Support Staff - Tuition Exemption Spring 2025 Forms Due January 31

You and/or your dependent(s) may be eligible to receive Tuition Exemption Benefits at Columbia University, Barnard College, and Teachers College.
When you take advantage of the Tuition Exemption benefit:
- The cost of the eligible tuition charges is exempt
- You are responsible for all fees and non-tuition charges related to your course(s) registration
To receive Tuition Exemption for the Spring 2025 term, you and/or your dependent must be eligible before the first day of classes; must be enrolled in classes for the Spring 2025 term and must complete the Tuition Exemption Eligibility Form. The Tuition Exemption Benefit Checklist – Support Staff is a helpful guide through the process.
To avoid late fees or processing delays, you must submit the form before the end of the Change of Program Period: Friday, January 31, 2025.
What You Need to Know
To learn more about Tuition Exemption benefits, go to our Tuition Program pages or consult your collective bargaining agreement.
To determine your eligibility status, the number of credits covered or save your eligibility form as a PDF:
- Log in to CUBES with your UNI and password
- Choose the Tuition button on the top menu to go to the Tuition Programs page
- Select “Tuition Exemption – For Yourself” or “Tuition Exemption – For Your Dependents”
Your Tuition Exemption form is a writeable form, which allows you to complete the form online, print your name, date, and save it as a PDF so you can seamlessly attach and submit it to your school's Bursar office or Student Financial Services (SFS).
Submit your form to Student Financial Services (SFS) or Bursar’s Office. The “Tuition Exemption – For Yourself” or “Tuition Exemption – For Your Dependent” eligibility form must be completed, signed, and submitted to SFS on your campus to be applied to you or your dependent’s student account.
Please submit your forms via the email addresses below, with the subject line “Tuition Exemption form” or “Job-Related form.”
- Columbia University, Morningside & CUIMC (Medical Center): [email protected]
- Barnard College: [email protected]
- Teachers College: [email protected]
Tax Treatment
Graduate-Level Studies (Course Numbers 4000 & above) – The first $5,250 of Tuition Exemption benefits in a calendar year is exempt from taxation according to IRS regulations. Additional benefits above this limit will be treated as taxable income unless job-related.
Job-Related Graduate-Level Studies (Course Numbers 4000 & above) – To receive tax exemption for Tuition Exemption benefits above the IRS calendar year limit of $5,250, complete and submit a Job-Related Graduate Education Certification Form – Degree Program or Non-Degree Program each term before the end of the Change of Program Period. For more information, go to our Job-Related Graduate Education Certification webpage, and follow the Instructions for Employees and/or Supervisors.
All JRGEC forms must be submitted by your supervisor via email to [email protected] to confirm the form has been signed and certified as job-related.
To avoid late fees, processing delays, or tax withholdings, you must submit this form before Friday, January 31, 2025.
If you have already submitted your Tuition Exemption form for Spring 2025, thank you, and you can disregard this email. You will receive an email confirmation from Student Financial Services (SFS) once your form has been processed.
For More Information
- Tax treatment for graduate and undergraduate courses for support staff, go to the Tuition homepage
- Job-Related Graduate Education Tax Exemption, go to Job-Related Graduate Education Certification
- Policy questions, contact the CU Benefits Service Center by email at [email protected] or call 212-851-7000, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Student account information or Tuition Exemption processing – email SFS: [email protected]