Human Resources

WA State employee tuition exemption program

Last Updated: May 9, 2025

Program overview

The Washington State Employee Tuition Exemption Program is one of the most valuable benefits offered to UW employees. For eligible staff and faculty, this program covers a limited number of credits of qualifying coursework per term on a space available basis at participating Washington state colleges and universities. The UW’s Tuition Exemption Program is governed by Chapter 28B.15.558 RCW and UW Administrative Policy Statement 22.1.

Employee eligibility

To be eligible for tuition exemption, you must be employed at the UW at 50% FTE or more.

  • If you are in a regular classified or represented civil service exempt staff position, you must satisfy your probationary period before becoming eligible for the program.
  • If you are in a regular professional staff position, you are eligible immediately.
  • Employees in nonpermanent and professional staff project appointment positions are not eligible for the program. Spouses and dependents of UW employees are not eligible.

Employment verification and determination of program eligibility is required for each term you wish to use the tuition exemption benefit.

Return to top

Using the tuition exemption at UW campuses

UW and Washington state employees who wish to request a tuition exemption for UW Seattle, UW Bothell and UW Tacoma courses should visit the Registrar’s Tuition Exemption Program webpage for program details and tuition exemption request forms.

Return to top

Using the tuition exemption at non-UW colleges and universities

UW employees who wish to request a tuition exemption for courses at non-UW colleges and universities must:

  1. Apply for admission and be accepted into the college or university you wish to attend.
  2. Follow the college or university’s tuition exemption policy and academic calendar.
  3. Attend the first scheduled class you wish to enroll in to confirm space availability with the instructor and declare your intention to use the Washington State Employee Tuition Exemption benefit.
  4. If the instructor confirms there is space available, you may register for the course. Registration prior to the determination of space availability is prohibited and will disqualify you from utilizing the tuition exemption benefit for that term.
  5. Email hrhelp@uw.edu with a request to complete the employment verification requirement and assess your eligibility for the Washington State Employee Tuition Exemption benefit. Include in your email the following information:
    1. The term and year of enrollment (e.g., Spring, 2025)
    2. Your student ID
    3. Your UW employee ID
    4. Any current tuition exemption request form that the college or university requires. If such a form is not submitted, HR Help will issue a standard employment verification letter indicating your eligibility for the program.
  6. After HR Help receives the request and the required information has been provided, HR Help will respond with an official employment verification letter, or, if provided by the employee, the school’s tuition exemption request form with the employment verification portion completed. Please allow at least 5 business days to process your request.
Enrollment questions for non-UW colleges

If you have questions about admissions, course registration, or whether the tuition exemption can be used for a particular program or course of study, please contact the college or university you’re interested in attending for guidance. Each college and university establish its own admissions procedures, tuition exemption policy, academic calendars, and course restrictions.

Return to top

Additional resources

Return to top