Civil Service employees and retirees may be eligible for an employee tuition waiver. Select one of the following for more information:
Policy Information
The tuition waiver benefit for an active Civil Service employee or Civil Service retiree attending college provides the following benefits and has the following limitations.
- Under the current sections of the Internal Revenue Code, the value of the undergraduate tuition waivers is not subject to taxation. Effective January 1, 2006, the University adopted an Educational Assistance Plan, complying with Internal Revenue Code Section 127, which excludes the value of graduate-level tuition waivers from taxable income up to $5,250 per year.
- Employees must meet the admission requirements for the institution they are attending, and space must be available in the desired course.
- Prior to enrolling in course(s), employee should discuss with his/her supervisor any arrangements that will be necessary for course(s) taken during working hours.
- Employees who resign or are terminated lose their eligibility for tuition and fee waivers and may not continue to attend courses. If an employee has worked 91 days in the semester at the time of resignation or termination, the employee may complete the course and does not have to repay the waived tuition.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility
To be eligible for a tuition and fee waiver you must be in a status appointment or an appointment designed to qualify for status (learner, trainee, apprentice, or provisional) of 50 percent or greater. Civil Service retirees, including those who return to full-time or part-time employment, are also eligible.
Universities Offering Tuition Waivers
Retirees can only receive tuition and fee waivers for courses at one of the University of Illinois campuses (UIC, UIS, or UIUC).
In addition to attending one of the University of Illinois campuses, active Civil Service employees can attend other State Universities Civil Service System institutions. These include:
- Chicago State University
- Eastern Illinois University
- Governors State University
- Illinois State University
- Northeastern Illinois University
- Northern Illinois University
- Southern Illinois University
- University of Illinois
- Western Illinois University
Credit Hours Limits - Attending the University of Illinois
An employee on a 100 percent time appointment is eligible to receive a waiver for a maximum of 11 credit hours per semester.
An employee on a 50 percent to 99 percent time appointment is eligible to receive a waiver for a maximum of five credit hours per semester.
During the summer session, tuition and fee waivers are reduced to 50 percent of the credit hours allowed for a semester.
Credit Hours Limits - Attending other State Universities Civil Service System Institution
An employee on a 100 percent time appointment is eligible to receive a waiver for six credit hours per semester.
An employee on a 75 percent to 99 percent time appointment is eligible to receive a waiver for four credit hours per semester.
An employee on a 50 percent to 74 percent time appointment is eligible to receive a waiver for three credit hours per semester.
Application Procedure - based on the campus where you are employed.
Chicago
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) employees follow these procedures to apply for a tuition and fee waiver.
If you are employed at UIC and will be attending UIC or UIS:
- Enroll in the course. No waiver form is required.
- The Financial Aid office credits the employee for value of waiver based on appointment criteria in the payroll system.
- Any questions regarding tuition waivers should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at (312) 996-3126 or at money@uic.edu.
- Any questions regarding tuition waivers at UIS should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at (217) 206-6724 or at finaid@uis.edu
If you are employed at UIC and will be attending UIUC OR you will be attending another State Universities Civil Service System institution:
- Enroll in the course(s).
- Complete and submit the online Tuition Waiver application. IMPORTANT: Illinois State University (ISU) will no longer accept the online application. Employees who are attending ISU should instead complete the ISU Request for Inter-Institutional Waiver of Tuition For Employees.
- The Human Resources office will notify the Financial Aid office of the University you plan to attend (or the Human Resources office of the University of Illinois campus you plan to attend).
- Contact the Financial Aid office of the attending University if you are incorrectly billed.
Springfield
University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) employees follow these procedures to apply for a tuition and fee waiver.
If you are employed at UIS and will be attending UIS:
- Enroll in the course(s). No waiver form is required.
- The Financial Aid office credits the employee for value of waiver based on appointment criteria in the payroll system.
- Any questions regarding tuition waivers should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at (217) 206-6724 or at finaid@uis.edu
If you are employed at UIS and will be attending UIC or UIUC, OR you will be attending another State Universities Civil Service System institution:
- Enroll in the course(s).
- Complete and submit the online Tuition Waiver application. IMPORTANT: Illinois State University (ISU) will no longer accept the online application. Employees who are attending ISU should instead complete the ISU Request for Inter-Institutional Waiver of Tuition For Employees.
- If attending Southern Illinois University, complete the SIU employee tuition waivers form instead of using the application. Submit the completed form to your university or system Human Resources office.
- If attending Eastern Illinois University, include your EIU E number on the Tuition Waiver Application in the Comments section.
- Enroll in the course(s).
- Complete and submit the online Tuition Waiver application. The Human Resources office will notify the Financial Aid office of the University you plan to attend (or the Human Resources office of the University of Illinois campus you plan to attend).
- If you change the number of credit hours or change the course you are taking, a new tuition waiver form must be completed and submitted.
Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) employees follow these procedures to apply for a tuition and fee waiver.
If you are employed at UIUC and will be attending UIUC or UIS:
- Enroll in the course(s). No waiver form is required.
- The Financial Aid office credits the employee for value of waiver based on appointment criteria in the payroll system.
- Any questions regarding tuition waivers at UIS should be directed to the Office of Financial Aid at (217) 206-6724 or at finaid@uis.edu
If you are employed at UIUC and will be attending UIC OR you will be attending another State Universities Civil Service System institution:
- IMPORTANT: Illinois State University (ISU) will no longer accept the online application. Employees who are attending ISU should instead complete the ISU Request for Inter-Institutional Waiver of Tuition For Employees.
- If attending Southern Illinois University, complete the SIU employee tuition waivers form instead of using the application. Submit the completed form to your university or system Human Resources office.
- If attending Eastern Illinois University, include your EIU E number on the Tuition Waiver Application in the Comments section.
- Enroll in the course(s).
- Complete and submit the online Tuition Waiver application. The Human Resources office will notify the Financial Aid office of the University you plan to attend (or the Human Resources office of the University of Illinois campus you plan to attend).
- If you change the number of credit hours or change the course you are taking, a new tuition waiver form must be completed and submitted.
- A delivery fee may be charged to the employee. This fee is not waived.
Cost Recovery and Self-Supporting Programs
The following are cost recovery and self-supporting programs that are not covered by tuition waivers.