Tuition Remission

Please review all information completely, including the sections on "Taxation of Tuition", and "Additional Important Tuition Remission Information." Tuition Remission Forms can be found in the applicable section, based on the individual (employee, spouse, or dependent child) who is the student.

Note: there are two different forms for employees based on whether the course is taken at Emerson or if it is a Pro-Arts Consortium course.

Deadline and Process

1. Completed tuition waiver forms must be received by Human Resources at least one week before the start of that semester. They must also be completed each semester!
2. Read through all sections of this web page to understand the eligibility, coverage, course exclusions, financial considerations, deadlines and required forms.
3. Complete required forms: with signature approval from their manager and Human Resources/Academic Affairs prior to course registration
   1. Full-time staff and faculty: Employee Tuition Remission Form. Requests for employee tuition remission for the courses through the Pro-Arts Consortium (Berklee, Boston Architectural College, Boston Conservatory, Mass Art, New England Conservatory, School of the Museum of Fine Arts) should be submitted using the Pro-Arts Consortium Tuition Remission Form Employees are advised to consult with Emerson College's Registrar's Office and the Registrar's Office at the participating institution prior to signing up for courses. (Note that the Pro-Arts program runs for fall and spring semesters only; not for summer semester).
   2. Affiliated faculty: Affiliated Faculty Tuition Remission Form
   3. Spouse of employee: Spousal Tuition Remission Form
   4. Dependent child of employee: Dependent Child Tuition Remission Form - note this form must be filled out and submitted in advance of each semester the child is attending Emerson.
4. HR confirms eligibility and submits forms to the Registrar’s Office. Note: If there is a course change due to the registration process, the employee simply needs to update the original tuition remission form and make both their manager and HR aware of the change.
5. Registering for classes:
   1. Dependent children who are matriculated students register along with other matriculating students and should refer to Courses & Registration for dates.
   2. Matriculated employees and spouses will receive a PIN number required for registration.
   3. Non-matriculated employees, spouses, and dependent children will be registered by the Registrar’s Office on the Friday before the first day of classes.

Eligibility and Coverage

Employees must be hired prior to the first day of class in order to receive tuition remission benefits for the current semester.

Full-time Staff (excluding Casual Workers)

• Tuition and fees 
• May enroll in up to eight credits (undergraduate or graduate-level courses) per semester on a space-available basis 
• Summer is considered one semester; an employee may enroll in up to eight credits over the summer. 
• Intersession course credits are counted towards the semester immediately following.
• Eligible to cross-register for courses at other participating colleges through the Pro-Arts Consortium. 
• With the approval from their manager, an employee may take courses during the regularly scheduled workday (not to exceed four hours per week). If during the workday, the employee's manager must provide an explanation of how the time is to be made up. This explanation must be stated on the Tuition Remission Form.

Tenure/Tenure Track and Term Full-Time Faculty

• Tuition and fees  
• May enroll in up to four credits per semester.  
• Summer is considered one semester; a spouse may enroll in up to four credits over the summer. 
• Intersession course credits are counted towards the semester immediately following. 
• Eligible to cross-register for courses at other participating colleges through the Pro-Arts Consortium.  
• For additional benefits for dependents of full-time faculty covered under the ECCAAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, please consult the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  

Affiliated Faculty

Certain affiliated faculty members may be eligible for tuition remission for graduate courses at the College. See section 4.15 of the AFEC-AAUP agreement for more information. For any questions, contact Academic Affairs.

Spouse of Employee

• Tuition only. All other fees are the responsibility of the spouse or employee.  
• May enroll in up to four credits each semester for undergraduate or graduate-level courses taken at Emerson College.   
• Does not include courses offered through cross-registration with member institutions of the Pro-Arts Consortium.  

Dependent Child of Employee

A dependent child (as defined by the IRS) of an eligible full-time staff or faculty (tenure/tenure track and term faculty) with at least two years of service:

• Tuition only.   All other fees (non-matriculated: registration fees; matriculated students: all fees including student services fee, registration fee, and room/board) are the responsibility of the student or employee.  
• May enroll in up to 16 credits per semester for undergraduate or graduate-level courses.   

A dependent child of part-time staff (excluding Casual Staff) who has worked a minimum of 26 hours per week for at least two years:  

• Tuition only - on a prorated basis. Contact HR for more information..  All other fees (non-matriculated: registration fees; matriculated students: all fees including student services fee, registration fee, and room/board) are the responsibility of the student or employee.  
• May enroll in up to 16 credits per semester for undergraduate or graduate-level courses.   

Course Information

Professional Education and Alternative Education courses are included under this policy. For eligible courses, there is a limit of two courses per semester for any eligible employee or child; one course per semester for a spouse.

Excluded from Tuition Remission:

• Directed Studies/Projects  
• Programs with external partners including:
  • Global BFA
  • Speech@Emerson  
  • Online Masters of Arts in Marketing (formerly known as Digital Marketing & Data Analytics)
• MU 253 and MU 254  
• The following online certificate programs/courses:
  • Content Strategy
  • Digital Marketing
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Social Media & Digital PR
• Two-credit courses MU353 and MU354 unless a matriculated performing arts major  
• All High School and Pre-College Programs  
• Global Pathways  

Additionally, the spousal and dependent child benefit does not include courses offered through cross-registration with member institutions of the Pro-Arts Consortium.

Taxation and Financial Considerations

For a complete breakdown, see Eligibility and Coverage.

Per current Internal Revenue Service regulations, there may be income tax liabilities arising from tuition remission as follows:

• Undergraduate tuition for the employee, dependent child, or spouse is not taxable.
• Graduate Courses, Employee: The employee will be taxed (federal and state taxes) on the value of the graduate-level courses taken by the employee, in excess of $5,250 per calendar year, unless the courses meet the requirements for exemption from taxation as job-related education. To request a job-related exemption for taxation, complete the Graduate Level Tax Exclusion Request Form. Completed forms must be submitted to Human Resources at least one  week before the start of classes for that semester. 
• Graduate Courses, Spouse, and Dependent Child: The employee will be taxed (federal and state taxes) on the value of graduate-level courses taken by a spouse or dependent child.
• If an employee terminates after being approved for tuition remission benefits and before the semester ends, the portion of the benefits not yet taxed will be added to the employee’s gross income and subject to all applicable taxes.
• Funds provided through the Tuition Remission Program may result in a reduction or elimination of other financial aid offerings. Please contact the Financial Aid Department at 617-824-8655 for additional details and assistance.
• All students enrolled at least 75% of full-time (9 credits or more for undergraduate students, and 6 or more for Graduate Students) are required by law to have health insurance. Employees are required to waive the Student Health Insurance for themselves or any dependent that is enrolled at least 75% of full-time and must provide proof of alternative coverage prior to enrollment.
• Dependent children of employees should be aware of the College’s Residency Requirement. Tuition remission does not cover the cost of housing.

Separation from the College

• In the event an employee leaves the college, the Tuition Remission benefit will end. The employee will owe a pro-rated portion of tuition based on their employment termination date.  
• If the tuition benefit recipient takes a complete withdrawal or leave of absence during the first five weeks of a semester, the tuition and tuition benefit will be adjusted according to the College's withdrawal policy.   
• In the event of the death or total disability of an employee while their dependent child is receiving tuition remission, and the dependent is currently attending college, the dependent will be allowed to complete their degree provided the dependent has no voluntary break in attendance or is involuntarily separated from college for disciplinary reasons.