Tuition assistance

If you are an eligible employee (defined in the next section), 75% of your tuition and supplemental fees can be waived for college-level credit courses. This 75-percent reduction applies to up to six credit hours per semester, except for the summer session when you may receive the same reduction for up to three credit hours.

The full 100 percent of tuition and supplemental fees are waived if an employee audits courses on their own, or at the request of the department head.

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces should consult the veteran services office on your campus to learn more about special programs and tuition benefits available only to veterans.

Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction benefits may be taxable; see provision II.D in the following for additional details:

• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (Prior to Fall 2023)
• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (As of Fall 2023)

Provided class space is available, 100 percent of your tuition, supplemental fees and student activity fees can be waived if you are a retiree who was considered an eligible employee before you retired. The waiver is available for any college-level credit courses. Books and other expenses and costs must be paid by the retiree.

Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction benefits may be taxable; see provision II.D in the following for additional details:

• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (Prior to Fall 2023)
• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (As of Fall 2023)

The University provides a 50-percent reduction in tuition for eligible spouses and dependents of employees who have accrued at least one year of continuous, full-time service with the University prior to the deadline for regular registration. This reduction is available for up to 140 hour of college-credit courses at a UM System institution.² Only tuition is reduced under this program. Activity fees, late fees, books and other expenses are the responsibility of the student.

Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction benefits may be taxable; see provision II.D in the following for additional details:

• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (Prior to Fall 2023)
• HR-303 Educational Assistance and Tuition Reduction Program for University Employees and Their Spouses/Dependents (As of Fall 2023)

You are eligible for a 75-percent reduction in tuition and fees if you are one of the following:

1. A benefit-eligible employee who:
   • is Administrative, Service and Support staff;
   • has passed the probationary period prior to the deadline for regular registration. Immediately prior to regular registration, the employee must have completed a six-month period of continuous employment; and
   • remains a University of Missouri System employee through the beginning of the course(s) in which enrolled.³
2. A benefit-eligible academic employee.

You are not eligible if you are a student or employee in a position considered to be student employment (including, but not limited to, graduate teaching assistants, graduate research assistants, graduate instructors and student assistants).

You are eligible for a 100-percent reduction in tuition and fees if you are a retiree who fell into one of the two categories of eligible employees when you were in active service—i.e., if you were a regular employee or fully benefit-eligible academic as described in the previous section.

A spouse or dependent is eligible for a reduction of 50 percent of tuition if the employee to whom they are related is:

• currently employed as an eligible employee, as described above,
• has accumulated at least one year of continuous, full-time service with the University at some point, and
• employed with the University immediately prior to the deadline for regular registration.

Spouses and dependents receiving tuition reduction benefits at the time of a sponsoring employee’s death will continue to receive those benefits for up to 140 credit hours. Similarly, if a sponsoring employee chooses to retire while a spouse or dependent is receiving reduced tuition, the benefit will continue beyond the sponsoring employee’s retirement up to 140 credit hours. In the event of a sponsoring employee’s death or retirement, a spouse or dependent’s educational assistance benefits will last no longer than five years after that death or retirement.

See the "how to enroll" box below for special instructions when seeking spousal/dependent tuition assistance for the first time.

Consult the HR Manual (Policy HR-303) for specifics on who qualifies as a “spouse” and as a “dependent.”