Employee Tuition Benefits
Benefit plans
Northwestern employee tuition benefit 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) benefits are also available to some employees.
- Employee NU Certificate Tuition (EC) for job-related, 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.
- Music Lessons Reduced Tuition (paper application) for non-degree lessons taken by employees of Northwestern, their spouses and dependent children at the Music Academy in the School of Music.
Taxes and tuition
All employee tuition benefits above $5,250 received per calendar year must be taxed as non-cash compensation and added to an employee's taxable wages. See how tuition benefits may impact your paycheck.
Deadlines
You must submit a completed online application for the desired tuition benefit plan by the appropriate deadline.
Tuition Benefit 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. Applications are due by 12/15 in the year you take the course(s). |
Enhanced Employee Reduced | EER | 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. Applications are due by 12/15 in the year you take the course(s). |
Employee Certificate | EC | All courses taken in a term must be included in the single application. The online application must be submitted within 90 days of completing the final course of that term. Benefits paid in the next calendar year are applied to the $5,250 tax limit of the year the benefit is paid. |
Employee Portable | EP | All courses taken in a term must be included in the single application. The online application must be submitted within 90 days of completing the final course of that term. Benefits paid in the next calendar year are applied to the $5,250 tax limit of the year the benefit is paid. |