Educational Assistance and Tuition Plans

The purpose of the Educational Assistance, Reduced Tuition and Portable Tuition Plans is to provide financial assistance to full-time University employees who are taking courses at Northwestern University and to an employee's spouse or dependent child who are taking undergraduate courses at Northwestern or at other accredited schools.

The benefit amount is based on the individual's number of years of qualifying uninterrupted University service. Effective January 1, 2004, qualifying years of service includes periods of part-time University service for the Reduced and Portable Tuition Plan.

A completed application must be submitted to the Benefits Division by December 31st of the calendar year for which the benefit is being requested.

To qualify for tuition benefits, an individual must have full-time employment status as of the first day of the term for which the benefit is being requested.

For more information:

Summary Plan Description

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition Benefit Applications

What plans are available?

Educational Assistance Benefits

Courses taken by employees at Northwestern University. No prior years of Qualified Service is required.

PROGRAM OF STUDY	TUITION BENEFIT
School of Continuing Studies
Undergraduate Study	85%
Professional Development Programs	85%
Graduate Study	75%
Day School Programs
Undergraduate Study	75%
Graduate Study	75%
NOTE: The maximum educational assistance benefit is $10,000 per calendar year. The Internal Revenue Code specifies that educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate study above $5,250 per year for undergraduate and graduate study must be included as non-cash compensation and added to an employee's taxable wages.

Portable Tuition Benefits

Undergraduate courses taken by dependent children at schools other than Northwestern University. Eligibility requires 5 or more years of Qualified Service.

Required Qualified Service

TUITION BENEFIT

5 years

Up to 40% of billed tuition, not to exceed 40% of NU tuition

8 years*

100% of billed tuition up to $2,808 per calendar year

12 years*

100% of billed tuition up to $5,616 per calendar year

* Eligibility requires date of hire prior to January 1, 2000. Employees hired prior to January 1, 2000 may choose either the percentage or flat amount plan for each child in a family. Once the percentage plan is chosen for a child, an individual may not later choose the flat amount plan for that same child.

NOTE: The amount of tuition benefit takes into account billed tuition and mandatory fees minus financial aid such as scholarships and grants. Benefits are provided for up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters and up to age 25.

Academic Term	% Benefit	NU Academic Year Tuition	Maximum Benefit Per Semester	Maximum Benefit Per Quarter
Spring/Winter 2009	40%	$36,756	$7,350	$4,900
Fall 2008	37%	$36,756	$6,800	$4,533
Spring/Winter 2008	37%	$35,064	$6,487	$4,325
Fall 2007	35%	$35,064	$6,136	$4,090

Reduced Tuition Plan

Undergraduate Courses Taken by the spouse and dependent children at Northwestern University.

PROGRAM OF STUDY	TUITION BENEFIT
Undergraduate Day School (Individuals pursuing an undergraduate degree or teaching certificate)
5 years	Up to 40%
8 years*	Up to 60%
12 years*	Up to 90%
School of Continuing Studies
6 months	Up to 85%
* Eligibility requires date of hire prior to January 1, 2000. NOTE: The amount of tuition benefit takes into account billed tuition minus forms of financial aid. Mandatory fees such as laboratory fees are not eligible expenses for the Reduced Tuition benefit. Day Program study benefits are provided to a dependent child for up to 8 semesters or 12 quarters and are limited to undergraduate study toward a degree or teaching certificate. Dependent child benefits are provided up to age 25.