The tuition benefits apply only to full and part-time benefited employees. Eligibility for tuition benefits for benefited employees does vary by length of benefited service. The amount of the tuition credits also depends on the program of study (undergraduate, graduate or professional studies) and the benefited status (full-time or part-time).
Tuition Benefits at UMass campuses
Employees
- Benefited employees of the University of Massachusetts receive tuition benefits for undergraduate and graduate programs at all University of Massachusetts campuses, excluding the UMass Medical MD program and UMass School of Law. Tuition benefits are available at UMass campuses if the employee's benefited hire date is on or prior to the first day of classes.
- Professional studies classes at UMass Lowell: UMass Lowell eligible employees receive 100% tuition credit.
- Continuing education classes at other UMass campuses: For continuing education classes taken at other UMass campuses, tuition credit is offered at 50% to eligible employees.
Spouses and eligible dependents
- Tuition benefits are available at UMass campuses for spouses and eligible dependents (under the age of 26) if the employee's benefited hire date is on or prior to the first day of classes. Employees who have completed two years of full-time benefited service or four years of part-time benefited service at any of the UMass campuses will receive additional credits off the tuition costs for their spouse and eligible dependents taking undergraduate courses at UMass (excluding online or continuing education courses).
- Professional studies classes at UMass Lowell: Eligible spouses and dependents receive 50% tuition credit.
- Continuing Education classes at other UMass campuses: For continuing education classes taken at other UMass campuses, tuition credit is offered at 50% to the spouses and dependents of eligible employees.
Tuition Waiver at other State Colleges / Universities
Employees with six (6) months or more of full-time benefited service (or equivalent benefited part-time service) are eligible for tuition waiver at other Massachusetts public community or state colleges/universities. Please check with the other Massachusetts public college's student financial services or bursar's office for the tuition benefits which might be available.
UMass Tuition Benefits for Spouses and Dependents
There were changes in the law with respect to tuition retention that impacted current tuition and fee waivers for benefited employees and their spouses and dependents taking courses at UMass.
With the implementation of tuition retention - which eliminates the process of the university giving tuition to the state that returns it via a budget line - the terminology related to tuition benefits will change. Waivers will now be referred to as Student Tuition Credits and the curriculum/operating fee has been rolled into tuition. The university has also clarified that in-state rates will be charged to all faculty and staff (and their spouses and dependents), regardless of residence and that a dependent child may be established by means other than Internal Revenue Service filings.
Below is a summary of the Student Tuition Credit structure as of Fall 2018.
Student Tuition Credits (Non-Professional Studies Classes)
Type of Employee/Relation and Program | Tuition Credit Percentage |
|---|---|
| Current/Active University Employees1 | |
| Graduate Courses or Programs | 100% |
| Undergraduate Courses or Programs | 100% |
| Retired University Employees2 | 100% |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Current / Active University Employees | |
| Graduate Courses or Programs | 20% |
| Undergraduate Courses or Programs | |
| University Employee w/ 2+ FTE Years of Service | 60% |
| University Employee w/ < 2 FTE Years of Service | 15% |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Retired University Employees3 | 60% |
| Spouses and Dependent Children of Deceased University Employees4 | 60% |
- 1 Part-time University Employees are eligible for up to seven (7) credits per semester.
- 2 One (1) program of study.
- 3 One (1) program of study; undergraduate only.
- 4 With at least five (5) years of FTE University Service; one (1) program of study; undergraduate only.
NOTE: A terminated University Employee (or the Spouse or Dependent Child of a Terminated University Employee) may complete a semester or course for which a Student Tuition Credit was previously applied.
Other Details
Dependents and spouses of benefited employees on unpaid leave (other than military leave, workers’ compensation and FMLA) are not eligible for this benefit. This benefit is in effect only for the period of time in which the employee is employed by the university. Should the employee resign, or is laid off, or otherwise separates from his/her position, the benefit shall be extended only through the semester in which the separation occurs. However, the spouse and dependent children of retired or deceased employees may retain eligibility under the below described conditions:
If an eligible employee retires while a dependent child or spouse is enrolled in an undergraduate program of study of undergraduate degree program, the spouse or child may complete such program, provided the enrollment is continuous. The Student Tuition Credit is equal to 60 percent of the applicable tuition for the remainder of their program of study, provided that the program of study is continuous.
If an eligible employee who has completed at least five (5) years of full-time equivalent benefited service dies, the surviving spouse and dependent children shall be eligible to enter and/or complete one full undergraduate program of study or undergraduate degree program for certain tuition benefits. The Student Tuition Credit is equal to 60 percent of the applicable tuition for one undergraduate program of study, whether or not the spouse or dependent child of the deceased employee is enrolled at the time of the university employee's death.
This summary outlines the program for benefited employees. Active adjunct faculty who have been employed for more than one semester are entitled to take one course per year at UMass Lowell at no cost.
As with any summary, if there is a conflict between information in this summary and any programs or benefits outlined in a collective bargaining agreement or other policy, then the agreement or policy prevails. If a member of a union, please refer to the respective union agreement on the Labor Relations website.
Forms
For UML employees (or their dependents) attending classes at other University of Massachusetts campuses (Amherst, Boston, Dartmouth) or Massachusetts public colleges, please submit the Tuition Remission form for campuses other than UMass Lowell (pdf) to Human Resources - Benefits. It may be emailed to Benefits@uml.edu or mailed.
Contact the Benefits Office for more information or questions:
Phone: 978-934-4100
Fax: 978-934-3045
Email: Benefits@uml.edu
The HR main office phone number is: 978-934-3560.