HUMAN RESOURCES

Tuition benefit eligibility is based on your most recent hire date in a benefits-eligible full-time or part-time position. If you leave and return to a benefits-eligible role within six months, your prior service and benefits status will be reinstated for tuition benefits. A break in benefits-eligible service longer than six months will result in new hire status, and tuition benefits will align with those available at your rehire date. A hire date for employment as a non-benefits-eligible employee, such as a temporary employee or student worker, is not considered for tuition benefits.

Note: This rule determines your hire date and is separate and different from the rule that determines your continuous, full-time, benefits-eligible service prior to the beginning of the term.

Benefits and eligibility can change at any time, and this is not a guarantee of eligibility or payment.

Some tuition benefits require continuous, full-time, benefits-eligible service before the term begins. A break in such service under six months will be reinstated without the loss of prior service; a break in such service over six months restarts the waiting period (see Reinstatement). Separate rules apply to part-time and non-benefits-eligible service.

Part-time, benefits eligible service: Continuous, part-time, benefits-eligible service immediately before full-time employment may count as half credit toward tuition benefits if the transition occurs before January 1, 2026. On or after that date: 1) no credit is given for part-time service and 2) any part-time service over six months will reset your continuous full-time service to zero.

Non-benefits-eligible service: Time worked as a non-benefits-eligible employee, such as a temporary employee or student worker, does not provide any service credit for tuition benefits.

Reinstatement: If you end full-time, benefits-eligible employment and return to full-time, benefits-eligible employment within six months, your prior service will be reinstated and considered continuous. However, time not employed in a full-time, benefits-eligible position does not count toward the waiting period. A break in full-time, benefits-eligible employment of longer than six months resets your continuous full-time service calculation to zero.

Benefits and eligibility can change at any time, and this is not a guarantee of eligibility or payment.

Those hired before January 1, 2026 may recevie a 90% discount on Northwestern tuition to a maximum of $12,000 for courses that earn credit hours or $5,250 for non-credit courses. The $5,250 limit is included in the total $12,000 limit for the year.

Those hired on or after January 1, 2026 may recevie a 90% discount on Northwestern tuition to a maximum of $5,250. This limit is regardless of if the course earns credit hours or not. 

You only need to apply once per calendar year.  You should apply for the benefit after you enroll in courses in CAESAR for the first time that calendar year.  The reduced tuition benefit will be applied to your CAESAR account typically within 5-10 business days from when the application was approved. Note: for applications submitted for Winter term, the discount will not appear on your bill until the December invoice. 

Note, the application is approved for a calendar year, not academic year.  So if you start classes in September (Fall term) and then apply for benefits at that time, that application is only good for courses that begin before 12/31 of that year.  If you continue to take courses in the following year, you will need to apply for that calendar year.

You are eligible if you are a full-time, benefits-eligible employee at Northwestern University, with at least three years of continuous, full-time benefits-eligible service, earning less than $100,000 annually before taxes, and are an actively working employee on the University payroll. If you have any questions, please email askHR@northwestern.edu.

Yes, continuous, full-time, benefits-eligible service is required. Continuous, part-time, benefits- eligible service will be pro-rated, provided you are full-time, benefits-eligible at the time you wish to use the benefit.

Time worked as a temporary employee is non-benefits-eligible and does not count. Service years consist of continuous service in benefits-eligible positions only. Part-time, benefits-eligible service will be pro-rated toward the full-time requirement, for example: two years at 50% time would be one year of full-time. Employees must be in a full-time, benefits-eligible position when requesting tuition benefits. For an accurate reporting of your eligibility, please email askHR@northwestern.edu.

To qualify for the Enhanced Employee Reduced (EER) Tuition benefit, you must be an actively working employee, who is currently on the University payroll. Positions with no salary do not meet the requirements.

Yes, the Employee Reduced (ER) Tuition benefit – 90% reduced tuition up to $12,000 per calendar year – is available to all full-time, benefits-eligible employees for classes that begin after their full- time, benefits-eligible hire date.

No, each of the Educational Assistance plans has its own application in the myHR Self ServicePortal. An application is required for each tuition benefit you wish to receive. If you are taking classes using the Employee Reduced (ER) Tuition benefit and reach your three-year anniversary mid-calendar year, please submit an Enhanced Employee Reduced (EER) Tuition benefit application to receive the Enhanced benefit for terms beginning on or after your anniversary date.

Yes, the Employee Reduced (ER) and Enhanced Employee Reduced (EER) Tuition benefit plans are available to all Northwestern schools and courses billed through Student Finance and CAESAR.

The reduced tuition benefit will be applied to your account typically within 5-10 business days from when the application was approved or when you enrolled in the course, which ever happens last. If it has already been longer than this, you may have reached the $12,000 employee annual limit. You may contact Student Finance at studentaccounts-ev@northwestern.edu to inquire.

Please apply to the program of interest. Once you are admitted into the program, please submit a tuition benefit application for the applicable term. Enroll in classes when enrollment is available.

To be eligible for Employee Portable Tuition Benefits, your last benefits-eligible hire date must be before January 1, 2020.  See the How is my hire date determined for all tuition benefits? FAQ under General Eligibility above for information on rehire/reinstatement rules.

The Employee Portable Tuition Benefit will pay a maximum of $5,250 in tuition benefits for courses that began in the calendar year. The annual limit is based on the date the course began, not when the course ends, application is submitted for reimburesement, or when the benefit is paid. The annual limit is combined with benefits received through the Employee Reduced Tuition Benefits. 

If a benefit is paid for courses in the previous calendar year, and total Employee Portable, Employee Certificate, and Employee Reduced tuition benefits paid in the current calendar year exceed $5,250, you will owe income tax on benefits over this limit. 

The benefit is based on the date the course began, not when the course ends, application is submitted for reimburesement, or when the benefit is paid. Therefore, a certificate course that began in 2025 but ends in 2026 will be covered under 2025 benefits. Review timelimits for submitted an application. 

If a benefit is paid for courses in the previous calendar year, and total Employee Portable, Employee Certificate, and Employee Reduced tuition benefits paid in the current calendar year exceed $5,250, you will owe income tax on benefits over this limit. 

Eligibility for the Dependent Reduced Tuition Benefit is based on your hire date and continuous employment before the start of the term.  See the General Eligibility FAQs above for more information on hire date and continuous employment rules.

You must have five-years of continuous, full-time, benefits-eligible employment immidatly prior to the start of the term.

You may receive tuition benefits up to 50% of total tuition. Lifetime per dependent limits apply: 8 full-time academic semesters or 12 full-time academic quarters.

You only need to apply once per calendar year.  You should apply for the benefit after your dependent has enrolled in courses in CAESAR for the first time that calendar year.  Tv. Note: for applications submitted for Winter term, the discount will not appear on your bill until the December invoice. 

Note, the application is approved for a calendar year, not academic year.  So if your dependent start sclasses in September (Fall term) and you apply for benefits at that time, that application is only good for courses that begin before 12/31 of that year.  If they continue to take courses in the following year, you will need to apply for that calendar year.

Scholarships and grants are included in the Dependent Portable Tuition Benefit calculation even if they are not exclusively applicable to tuition.  If scholarships and grants equal less than 50% of the tuition, then the benefit is 50% of the total tuition. If scholarships and grants equal more than 50% of tuition, then the benefit is equal to the tuition minus the scholarships and grants (the tuition benefit plus scholarships and grants can never be more than the tuition).

Eligibility for the Dependent Portable Tuition Benefit is based on your hire date and continuous employment before the start of the term.  See the General Eligibility FAQs above for more information on hire date and continuous employment rules.

You must have five-years of continuous benefits eligible employment immidatly prior to the start of the term.

Those hired before January 1, 2026 will be eligible for tuition benefits up to 50% of total tuition. Those hired on/after January 1, 2026 will be eligible for tuition benefits up to 50% of total tuition. 

Lifetime per dependent limits apply: 8 full-time academic semesters or 12 full-time academic quarters.

Scholarships and grants are included in the Dependent Portable Tuition Benefit calculation even if they are not exclusively applicable to tuition.  If scholarships and grants equal less than 50% of the tuition, then the benefit is 50% of the total tuition. If scholarships and grants equal more than 50% of tuition, then the benefit is equal to the tuition minus the scholarships and grants (the tuition benefit plus scholarships and grants can never be more than the tuition).

Approved Dependent Portable Tuition benefit amounts may be paid to the employee or to the student's institution. 

To the employee: 

• The application must include proof of full payment.
• Tuition benefits will be processed through payroll and paid via direct deposit. If you have multiple accounts designated for your payroll direct deposit, the tuition benefit may be disbursed to all accounts. Please contact Benefits if you do not want this to occur.

To the institution: 

• Checks are made payable to the school.
• Checks are issued by Accounts Payable and forwarded to Benefits for pick up, or mailing to the employee. Northwestern will not mail the check to your dependent's institution directly.
• Employees are responsible for getting the payment from Northwestern to the student's institution.