Tuition Remission

Section: Benefits & Wellness 
Responsible Office: Office of Human Resources
Effective Date: 09/03/2015
Updated Date: 07/01/2023, 01/01/2026

Purpose

The purpose of the University Tuition Remission program is to support and encourage eligible employees, as well as their spouses and dependent children in pursuing a college level education.

Policy

Iona University provides tuition remission to assist employees, their spouses and eligible dependent children in meeting their educational goals. The following are the tuition remission guidelines that are intended to help employees understand their tuition remission benefits.

Tuition & Fees

• Tuition Remission only covers tuition at Iona University.
• All other charges including program fees, room and board, books, late fees, collection fees, or student health insurance and tuition insurance fees are not covered as part of the tuition remission benefit.
• Your Tuition Remission will not be applied to your student account until your fees are paid. Fees are due at the time of registration but no later than the add/drop deadline. Failure to pay all fees by the add/drop deadline will result in the employee, spouse, and/or dependent children account being placed on financial hold. A financial hold will prohibit registering for the next term.
• Eligible employees must complete the Tuition Remission form online every term. All tuition remission forms must be submitted at the time of registration for each term. Tuition remission forms submitted after these time periods, including the add/drop period, will not be processed and the tuition remission will not be applied for that term.
• Employees, spouses and their dependent children who are eligible to receive the tuition remission benefit are not eligible to receive any other form of university remuneration. This includes, but is not limited to, the following sources: merit/scholarship awards, grants and Resident Assistant award.

Admission, Dismissal Policies & GPA Requirements

• It is to be understood that admission and dismissal policies of the University apply equally to all students including those who receive tuition remission.
• Employees, their spouses and eligible dependent children utilizing University-sponsored tuition remission must maintain satisfactory academic progress, defined as a minimum term cumulative GPA of 2.0. Failure to meet this requirement may result in suspension or loss of tuition remission eligibility until the academic standard is met.

Tuition Remission Employees

Full-time employees may pursue credit-bearing courses on the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University with full tuition remission. This is exclusive of program fees, books, late fees, collection fees, provided that classes are taken in hours outside of the employee's scheduled work time. Attendance in classes is not allowed during scheduled work hours including one’s lunch period. Employees are eligible to apply for tuition remission after three (3) months of continuous, full-time employment (introductory period).  Employees are limited to taking no more than two (2) courses per term, respectively.

Employees who are enrolling as an undergraduate are required to have an official FAFSA application on file. Employees who are enrolling in a graduate program are not required to submit a FAFSA.

Tuition Remission Dependent Children

The dependent children of active full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition remission. This is exclusive of program fees, books, room and board, late fees, collection fees and student health and tuition insurance fees.

An eligible employee’s dependent child is defined as: 

• a natural, legally adopted or step-child up to age 25 years, or at the conclusion of the current enrolled academic term, whichever is later; and
• unmarried, living at home with a parent or step-parent, and
• is a legal dependent who is: (A) any child claimed by an eligible employee and allowed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes; (B) any child who otherwise demonstrates, as determined by the University, substantial financial dependency upon the eligible employee; or (C) in the case of parents, legally separated or whose marriage has been dissolved, any child who fulfills the terms of (A) or (B) as to either parent or for whom a dissolution of marriage or legal separation decree obligates the employee parent for payment of college tuition. Documentation may be required to certify the dependent status.

The table below indicates the percentage Iona University will cover per dependent based upon the full-time employee’s continuous employment.  

*Continuous full-time employment refers to working without a break in service.

Dependent children of full-time employees are not eligible for graduate tuition remission.

The tuition remission benefit extends over eight (8) semesters for dependent children. The length of time for transfer students will be determined by the number of credits required to complete the undergraduate program. Full-time student dependents of full-time employees who meet eligibility criteria will also be permitted to take a maximum of six (6) courses in special sessions over the same eight (8) semester period. These time limitations do not apply to part-time or evening students. 

Tuition remission benefits will continue as long as the employee continues to be employed full-time by the University and the dependent student meets the eligibility criteria.

Full tuition remission is granted to the dependent children of those full-time employees who had more than 10 years of continuous full-time service and who die or are disabled while in the employment of the University. Please note the dependent children must be enrolled at the University before the employee’s death or disablement. Dependent children who fall under this consideration can complete their current degree. Anything after, would be at the expense of the dependent children. Retired employees and their dependent children are not eligible for tuition remission.

To be eligible for Tuition Remission for undergraduate courses, an employee must file an official Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) for themselves, their spouse and/or their dependent children. The tuition remission benefits at the University will be valued at that amount of tuition charges, which remain after a TAP and/or Pell awards are credited. 

The FAFSA and the express TAP application must be filed annually in advance of registration. Please note, the FAFSA form must be filed no later than April 15th of each year. To file the FAFSA, go to  https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa  using the Iona University school Code (002737).  For further assistance, please use the links below. The determination of the amount of tuition remission will be made only after the eligibility for applicable federal and state aid has been determined.

https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

https://www.hesc.ny.gov/pay-for-college/apply-for-financial-aid/nys-tap/apply-for-tap.html

Tuition Remission Spouse of Regular Full-Time Employees

For a spouse to be eligible for Tuition Remission, the employee must complete their introductory period (first 90 days of employment). Iona University will cover one hundred percent (100%) tuition for a spouse seeking an undergraduate degree. Iona University will cover thirty-three percent (33%) of tuition for a spouse seeking a graduate degree.

Spouses of regular full-time employees may pursue credit bearing courses.  Spouses who are enrolling as an undergraduate are required to have an official FAFSA application on file. Spouses who are enrolling as a graduate student are not required to submit a FAFSA application. Tuition Remission is given to those who are attending classes for credit at Iona University and covers only the cost of tuition. All other charges including program fees, books late fees and collection fees, are not covered.

Individuals who are eligible for any Iona funded award or scholarships are only eligible to receive the Tuition Remission benefit. Individuals who are eligible for Tuition Remission from their employer are not eligible for Iona University Tuition Remission.  

GRADUATE TUITION REMISSION IS TAXED UNDER IRS REGULATIONS

Graduate-level tuition remission is subject to income tax withholding. Employees enrolled in graduate courses will be exempt from income tax withholding for the first $5,250 of the graduate tuition remission benefit per calendar year. The value of the tuition in excess of $5,250 in one calendar year is accounted for as a taxable benefit to the employee. Please see the IRS link below for further detail.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-benefits-for-education-information-center 

The only exception to Graduate Tuition Remission taxation, IRS Regulations (Section 127), are graduate courses or programs required by the employer as a condition of employment to maintain the employee's current position and/or enhance the employees’ knowledge of their current job. If the employee believes they are tax exempt based on the IRS criteria, they should complete the Graduate Tuition Tax Exemption Certification Form. This form is available below.

Tax Exemption Application Form for Employees Receiving Graduate Tuition Remission

Certification of Tuition Remission Form

Withdrawals and Drops