A Division of Administration and Finance

Tuition Remission

Take University of Maryland Courses Tuition-Free

Tuition remission is a program that provides eligible employees, their spouses and dependents, and UMB retirees with an opportunity to take classes at a University System of Maryland institution. The amount or availability of the benefit varies for you, your spouse, or your dependents and is determined by your employment status and hire date.

Determine Your Eligibility

Regular full-time faculty and staff employed at least 50% are eligible for tuition remission for up to (8) credits per semester at any USM institution or reciprocal institution (Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and Baltimore City Community College).

Part-time faculty and staff may receive tuition remission in proportion to their full-time equivalent (FTE).

Fellows, graduate research assistants, and graduate teaching assistants may also apply for tuition remission, however, their family members are not eligible.

Contingent Category II employees are eligible for tuition remission for the employee only, and the tuition remission only applies to courses taken at UMB. Tuition remission for Contingent Category II employees who are part-time will be prorated in accordance with their FTE.

Spouses and Dependent Children of regular employees hired after 7/1/1992 are eligible for tuition remission for their legally married spouse or dependent child (biological, legally adopted, or stepchild) if they meet the following criteria:

The employee has two years of full-time employment within the USM.
Dependent children must be enrolled in courses toward a first undergraduate degree at any USM or reciprocal institution (Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or Baltimore City Community College).
Spouses are not eligible for remission at reciprocal institutions (Morgan State University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, or Baltimore City Community College). They are only eligible for courses toward a first undergraduate degree within the USM.
If the dependent child or spouse has already earned an undergraduate degree from any institution, they are not eligible for tuition remission.
For employees hired before 7/1/1990, please see the tuition remission policy PDF for details.

Deadlines, Restrictions, and Reciprocity

The application deadlines for courses being taken at other institutions are set by each institution and may differ from UMB's deadlines. A late letter is required after the deadline.

For St. Mary's College: Reciprocity for UMB, UB, UMCES, and USMO has been amended. Please consult with your HR Office for more information.

Start My Application for Tuition Remission

Apply for Tuition Remission

To use the Tuition Remission system for a spouse or dependent child you must have the Student’s Campus ID of the USM institution they attend.

See Application Portal

Baltimore City Community College or St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Paper applications are still required for courses at these institutions. Download and email the completed form to HRBenefits@umaryland.edu.

Fill Out Form

UMB Retirees Tuition Remission Application

Follow the instructions in the User Manual - How to Access the Tuition Remission System as a Retiree PDF for step-by-step instructions on how to apply as a retiree. All retirees will use the Tuition Remission system to apply. Please note, we will no longer accept paper forms.

All of the University System of Maryland institutions participate in the tuition remission program, however, some restrictions may apply.

Tuition is waived for up to 8 credits per semester. The number of credits is prorated for employees working less than full-time.

Yes, the same rules apply to retirees and active employees.

The MD and DDS degree programs at UMB are excluded. Employees should contact the Records and Registration Office at the institution to be attended to learn which programs are excluded.

No.

Employees: Yes, per IRS guidelines, if the value of the tuition remission for graduate-level courses in a calendar year exceeds $5,250. The value of the tuition remission will be added to the employee’s earnings and taxed over one pay period if the taxable amount added to your income is $200 or less. If the amount exceeds $200, the taxation will occur over four or five pay periods as designated by the Maryland Central Payroll Bureau.

Retirees: Yes, retirees will be billed by the University of Maryland, Baltimore Central Billing Office for the taxes owed on any taxable tuition remission.

Spouses and dependents: Yes, separate taxation rules apply for spouses and dependents. All graduate-level courses are taxable. See FAQs Spouse and Dependent.

Keep school bills and monitor the cost of each graduate-level course taken. Each USM school has different rates. The UMB Benefits Office notifies employees approximately one week before the taxation starts.

No, the letters are prepared before payroll has been entered, so the Benefits Office does not have your net pay information. To review your paycheck online the Wednesday before payday, employees can go to the Payroll Online Service Center.

Per the Maryland Central Payroll Bureau, the deduction periods cannot be extended.

Policy for Faculty, Staff, and Retirees

Learn more about policy VII-4.10

Policy for UMB Employee Spouses and Dependent Children (PDF)

Learn more about policy VII-4.20

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