Educational Assistance Plans

These plans provide financial assistance to full-time, benefits-eligible employees and retirees who have higher education expenses for themselves and their eligible dependents. The benefit amount is based on the employee's number of years of qualifying uninterrupted University service.

To qualify for tuition benefits, you must have full-time, benefits-eligible employment status as of the first day of the term for which the benefit is being requested. Even if eligibility is lost during a term, the tuition benefit is provided through the end of that term of study.

Northwestern Employee Educational Assistance plans include:

  • Employee Reduced Tuition (ER) for courses taken by employees at Northwestern University, including the School of Professional Studies non-credit professional development certificate programs.
  • Enhanced Employee Reduced Tuition (EER) for courses taken by employees at Northwestern University, including the School of Professional Studies non-credit professional development certificate programs.
  • Employee NU Certificate Tuition (EC) for non-credit, short duration certificate programs billed outside of CAESAR taken by employee at Northwestern University.
  • Employee Portable Tuition (EP) for job-related, undergraduate and graduate level courses taken by employees at schools other than Northwestern University.

Northwestern Dependent Educational Assistance plans include:

  • Dependent Reduced Tuition (DRU0, DRU1, DRU2) for undergraduate courses taken by spouses and dependent children of employees at Northwestern University.
  • Dependent Portable Tuition (DPO, DP1) for university undergraduate courses taken by employees' dependent children at schools other than Northwestern University.

Using the Online Application: please follow these directions to submit your tuition benefit online.

  1. Use a Firefox browser.
  2. Log in to myHR with your NetID, password, and Multifactor Authentication (MFA).
  3. Select the "Benefits" tile and choose "My Tuition Benefit Application."
  4. Select "Submit New Application".
  5. Select the "Tuition Benefit Year."
  6. Use the magnifying glass icon to select the "Plan ID" (your eligible tuition benefit options will appear).
  7. Follow the instructions to complete your application and upload required documentation.

Deadlines

You must submit a completed online application for the desired educational assistance plan by the appropriate deadline.

Educational Assistance Plan Plan ID Deadline
Employee Reduced ER Online applications must be submitted within the calendar year for which the benefit is being requested. Only one application is required for the full calendar year, so choose the earliest eligible term. 2018 applications are due by 12/31/2018.
Enhanced Employee Reduced EER
Dependent Reduced DRU0, DRU1, DRU2
Dependent Portable DP0, DP1 An online application must be submitted for each term within 1 year of the start date of the term.
Employee Certificate EC One online application must be submitted for each term within 90 days of completing the course(s).
Employee Portable EP

Forms

Supervisor Acknowledgement Form - Employee Portable

Supervisor Acknowledgement Form - Northwestern Certificate

Waiver of Service Period

For new hires as of 9/1/2014: You may qualify to waive part or all of the 5-year Northwestern service period for the educational assistance plans. You must have worked in a full-time, benefits-eligible position at a FAFSA-qualified college or university offering a comparable tuition benefit immediately prior to joining Northwestern University as a faculty or staff member. Please complete the top portion of the waiver form and have your previous employer complete the bottom portion. Return the form to the Benefits Division at educational-assistance@northwestern.edu for approval.

Music Academy Reduced Tuition for non-degree lessons taken by employees of Northwestern, their spouses and dependent children.

Educational Assistance Plans

Review the application process for additional information.