
- Employees who have never attended the University of Washington should not complete the Returning Student Form.
Step Three: Review Eligible Courses
The third step is to carefully review the following information to make sure the course you want to take and cover with your Tuition Exemption is eligible for this benefit.
Courses Covered by Tuition Exemption
Generally, all state-funded programs and courses 599 and lower are covered with tuition exemption with the following exceptions.
Courses Not Covered by Tuition Exemption
All fee-based sections, fee-based degree programs, and certificate programs offered through the UW Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) are not covered by tuition exemption. Additional information can be found via Fee-Based programs FAQs.
- ENGL 100, 101, 102, 103, or 105
- MATH 098
- All NCLIN-prefix courses
- NMETH 598, 600, 700, 800, 801
- NURS 499, 599
- All graduate level independent study courses numbered 600, 700, or 800
- All independent study, thesis, dissertation, research internships, tutorials, private lessons, or practicum courses
- All self-sustaining or fee-based courses<
- Early start courses that begin and end prior to the beginning of the quarter
- College of Education Matriculated degree students cannot use tuition exemption; only College of Education GNMs and NMs can use the benefit for those courses. More financial aid information from the College of Education
- Evans School of Public Policy and Governance Matriculated students cannot use tuition exemption; only Evans School GNMs and NMs can use the benefit for those courses. More financial aid information from the Evans School
Also, certain state-funded sections or programs may be excluded from the tuition exemption program based on academic or fiscal considerations.
Step Four: Review Tuition Exemption Fees
The fourth step, once a UW eligible employee has obtained student status but before they submit the tuition exemption form, is to review the Tuition Exemption fees before registering for classes.
Registration and Student Fees
Students may log into MyUW to check their tuition balance after registering for classes.
- Students will be billed a $30 non-refundable registration fee and any additional tuition for credits over six (6) credits.
- Students will be billed the quarterly Student Technology Fee.
- 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 Change of Registration Fee will be assessed for all registration changes processed on a single day beginning the eighth calendar day of the quarter.
- Tuition and fees are typically due on the third Friday of the quarter.
Step Five: Submit Tuition Exemption Form
The fifth step is to submit the corresponding Tuition Exemption request form.
A Tuition Exemption request form must be submitted every quarter that you wish to register for courses and is due at the Office of the University Registrar according to the following submission deadlines.
| Quarter | Submission Deadline – 5 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Autumn 2025 | September 10, 2025 |
| Winter 2026 | December 29, 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | March 23, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | June 15, 2026 |
Submission Instructions
- Quarterly registration: Students must complete and submit their respective Tuition Exemption request form every quarter they intend to register for courses.
- UW Employee Identification Number (EID): The Employee Identification Number (EID) is required in order to process the request.
- Non-matriculated and undergraduate students must complete the top portion of the form only.
- Graduate, post baccalaureate, and GNM students must complete the bottom portion of the form. (Review job-related taxes FAQ.)
- Late Applications: Forms submitted after the deadline date will not be accepted or processed.
- Proof of Employment: You will be required to upload documentation of your eligibility for tuition exemption benefits from your supervisor or human resources office in the Tuition Exemption form. The form cannot be processed without the required proof of employment eligibility. Examples: screenshot of Workday indicating time at UW, most recent pay stub, or a letter from your department head.
Submit the Corresponding Tuition Exemption Form
WA State Employees UW Employees UW NetID
Step Six: Register for Classes
The sixth step, once an eligible employee has obtained student status and submitted the corresponding Tuition Exemption form, is to log into Register.UW and register for courses on the appropriate eligibility date.
A tuition exemption program is a waiver of state tuition revenue. Non-Matriculated (NM) or Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) students cannot use tuition exemptions to pay for fee-based programs and classes as state tuition revenues do not fund these programs. For more information, refer to Non-Degree Enrollment – Who Can Enroll.
Tuition exempt students do not register using the Non-Matriculated (NM) or Graduate Non-Matriculated (GNM) paper registration approval or registration forms and do not require instructor signatures to register.
Registration Eligibility Dates
Review the UW Academic Calendar for specific registration dates for each quarter.
- All UW employees register on the third day of the quarter.
- Washington State employees register on the fourth day of the quarter.
- No course additions are accepted after the third week of the quarter.
Course enrollment is not permitted prior to the appropriate registration eligibility date for all courses when using a tuition exemption, this includes any additional courses even if they are not taken as tuition exempt. However, students may attend classes with instructor permission prior to the registration eligibility date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tuition exempt students who register for six (6) credits or less do not pay Student Services and Activities Fee and therefore are not entitled to the services funded by those fees. Nor are they eligible to purchase tickets to athletic or performing arts events at student rates.
However, tuition exempt students who do register in excess of six (6) credits must pay the SAF and may use SAF-funded services. Review the full list of services and programs funded by SAF.
All tuition exempt students may use the libraries with their Husky card (faculty/staff identification card). Participating Washington State employees may obtain student ID cards for library services from Husky Card Services in 014 Odegaard.
Tuition Exempt students are not automatically billed for the UPASS Program with their tuition or services fees. All tuition exempt students, including non-UW employees, are eligible to purchase a UPASS from the Transportation Services Office at the employee rate. It is not refundable and not pro-rated. For more information about the UPASS program and other commuting options, please contact Transportation Services.
Student Fiscal Services monitors the tuition exemption total for each employee student and calculates the tax amount for those who owe tax. Review Employees’ Tuition Exemption Tax Withholding for detailed information.
According to the University of Washington’s policy for the Internal Revenue Code section 127 tax plan, an employee taking graduate level, non-job-related classes is entitled to a tuition exemption of up to $5,250 in a year without tax withholding. Amounts in excess of this limit are subject to a 25% federal income tax, plus 7.6% for Social Security and Medicare Tax.
For answers to tax-related questions please email taxquest@uw.edu.
