University Tuition Benefit Procedures

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  Registering for Classes

  The Tuition Benefits office is not connected to the admissions or registration processes. Everyone must apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines for consideration.

  If you would like more information on admissions or registration, please refer to the contact information below.

  • Seeking a Graduate Degree - Graduate Studies Office (801) 422-4091 or graduatestudies.byu.edu
  • Seeking an Undergraduate Degree - Enrollment Services (801) 422-4104 or enrollment. byu.edu/admissions
  • Post-Bacc Studies (already have a degree and want to take classes for credit without seeking a degree) - Visiting Students Office (801) 422-0798 or visitingstudents.byu.edu
  • Evening, Salt Lake, and Spring/Summer sections - Visiting Students Office (801) 422-0798 or visitingstudents.byu.edu
  • Audit Only Student (for all section types) - Visiting Students Office (801) 422-0798 or visitingstudents.byu.edu

  *Independent Study courses (employee only) – enroll in and pay for the course online at is.byu.edu. Once a passing grade has been posted, contact the Tuition Benefit Specialist for a reimbursement. You must have a passing grade to receive a reimbursement. To be eligible for reimbursement, employees must be actively employed at the time of enrollment upon completion of the course. In relation to the semester limits for active employees, independent studies course credits can be allocated to any semester in which the employee is enrolled in the course.

  **Conferences & Workshops courses (employee and spouse only) – enroll in the course online at ce.byu.edu or by calling (801) 422-8925. The benefit will be applied during checkout. Call C&W Registration (801) 422-8925 with any questions or issues.

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  Independent Study

  Independent Study courses (employee only) – enroll in and pay for the course online at is.byu.edu. Once a passing grade has been posted, contact the Tuition Benefit Specialist for a reimbursement. You must have a passing grade to receive a reimbursement. To be eligible for reimbursement, employees must be actively employed at the time of enrollment AND upon completion of the course. In relation to the semester limits for active employees, independent studies course credits can be allocated to any semester in which the employee is enrolled in the course.

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  Conferences and Workshop

  Conferences & Workshops courses (employee and spouse only) – enroll in the course online at ce.byu.edu or by calling (801) 422-8925. The benefit will be applied during checkout. Call C&W Registration (801) 422-8925 with any questions or issues.

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  Full-Time Employees

  Eligible full-time employees can receive a full tuition benefit. An employee must apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines, and is subject to credit limits as follows:

  • six (6) credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
  • six (6) credits for Spring and Summer combined, with no more than four (4) in any single term

  Please note that these restrictions are in place for all full-time employees regardless of accepting the tuition benefit or not.

  The tuition benefit will apply to the following types of classes for an employee:

  • Undergraduate courses
  • Graduate courses
  • Day*
  • Evening
  • Classes taken for audit
  • Conferences and Workshops (must be offered for credit)
  • Salt Lake Center courses (must be offered for credit)
  • Independent Study courses taken for university level credit (reimbursement after course completion) (Admission to BYU is not required to participate in an independent study course)

  *Employees registered for any course that begins at 5pm or before must submit an "Employee Tuition Benefit Authorization" form.

  Qualified retirees are eligible for the full tuition benefit the same as active employees, but are not subject to the semester credit limits.

  The tuition benefit may be taxable for employees who are enrolled in a graduate program. Please contact the Tuition Benefit Specialist at tuition_benefit@byu.edu for additional details.

  BYU generally will not pay for employees to obtain degrees or training from other universities as a business expense. On rare occasions the university may approve a BYU department to use university funds to pay for an employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or obtain a graduate degree. If the exception is approved, and unless the class is required to keep their current job, the employee must pay the tuition costs and then seek reimbursement after successfully completing the course. The annual maximum amount that may be reimbursed in relation to an employee’s pursuit of a degree or training at another university is $5,250.
  For more information on this, email tuition_benefit@byu.edu.

  Executive MBA Program

  If an active employee is accepted into the Executive MBA program, the individual needs to notify the EMBA Program Assistant or Director that he/she is eligible for the tuition benefit. The EMBA office will then send a request to the Tuition Benefits Office directly to have the tuition benefit posted to the student's financial account. The tuition benefit does not pay for EMBA program charges, which includes books, fees, and the foreign business excursion. The employee will need to fill out the "Employee Tuition Authorization" and the "Tuition Taxation" form BEFORE the benefit can apply.

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  Spouse of Full-Time Employee

  For eligibility, see University Tuition Benefit Policy.

  The spouse must apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines for consideration.

  The tuition benefit will apply to the following types of classes for a spouse:

  • BYU Undergraduate courses (the spouse tuition benefit is NOT available for undergraduate courses at BYU-I, BYU Pathways, BYU-H, Ensign College)
  • BYU Graduate courses*
  • Day
  • Evening
  • Classes taken for audit
  • Conferences and Workshops (must be offered for credit)
  • Salt Lake Center courses (must be offered for credit)

  *For a spouse in a graduate program the amount of the tuition benefit may be taxable. Therefore, the employee must submit a "Tuition Taxation" form before each semester/term in which a spouse is registered for classes in a graduate degree seeking program. This will set up tax withholdings on the employee's paycheck as follows:

  Summer Term – July and August
  Fall Semester– October, November, and December
  Winter Semester– February, March, and April
  Spring Term – May and June

  Executive MBA Program

  If an active employee is accepted into the Executive MBA program, the individual needs to notify the EMBA Program Assistant or Director that he/she is eligible for the tuition benefit. The EMBA office will then send a request to the Tuition Benefits Office directly to have the tuition benefit posted to the student's financial account. The tuition benefit does not pay for EMBA program charges, which includes books, fees, and the foreign business excursion. The employee will need to fill out the "Employee Tuition Authorization" and the "Tuition Taxation" form BEFORE the benefit can apply.

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  Children of Full-Time Employees

  Children of eligible full-time employees can receive a half tuition benefit once admitted to the university. The child must apply for admission to the university by the appropriate deadlines. This benefit may be taxable to you. Please see definitions below to know if it is considered a taxable benefit. To receive this benefit, the "BYU Employee 1/2 Tuition Benefit Information" form must be completed EACH SEMESTER.

  Taxable

  If your child/children will not be claimed as a dependent on your tax return, BYU must include the amount of the tuition benefit received as part of your compensation and withhold applicable payroll taxes on future paychecks. This will set up tax withholdings on the employee's paycheck as follows:

  Summer Term – July and August
  Fall Semester– October, November, and December
  Winter Semester– February, March, and April
  Spring Term – May and June

  Nontaxable

  If your child/children will be claimed as a dependent(s) on your tax return, then this amount is NOT taxable.

  Once the child/children reaches any of the following limits, the tuition benefit will no longer be available:

  • age 30
  • bachelor's degree from any university
  • 152* total credits (including any from all CES universities)

  * Once a student reaches 130 credits the Tuition Benefit is no longer automatically applied. This is to prompt the student to speak with the Benefit Services Tuition Specialist in order to plan accordingly as they approach the limit. Please call ext. 2-4716 for additional information. 

  The tuition benefit will apply to the following types of classes for a child:

  • Undergraduate courses (The dependent tuition benefit is not available for BYU Pathways)
  • Day
  • Evening
  • Classes taken for audit
  • Salt Lake Center courses (must be offered for credit)
  • BYU-Idaho (The dependent tuition benefit is not available for BYU Pathways)
  • BYU-Hawaii
  • Ensign College
  • Study Abroad
  • BYU Jerusalem Center

  Children Attending BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, or Ensign College

  Children of active employees attending BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, or Ensign College should fill out the "BYU Employee 1/2 Tuition Benefit Information" form BEFORE the child begins classes. Notifications are also necessary in situations where the child is taking a break from school e.g., mission, has a name change, graduates, stops attending, or transfers to BYU.

  Special Situation

  The child tuition benefit applies for all semesters and terms for the integrated programs MAcc and MISM; however, the tuition benefit is half the undergraduate tuition rate even in the final year of the program when the graduate tuition rate is charged.  
  

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  3/4 time Employees

  3/4 time employees are eligible to receive the employee tuition benefit upon completion of two consecutive years of service from their most recent hire date, averaging 22 hours per week, provided their two-year anniversary is on or before the Academic Calendar add/drop deadline. Spouses and dependents of a 3/4 time employee are not eligible for this benefit. An employee MUST apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines.

  Eligible ¾ time employees can receive a full tuition benefit. An employee must apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines, and is subject to tuition benefit credit limits as follows:
  

  • six (6) credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
  • six (6) credits for Spring and Summer combined, with no more than four (4) in any single term

  3/4 time employees are also subject to credit enrollment limits as follows:
  

  • Undergraduate
    
    • 11.5 credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
    • 11.5 credits for spring and summer combined
  • Graduate
    
    • 8.5 credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
    • 8.5 credits for spring and summer combined

  Please note that these restrictions are in place for all 3/4 time employees regardless of accepting the tuition benefit or not.

  The tuition benefit will apply to the following types of classes for an employee:
  

  • Undergraduate courses
  • Graduate courses
  • Daytime classes*
  • Evening classes
  • Classes taken for official audit
  • Conferences and Workshops (must be offered for credit)
  • Salt Lake Center courses (must be offered for credit)
  • Independent Study courses taken for university level credit (reimbursement after course completion)
    

  *Employees registered for any course that begins at 5pm or before must submit an "Employee Tuition Benefit Authorization" form.

  The tuition benefit maybe taxable for 3/4 time employees who are enrolled in a graduate program. Please contact the Tuition Benefit Specialist at tuition_benefit@byu.edu.

  Costs Not Covered by the Tuition Benefit

  The tuition benefit is limited to direct tuition costs for anyone eligible to receive it and will not apply to:

  • BYU-Idaho Online Classes
  • Pathways
  • Any noncredit courses
  • Education Week classes
  • Conferences and Workshops seminars or conferences not offered for university credit
  • Any certification courses
  • Fees (e.g., program fees, class fees, fees for challenge exams, fees for credit purchases, testing fees, fees for concurrent enrollment, late fees, discontinuance fees, fines, etc.)
  • Private lessons
  • Books, manuals, syllabi, food
  • Travel costs

  BYU generally will not pay for employees to obtain degrees or training from other universities as a business expense. On rare occasions the university may approve a BYU department to use university funds to pay for an employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or obtain a graduate degree. If the exception is approved, and unless the class is required to keep their current job, the employee must pay the tuition costs and then seek reimbursement after successfully completing the course. The annual maximum amount that may be reimbursed in relation to an employee’s pursuit of a degree or training at another university is $5,250.
  For more information on this, email tuition_benefit@byu.edu.

  Executive MBA Program

  If an active employee is accepted into the Executive MBA program, the individual needs to notify the EMBA Program Assistant or Director that he/she is eligible for the tuition benefit. The EMBA office will then send a request to the Tuition Benefits Office directly to have the tuition benefit posted to the student's financial account. The tuition benefit does not pay for EMBA program charges, which includes books, fees, and the foreign business excursion. The employee will need to fill out the "Employee Tuition Authorization" and the "Tuition Taxation" form BEFORE the benefit can apply.

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  Adjunct Faculty

  Adjunct faculty must have an active contract for the semester(s) they intend to use the tuition benefit and have taught a minimum of six (6) credit hours per year in each of the two consecutive years prior to time of tuition benefit request. Spouses and dependents of adjunct faculty are not eligible for the tuition benefit.

  Eligible adjunct faculty can receive a full tuition benefit. An employee must apply to the university as a student by the appropriate admission deadlines, and is subject to tuition benefit credit limits as follows:
  

  • six (6) credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
  • six (6) credits for Spring and Summer combined, with no more than four (4) in any single term

  Adjunct faculty are also subject to credit enrollment limits as follows:

  • Undergraduate
    
    • 11.5 credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
    • 11.5 credits for spring and summer combined
  • Graduate (non-degree seeking)*
    
    • 8.5 credits per semester (Fall and Winter)
    • 8.5 credits for spring and summer combined

  Please note that these restrictions are in place for all adjunct faculty employees regardless of accepting the tuition benefit or not.

  *Faculty relations has a policy to not allow someone to be hired as an adjunct faculty classification if they are in a degree seeking program. If you are enrolled in a graduate degree seeking program, you can only be hired as a graduate student. Due to the Faculty relations policy, adjunct faculty will never be able to use the tuition benefit to pursue a graduate degree.

  The tuition benefit will apply to the following types of classes:

  • Undergraduate courses
  • Graduate courses
  • Daytime classes*
  • Evening classes
  • Classes taken for official audit
  • Conferences and Workshops (must be offered for credit)
  • Salt Lake Center courses (must be offered for credit)
  • Independent Study courses taken for university level credit (reimbursement after course completion)

  *Employees registered for any course that begins at 5pm or before must submit an "Employee Tuition Benefit Authorization" form.

  The tuition benefit maybe taxable for Adjunct Faculty who are enrolled in a graduate program. Please contact the Tuition Benefit Specialist at tuition_benefit@byu.edu.

  Costs Not Covered by the Tuition Benefit

  The tuition benefit is limited to direct tuition costs for anyone eligible to receive it and will not apply to:

  • BYU-Idaho Online Classes
  • Pathways
  • Any noncredit courses
  • Education Week classes
  • Conferences and Workshops seminars or conferences not offered for university credit
  • Any certification courses
  • Fees (e.g., program fees, class fees, fees for challenge exams, fees for credit purchases, testing fees, fees for concurrent enrollment, late fees, discontinuance fees, fines, etc.)
  • Private lessons
  • Books, manuals, syllabi, food
  • Travel costs

  BYU generally will not pay for employees to obtain degrees or training from other universities as a business expense. On rare occasions the university may approve a BYU department to use university funds to pay for an employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or training. If the exception is approved, and unless the class is required to keep their current job, the employee must pay the tuition costs and then seek reimbursement after successfully completing the course. The annual maximum amount that may be reimbursed in relation to an employee’s pursuit of certification or training at another university is $5,250.
  For more information on this, email tuition_benefit@byu.edu.

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  Section 127 Education Assistance Plan

  The purpose of this Educational Assistance Plan is to provide educational assistance to Eligible Employees of Brigham Young University on a tax-free or tax-reduced basis. Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, provides, in general, that gross income of an employee does not include the first $5,250 of amounts paid or expenses incurred by his or her employer during a calendar year, for educational assistance furnished to the employee pursuant to a qualified written educational assistance plan. For more information on this plan follow this link!

  Procedures of the BYU 127 Plan

  Educational Assistance to Pursue Degrees and Training from Other Universities

  Please note that employees seeking degrees or training should first look to BYU programs. BYU will not pay for employees to obtain undergraduate degrees from other educational institutions.

  BYU generally will not pay for employees to obtain degrees or training from other universities as a business expense. On rare occasions the university may approve a BYU department to use university funds to pay for an employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or obtain a graduate degree. If the exception is approved, and unless the class is required to keep their current job, the employee must pay the tuition costs and then seek reimbursement after successfully completing the course. The annual maximum amount that may be reimbursed in relation to an employee’s pursuit of a degree or training at another university is $5,250.

  Applying for Educational Assistance to Pursue Degrees and Training from Other Universities

  If an employee wants to pursue a degree or training from another university, they must apply for approval. This includes training and development to keep their current job. When a BYU department has identified a unique business need, the department may request to use university funds to pay for the employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or obtain a graduate degree from another university. The department should submit the “Request for Educational Assistance at Other Universities” form to the tuition benefit office for review and approval at least 60 days prior to the employee beginning the program.

  Reimbursement for Education Assistance to Pursue Degrees & Training from Other Universities.

  To apply for reimbursement the employee must have successfully completed the courses for which they are seeking reimbursement. Successful completion of courses is defined as receiving a passing grade of C or better for the course. The employee should complete the “Request for Reimbursement for Educational Assistance Form” and submit it along with a copy of a bursar's itemized receipt for tuition charges and a copy of a bursar’s itemized receipt for the tuition charges and a transcript of the final grades for the courses taken in that semester.

  The request will need to be approved by both the department and the tuition benefit office before reimbursement will be issued.

  grades for the classes completed for that semester.
  

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  Cost not covered by Tuition Benefit

  The tuition benefit is limited to direct tuition costs for anyone eligible to receive it and will NOT apply to the following:
  

  • BYU-Idaho Online Classes
  • BYU Pathways
  • Any noncredit courses
  • Education Week classes
  • Conference and Workshops seminars or conference not offered for university credit
  • Any certification courses
  • Fee (e.g. program fees, class fees, fees for challenge exams, fees for credit purchases, testing fees, fees for concurrent enrollment, late fees, discontinuance fees)
  • Fines
  • Private Lessons
  • Books and Manuals
  • Syllabi
  • Living Expenses
  • Travel Costs for foreign excursions in graduate programs and study abroad programs.
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  Exception to credit hour limits

  Eligible Full-time Employees who wish to take more than the allowed hours in a semester or term must petition the Benefits Tuition Committee for a policy exception. If approved, employees will be required to pay for any additional tuition charge above the maximum credit limit allowed for any semester or term.

  An Eligible Full-time Employee who is a teaching faculty member but is not under contract to teach during a specific term or semester may register without paying tuition for as many credit hours as his or her chair and dean permit. A new faculty member generally may not register for classes before his or her regular appointment begins.

  With authorization from the Benefits Tuition Committee, university employees on official professional development leaves of absence may register for unlimited credits without paying tuition during the approved leave. University employees on disability leave may take no more than six credit hours of classes during a semester unless they are participating in an approved vocational training program, in which case the participating individual may petition the Benefits Tuition Committee for an exception to the credit limits.

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  Frequently Asked Questions

  For answers to frequently asked questions, click on this link.
  

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  Forms

  Employee Tuition Benefit Authorization
  Tuition Taxation
  BYU Employee Half Tuition Benefit Information
  Taxation Form for Employee, Retiree and ROTC

  BYU generally will not pay for employees to obtain degrees or training from other universities as a business expense. On rare occasions the university may approve a BYU department to use university funds to pay for an employee to complete a certification, graduate classes or obtain a graduate degree. If the exception is approved, and unless the class is required to keep their current job, the employee must pay the tuition costs and then seek reimbursement after successfully completing the course. The annual maximum amount that may be reimbursed in relation to an employee’s pursuit of a degree or training at another university is $5,250.
  For more information on this, email tuition_benefit@byu.edu.