Navigating UCF Tuition Waivers: A Comprehensive Guide

The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a variety of tuition waivers designed to make education more accessible and affordable. These waivers cater to different student populations, including employees, veterans, senior citizens, and students in specific programs. Understanding the eligibility requirements and application processes for these waivers is crucial for students seeking to reduce their tuition costs. This article provides a detailed overview of the various tuition waivers available at UCF.

Understanding Tuition Waivers

A tuition waiver is a financial aid mechanism that reduces or eliminates the amount of tuition a student is required to pay. These waivers are typically granted based on specific criteria, such as academic merit, financial need, employment status, or participation in particular programs. At UCF, numerous tuition waivers are available, each with its own set of requirements and benefits.

Tuition Waivers Based on Employment

Several tuition waivers at UCF are tied to employment, either at the university itself or within the state of Florida.

UCF Employee Tuition Waivers

UCF offers tuition assistance to eligible employees in the form of tuition waivers, covering up to six credit hours of coursework per semester. Eligible employees include USPS, A&P, Faculty, Executive Service, and all full-time Post-Doctoral scholars/associates. To be eligible for the employee tuition waiver, employees must first meet the University’s admission requirements and be accepted as a student. This requires applying for admission, even as a non-degree-seeking student, prior to class registration.

There are specific eligibility requirements for UCF employees seeking tuition waivers. Employees must be classified as Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), University Support Personnel System (USPS), and Post-Doctoral Scholars on Sabbatical, undergoing professional development, using grants-in-aid, or on medical and educational leave. They must also be employed in an established full-time position with a 1.0 FTE on the date fees are due.

Eligible employees may enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per Fall, Spring and/or Summer terms without payment of tuition and fees on a space-available basis per semester or session, beginning at the date and time specified in the Academic Calendar. Registration activities completed before the employee registration window may result in the waiver being deemed ineligible for use. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Any UCF employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to Student Account Services by or prior to each term’s Fee Payment Deadline. Students are encouraged to list alternate courses on the waiver form to substitute for preferred courses that are closed. Waived amounts above the I.R.S.

Full-time UCF employees who are classified as Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), University Support Personnel System (USPS), and Post Doctoral Scholars on Sabbatical, undergoing professional development, using grants-in-aid, or on medical and educational leave; who are employed in an established full-time position with a 1.0 FTE on the date fees are due, are eligible for a dependent or spouse tuition waiver benefit. Registration activities completed before the employee registration window may result in the waiver being deemed ineligible for use. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Spouses and dependents must submit a completed and signed Tuition Waiver Form to Student Account Services by each term’s Fee Payment Deadline. Students are encouraged to list alternate courses on their waiver form to substitute for preferred courses that are full.

State Employee Tuition Waivers

Full-time state employees who meet academic requirements are entitled to a waiver of tuition and fees. State employees are individuals who work in any of the State of Florida agencies (i.e. Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Families, Department of Transportation etc.). State University employees as well as educators of the different counties of the state are not state employees. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs.

Full-time state employees may be allowed to enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per term on a space-available basis without payment of Tuition and fees. Should the State Employee register for the courses to which the waiver will apply prior to the prescribed date and time, the fee waiver will become invalid and the Employee will be liable for all applicable fees. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. Any State Employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to UCF Student Account Services (MH 109) by each term’s Fee Payment Deadline.

Certificate of Participation (COP) Waiver

A Certificate of Participation (COP) may be issued to persons who supervise student interns for a state university. The holder of a certificate is entitled to receive an exemption of the hourly rate for up to six (6) credit hours during one term of instruction at a state university for undergraduate and graduate level courses.

Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Program

Students who are employed as child protection and child welfare personnel as defined in the Florida Statutes, Title XXIX, Public Health, Chapter 402 Health and Human Services: Miscellaneous Provisions, 402.403 Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Program, are eligible for a tuition and fees exemption for up to six (6) credit hours per term in a master’s degree in social work or certificate program. All child protection and child welfare personnel who participate in the tuition exemption program established under this section must remain employed by the department, a state agency, or a contracted provider for 5 years after completion of a graduate level social work program.

Tuition Waivers for Military Personnel and Veterans

UCF provides several tuition waivers to support military personnel and veterans pursuing higher education.

Purple Heart and Combat Decoration Waiver

Florida resident military personnel who were awarded a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence are eligible for a tuition waiver. In order to receive this benefit, students must submit their DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence was received to the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success on or before the Tuition and Fees Payment Deadline(s) on their first term.

C.W. Bill Young Tuition Waiver Program

Students who are honorably discharged veterans and physically reside in the state while enrolled are eligible for an out-of-state fees tuition waiver. To use this benefit, students must submit their DD-214 form issued at the time of separation from service as documentation to the Office of Military and Veteran Student Success for review and approval.

Deceased Military Member Tuition Exemption

A maximum of 120 credit hours in an authorized undergraduate or postgraduate education may be covered for spouses and dependent children (under 25). Spouses must request to use the benefit within 5 years after the death date of the officer and may continue to receive the benefit until the 10th anniversary. A maximum of 120 credit hours in an authorized undergraduate education or a postgraduate education may be waived for dependent children under 25. To qualify for the tuition exemption benefit, the deceased military member must have been a resident of the state of Florida, or his or her duty post must have been within the state of Florida, at the time of death.

Read also: Understanding USF's Tuition Waiver

Tuition Waivers Based on Age

Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver

Persons 60 years of age or older who meet Florida Residency requirements may register only to audit classes without payment of tuition and application fees. Registration is on a space-available basis and occurs on the last day of regular registration, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar for each term. The Registrar’s Office personnel are responsible for verifying senior citizen status, residency and eligibility for enrollment in the requested courses, as well as enrolling senior citizens in the classes. Then the Registrar’s Office staff delivers the Senior Citizen Audit Registration Forms to Student Account Services for waiver processing by the Fee Payment Deadline each term.

Tuition Waivers for Specific Programs

Graduate Students in School Psychology

Graduate students in a state-approved school psychology program of study are entitled to a waiver of tuition and fees associated with internship credit hours. The School Psychology Program Coordinator will inform Student Account Services of each term’s recipients. Recipients of this waiver will have all tuition and fees waived if the internship is the only course registered. Students must pay tuition and fees for all other registered courses by the Fee Payment Deadline.

Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program

The Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program was created by the Florida Legislature and took effect in the Fall 2021 semester. The tuition waiver is applicable for 110 percent of the required credits of the baccalaureate degree program for which the student is enrolled. Students are not required to apply or request this tuition waiver.

This waiver covers 50% of the tuition and fees for eligible upper-level undergraduate (3000/4000 level) courses required for your approved program of study. The tuition waiver is applied after gift aid, and it will only cover any remaining eligible tuition charges at 50%. The tuition waiver will not result in a refund if gift aid (such as scholarships, grants, third party payments, etc.) has already covered the full cost of tuition and fees. If gift aid does not cover the full cost of tuition, the waiver will only cover 50% of the remaining tuition balance after gift aid is applied.

Dual Enrollment/Early Admissions Program

Students eligible for this program are exempt from paying tuition and applicable fees.

Tuition Waivers for Non-Florida Residents

Grandparent Waiver

Beginning with the 2022-2023 academic year, the state university Grandparent Waiver was created by the Florida Legislature to allow a limited number of out-of-state students with a grandparent who is a legal Florida resident as defined in the Florida Statutes to attend a state university and have non-resident fees waived.

International Linkage Institutes

The Florida Legislature has established 11 International Linkage Institutes. According to statue 1009.21, students who qualify will be eligible for non-resident tuition fee waivers. The Linkage Institutes notifies the students that they are certified to receive an out-of-state exemption/waiver. The student must submit the award letter to Student Account Services prior to the Fee Payment Deadline each term and pay any remaining fees by the Fee Payment Deadline. The letter is very specific and it will state the terms, program of study and the number of hours that the award covers.

Non-Resident Tuition Waiver for Qualified Students

citizens or lawfully present in the United States and meet the following conditions, are eligible for a waiver of out-of-state tuition and fees as dictated by F.S. 1009.26(12)(a): Have attended a secondary school in Florida for three (3) consecutive years immediately before graduating from a high school in this state; have applied for enrollment in an institution of higher education within 24 months after high school graduation; and who submit an official Florida high school transcript as evidence of attendance and graduation.

Need-Based Non-Resident Waivers

Need based non-resident waivers are awarded to entering high school graduates, transfer students and continuing UCF students who are non-Florida residents. The awards are based on academic performance, as well as financial need. There is no separate application to receive this award. Students who apply for financial aid and have been admitted to UCF are automatically considered for this award. Students must file a FAFSA and have the error-free results on file with UCF. Awards are based on the available funds, so students should apply early for consideration. Note: Any combination of UCF-sponsored non-resident waiver awards cannot exceed 95 percent of the total cost of non-Florida resident tuition and fees. The only exception to the full-time enrollment requirement is granted to students during their graduating semester. Exceptions can only be considered if there is funding available for this award program.

UCF-Sponsored Non-Resident Waiver

This scholarship is awarded to entering high school graduates by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance. There is no separate application for this scholarship program. Students who are non-residents will receive their scholarship in the form of a waiver. The UCF sponsored non-resident waiver award will cover up to the full amount offered by Undergraduate Admissions as long as it does not exceed the non-resident fee amount and is not covered by any other resources. Students should refer to their award notification received from Undergraduate Admissions to know the maximum waiver they may be eligible to receive per semester.

These scholarships are awarded to entering out of state high school graduates by Undergraduate Admissions to recognize outstanding academic performance. There is no separate application for this scholarship program.

Reciprocal Student Exchange

The “Reciprocal Student Exchange” is a program in which degree-seeking students from UCF attend a foreign partner university in exchange for students from the partner university attending UCF. Participants must stay registered at their university of origin (home institution).

Scholarship Requirements and Deferments

Students receiving scholarships, including those in the form of waivers, must adhere to specific requirements to maintain their eligibility.

Full-Time Enrollment

Students must enroll full-time (a minimum of 12 UCF credit hours) each fall and spring term. An exception to the full-time enrollment requirement can be granted during a student’s graduating semester. If a student enrolls in less than six UCF hours during their graduating semester, the exception must be reviewed by the UCF Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship Deferment

Students may request a deferment of their scholarship due to extenuating circumstances. Acceptable reasons to defer a scholarship include, but are not limited to: military service, documented medical conditions, internships/Co-Ops, religious missions, etc. At the time of deferment, the student must be meeting the renewal criteria for the scholarship. Students seeking a deferment must complete a State Programs and Scholarships Appeal Form and submit a letter indicating the reason for the request, along with supporting documentation.

Academic Progress

Academic progress is evaluated once per year after spring grades have been posted. Students must complete 24 credit hours between the previous fall and spring terms. Earned the required minimum UCF cumulative GPA by the end of each spring term. Repeat Checking refers to how the University treats classes that you have taken more than once. If you repeat a class, there are implications for your GPA and academic level (freshman, sophomore, etc). However, and normally, repeated classes do not result in additional credit counting towards the degree.

Scholarship Duration

A maximum of 8 terms or until graduation, whichever is less. Students whose major requires 124 or more hours may receive a one term extension (double majors and minors are not considered).

Leave of Absence

If a student needs to take time away from UCF, they must submit a Scholarship Appeal Form and letter stating the reason(s) that they need the time away from UCF. The appeal must be submitted prior to the term(s) that they plan to be away. The UCF Scholarship Committee will review the request and render a decision. If the student leaves UCF without asking for the time off, they will not be reinstated to the scholarship program upon their return.

Co-Ops or Internships

If a student wants to Co-Op or intern, they must notify the university in writing which term they plan to Co-Op or intern prior to that term.

Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver Program Requirements

The guidelines state a student must earn at least 60 semester credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree within two academic years after initial enrollment at a Florida public postsecondary institution. Credits must be earned at a FL public institution. There is not a list of eligible courses available. Please review your myKnight audit to determine if the classes in which you are enrolled meet degree requirements. Retroactive changes in the academic history, including late drops or withdrawals, medical withdrawals, repeated courses, and grade forgiveness, reduce the number of credits a student has earned.

Important Considerations

Tax Implications: If your employer pays more than $5,250 for educational benefits for you during the year, you must generally pay tax on the amount over $5,250. Your employer should include in your wages (Form W-2, box 1) the amount that you must include in income.
Application Deadlines: It is crucial to adhere to all application deadlines for tuition waivers. Missing a deadline could result in the loss of eligibility for the waiver. See the Academic Calendar for the Fee Payment Deadline.
Contact Information: For specific questions or concerns regarding tuition waivers, contact UCF Student Account Services. The University Waiver Liaison is Philomene Dorlus.
Waiver Forms: Any state employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to UCF Student Account Services (MH 109) by each term’s Fee Payment Deadline.

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