Tuition Assistance Program
The Tuition Assistance Program provides USC tuition payments for eligible faculty and staff and their spouses or registered domestic partners and children. The amount of tuition payment varies based on who is taking the class, the type of class, and the maximum number of units eligible for assistance. Tuition assistance is limited to tuition, and does not apply to any fees.
Staff employees may receive tuition assistance for two types of coursework. Degree candidates who are formally admitted to the university may receive up to 100% tuition assistance for a maximum of six units per semester, of which no more than four units may be at the graduate level. A staff employee who is not formally admitted to the university may take one work-related course for audit per semester with his or her supervisor's certification that the course is work-related. Requests for exceptions (for taking job-related course for grade or courses for grade in preparation for admission to a degree program) must be submitted in writing to Personnel Services.
Tuition assistance will be provided to full-time faculty members for auditing one course per semester, or for a limited number of units of coursework taken for credit in undergraduate, graduate, or professional classes per semester or summer session. However, faculty members shall not be candidates for degrees in the same school in which they have an appointment and, in addition, assistant professors on the tenure track should not simultaneously be candidates for degrees anywhere at the university. Individual exceptions may be made only with the approval of the Provost or of a special committee appointed by the President.
Children of a currently employed benefits-eligible staff employee or full-time faculty member may receive 100% tuition assistance for a maximum of 144 undergraduate units or 72 graduate units.
A legally married spouse or registered domestic partner of a benefits-eligible staff employee or full-time faculty member may receive up to 50% tuition assistance for a maximum of 144 undergraduate units or 72 graduate units (see the Tuition Assistance Policy for the formula for taking a combination of undergraduate and graduate units).
See the Tuition Assistance Benefit Policy for complete information about eligibility and requirements.
Who's eligible?
- Full-time and part-time staff and their spouse or registered domestic partner and children
- Full-time faculty and their spouse or registered domestic partner and children
- Children of former staff or full-time faculty with 15 or more years of benefits-eligible service
- Mann Institute employees effective July 1, 2008
Cost
Payment of all fees is the responsibility of the student. Certain types of tuition assistance are taxable income. General information about the tax liability for tuition assistance is included in the Tuition Assistance Policy. USC students normally must pay both a Student Health Service fee and premiums for Student Health Insurance. Employees enrolled at USC may have the Student Health Service fee waived by contacting the Student Health Center and submitting proof of USC employment. Employees or their dependents enrolled at USC may have the student health insurance premiums waived. Contact your benefits office for proof of coverage requirements.
Information about student insurance waivers also is available online at the Student Health and Counseling Services Web page at www.usc.edu/student-affairs/Health_Center/.
What do I need to do?
Tuition assistance eligibility does not guarantee the student admission to the university. The prospective student must apply for university admission through the USC Admission Office. An employee must be employed by the university in a benefits-eligible position on or before the first day of classes in the semester for which application is made. A staff employee who wishes to attend classes that meet during his or her scheduled work day must obtain the written permission of his or her supervisor.
Visit your benefits office as far in advance as possible for assistance with determining the forms you need to complete to apply for tuition assistance, any tax forms you may need to complete, and the documentation required for establishing dependent relationships. You must complete the appropriate forms before the registrar's settlement deadline for the semester or summer session.
| What if your eligible dependent wants to use tuition assistance for both undergraduate and graduate courses? |
Here's an example of how it works: |
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Undergraduate equivalent units maximum |
144 |
|
Tuition assistance used for undergraduate degree |
128 |
|
Remaining undergraduate equivalent units |
16 |
|
Graduate tuition assistance units available |
8 |
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