Tuition benefit
One of the benefits of working at a university is the access to pursuing or continuing your own education. VCU offers a tuition benefit to Faculty, Adjunct Faculty, University and Academic Professionals, Classified Staff, and Post-Doctoral Scholars. The benefit may be used for academic credit in a VCU undergraduate, graduate, or first-professional degree course. The tuition benefit covers standard undergraduate and graduate tuition in addition to mandatory fees (except the transition student fee) for a maximum of six credits per semester. Mandatory fees are available at https://sfs.vcu.edu/tuition-and-fees/understanding-tuition-and-fees/mandatory-fees/.
For information about tuition reimbursement for courses taken at another institution, refer to the Tuition Benefits, Educational and Training Opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
Faculty, University and Academic Professionals, Classified Staff, and Post-Doctoral Scholars who are employed at 75% FTE or greater are eligible for the tuition benefit. Adjunct faculty are also eligible under certain conditions. Part-time, temporary, and hourly staff are not eligible for the tuition benefit. Faculty, University and Academic Professionals, and Classified employees whose positions are funded by multiple sources may or may not be eligible for tuition benefits depending on the nature of those funding sources. Employees on
leave without pay or at half pay and family members of employees are not eligible. To participate in the tuition benefit program, employees must be in an active employment status on the first day of classes of the semester for which the benefit is sought.
Tuition benefit covers standard undergraduate and graduate tuition in addition to mandatory University fees (except the transition student fee) for a maximum of six credits per semester. Mandatory fees are available at https://sfs.vcu.edu/tuition-and-fees/understanding-tuition-and-fees/mandatory-fees/
- Graduate tuition benefits in excess of $5,250 annually are added to reportable taxable income. FICA/Medicare tax is withheld on the excess amount.
- Undergraduate tuition benefits are not subject to tax reporting or withholding.
Tuition benefit does not cover audited courses, private music lessons, non-standard undergraduate and graduate tuition rates including tuition differentials, program-specific fees including the undergraduate program fees, course-specific fees, books, supplies, or English language courses. Tuition and fees are available at https://sfs.vcu.edu/tuition-and-fees/estimate-your-tuition-and-fees/. Masters programs not specifically listed in the tuition and fees calculator are generally assessed standard tuition and fees. Course-specific fees are available at https://sfs.vcu.edu/tuition-and-fees/understanding-tuition-and-fees/program-and-course-fees/. Questions regarding whether the program or course has non-standard tuition and/or fees not covered by the tuition benefit should be directed to the Student Accounting Department at stuacctg@vcu.edu.
Tuition benefits paid for by VCU on behalf of the employee is considered taxable income under federal regulations unless the course meets the criteria to be excluded from income.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Undergraduate courses are excluded from tax reporting and withholding.
- Graduate level courses are excluded up to $5,250 of benefits received. Any additional monetary value of tuition benefits received is taxable unless the courses taken meet the criteria to be classified as a working condition fringe benefit. To meet the working condition fringe benefit criteria, the following conditions must all be met:
- A. The courses must not be necessary to meet the minimum education requirements of the current job.
- B. The courses are not taken to qualify the employee for a promotion or transfer to a different type of work
- C. The education must be related to the employee’s current job and must help maintain or improve the knowledge or skills required for that job (e.g., refresher or update courses). If the requirements change while the employee is working, employer-paid education designed to meet them is a working condition fringe.
Payroll Services proactively works with employees receiving tuition benefits to identify any tax liability and exclusions. Contact payroll@vcu.edu with any questions.
Tuition benefit means that VCU waives the standard undergraduate and graduate tuition costs required to complete an education course offered at VCU. One course (equivalent to three credit hours) per semester may be taken during work time.
Tuition reimbursement is available for employees taking an approved course at another educational institution. The cost of the class will be reimbursed by VCU if:
- The class is not offered at VCU at all, including online, and
- The class is related to your job, and
- Your supervisor approves.
The most relevant information to read regarding tuition benefits for classes taken at VCU is located on pages 2-3 of the Educational and Training Opportunities policy and guidelines (search under VCU HR policies). Tuition reimbursement is covered in greater detail on page 4 of the same document.
Adjunct faculty may take one course at VCU under the tuition benefit after they have completed teaching nine credit hours. The benefit must be used within the three semester period immediately following the completion of teaching the nine credit hours. Adjunct faculty are not eligible to be reimbursed for a class taken at another educational institution. The most relevant information to read regarding adjunct faculty and tuition benefits is found on pages 3-4 of the Educational and Training Opportunities policy and guidelines.
- Contact your HR professional to initiate the application process via DocuSign
- Once received, complete the adjunct tuition form and attach supporting documentation of courses/semesters taught
- The request will automatically be submitted through the required approval process via DocuSign
- Upon final approval, it will be submitted to VCU's Student Accounting Office for processing.
- Tuition Benefit Forms must be submitted in accordance with VCU Registration deadlines and prior to the semester of enrollment.
Tuition benefits for VCU Health System employees are managed separately under a Health System Tuition Assistance program, which is not administered by VCU Human Resources. More information is available on the VCU Health System website. Please talk with your supervisor to learn more about the application process.
Submit the Tuition Benefit Application through DocuSign. Please note that after the form is signed by your supervisor/department head, you must finalize the application in DocuSign for the form to be forwarded to Student Accounting for processing. The application should be submitted at the beginning of each semester. The forms cannot be applied retroactively once the semester is complete.