Qualified Tuition Reduction Program

The Qualified Tuition Reduction program allows reduced in-state tuition for for-credit courses at any Arizona university system — Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University or the University of Arizona. 

Email the Qualified Tuition Reduction team for questions or details.

Visit the ASU Tuition Calculator and select Benefits Eligible employee using a QTR to view potential tuition benefits.

Eligibility

• Benefits-eligible faculty and staff, their legal spouses and dependent children.
• Eligible retirees, their spouses and dependent children who meet the following statements:
  • At least age 50 or age 41 if you are a PSPRS member.
  • Complete at least five years of continuous, full-time employment in the Arizona university system immediately preceding retirement.
  • Have not been involuntarily terminated from employment by the university for cause.
  • Receive a retirement annuity under an Arizona university-sponsored retirement program.
• Long-term disability participants who had at least five continuous years of employment immediately preceding separation, their spouses and dependent children. Applicable only while receiving long-term disability benefits.
• Certain employees of affiliated units, their spouses and dependent children.
• Eligible spouses and dependent children of deceased employees.
• Same-sex and opposite-sex domestic partners and their family members who have been certified by the Provost’s Office before Nov. 1, 2014.

Review the Employee Reduced Resident Tuition policy for more details. Information about how this program can affect institutional merit awards is in the Scholarship Renewal Guide.

Tuition reduction forms

Employees, spouses and dependents can download a qualified tuition reduction form to complete for submission. Forms are accessed and submitted through Adobe Sign. Any additional required signatures will be routed electronically to the appropriate signer or returned to ASU Student Business Services for application to the applicable student account.

• Qualified tuition reduction program form for ASU classes.
• Qualified tuition reduction program form for ASU international employees and dependents for ASU classes.
• Qualified tuition reduction program form for classes at NAU, or UA and ASU retirees attending classes at ASU, NAU or UA classes.  
• Qualified tuition reduction program form for ASU affiliates for classes at the UA, NAU and ASU classes.
• Please allow 3-5 business days for your qualified tuition reduction benefit to be reflected on your ASU student account. Forms should be submitted before the first day of classes early and to ensure timely processing.

Contact us for inquiries or accommodations for an alternate method to submit forms.

Taxation 
The amount for undergraduate classes is not taxable if the student is enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Employees enrolled in graduate-level programs are subject to taxation on any level of class when the discounted tuition amount exceeds $5,250 within the tax calendar year. The total amount of the tuition discount on any level of courses taken by eligible family members enrolled in graduate-level programs is taxable to the employee. Refer to the bottom of the qualified tuition reduction program form or contact Student Business Services for more details. 

Tax schedule 

• Spring taxation begins in March.
• Summer taxation begins in August.
• Fall taxation begins in October.

Employee-only benefits exceeding the $5,250 threshold amount within the same tax calendar year are taxed on only the amount that exceeds the $5,250 threshold. It can occur at any point in the year, but most employees do not exceed the threshold until the fall semester and are taxed in November and December.

Tuition reduction rules 

Tuition reduction does not apply to any other costs of attendance, including but not limited to program fees, registration fees, special class fees, library and laboratory fees, books and supplies.