Tuition Remission

University System of Maryland Tuition Remission: Take advantage of one of the many great benefits of employment at the University System of Maryland

Tuition remission is a program that provides employees with an opportunity to take classes at a University System of Maryland institution with waived tuition.

For questions regarding Tuition Remission, please contact the Benefits office at 410-706-2616 or HRBenefits@umaryland.edu.

Apply for Tuition Remission   |   Eligibility   |   Deadlines   |   Frequently Asked Questions   |   Policies and Resources

Apply for Tuition Remission

Eligible UMB faculty/staff who are taking courses or who have dependents taking courses at any USM institution can use the Tuition Remission system below. To use this system for a spouse or dependent child you must have the Student’s Campus ID of the USM institution they attend.

Apply now

If you are a Retiree or applying to Morgan State University, Baltimore City Community College, or St. Mary’s College of Maryland please use the paper Application For Tuition Remission form and email the completed form to HRBenefits@umaryland.edu

 

Eligibility

Employee 

All regular full-time faculty/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). Tuition remission also applies to fellows, graduate research assistants, and graduate teaching assistants but does not apply to their family members.

Please note that the amount or availability of the benefit varies for you, your spouse, or your dependents are determined by your hire date. Please see the tuition remission policy for details.

Contingent Category II Employees 

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. 

Spouse and Dependent Children

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 in 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 for details.

Deadlines

USM Tuition Remission Deadlines and Restrictions

The 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.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible? ▾

All regular faculty and staff employed at least 50 percent are eligible for tuition remission. Contractual employees are only eligible to attend classes at their home institution and the benefit is specified in the employment contract.

Please refer to the information under Eligibility above.

What campuses accept the tuition remission program? ▾

All of the University System of Maryland institutions participate in the tuition remission program.

*Some restrictions may apply; please refer to the USM policy*.

How much tuition is waived? ▾

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

Are UMB retirees eligible for tuition benefits? ▾

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

Please refer to the information under Eligibility above.

Are there any programs that are excluded from this program? ▾

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.

Is the department/grant charged for the tuition remission? ▾

No.

Is tuition remission taxable? ▾

  • 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.

Will the letter I receive from the Benefits Office show what my new pay will be with the taxation? ▾

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.

How will I know if I will be taxed? ▾

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 will start.

Can I ask for additional pay periods for the taxation to occur to decrease the taxable amount in my paycheck? ▾

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

The University System of Maryland also hosts a web page for systemwide frequently asked questions.

Policies and Resources

Policy for Faculty and Staff

Policy for Spouses and Dependent Children of Faculty and Staff

For job-related courses which are not available as a practical matter at any USM or reciprocal institution, please refer instead to the information on Tuition Reimbursement.