Education Benefits

Definition
Provides tuition coverage for eligible employees, spouses, registered domestic partners, and dependent children enrolled in Santa Clara University credit-bearing programs.

For Benefits Eligible Employees

Eligibility

• 1 year of continuous service in a benefits-eligible position with FTE ≥ 75%.

• Employees in a position with an FTE of 50%-74% will be eligible on a prorated base. 

Tuition Covered

• Graduate Courses: Up to 8 graduate units each academic quarter or semester (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and 4 graduate units for the Summer term. Employees participating in a cohort-based educational programs may be granted approval for additional summer courses. 
• Undergraduate Courses: Up to 2 undergraduate courses each academic quarter or semester (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and 1 undergraduate course for the Summer term. 

Taxability

• Graduate Courses: Under section 127 of the Internal Revenue code, employees will receive a tax exemption on the first $5,250 of tuition remission per calendar year. 

For Eligible Dependents

Service Eligibility

• The employee must have a minimum of 3 years of service in a benefits eligible position. The employee must be in a position with an FTE 75% or higher. 

Dependent Eligibility

• Spouse or state registered domestic partner
• Undergraduate dependent children of any age must must meet the IRS definition of a tax dependent and be claimed as a dependent on the employee's federal tax return at the time of each and every registration for any. If over the age of 24, page 1 of Federal Form 1040 must be submitted to the Department of Human Resources.
• Graduate dependent children of any age. 

Tuition Covered

• 100% of tuition is covered towards one degree at SCU.

Taxability

• Graduate Courses: 100% taxed.

Tuition Remission Application Deadline for All

Definition
Provides benefits eligible employees tuition reimbursement of up to the IRS limit on tax-free education assistance ($5,250) for eligible employees and their dependents for tuition and educational fees at any US Department of Education accredited post-secondary institution, with a lifetime limit of $12,000 per employee.

Eligibility

• Service: 3 years of continuous service in a benefits-eligible position and be in a position with an FTE 75% or greater. Years of service at another educational institution offering a baccalaureate or advance degree with the related number of years and months of continuous full-time employment at that institution will count towards the years of service eligibility.

• Dependent: Spouse, state registered domestic partner, and/or dependent children as defined by the IRS. 

Requirements

• Employees:  Must be matriculated in an Associate, Bachelor’s, Graduate, or vocational certificate program. The courses must be job related

• Dependents: Must be matriculated in an Associate, Bachelor’s, or vocational certificate program. Graduate programs not covered for dependents.

Deadlines

Definition: Tuition Exchange is a reciprocal scholarship opportunity for eligible faculty  and staff dependent children at all 700+ individual TE member schools. The employee’s school defines what constitutes an eligible employee and what constitutes an eligible dependent. The accepting school defines who they will award a scholarship to. If granted, it covers up to 4 years of continuous full-time undergraduate studies. 

Exports

Eligibility

• Service: 3 years of service in a benefits-eligible position with FTE ≥ 75%.

• Dependent: Dependent children applying for undergraduate admission at other participating institutions. Awards are not guaranteed, as they are based on each institution’s criteria.

Requirements

• Students must apply for undergraduate admission and meet all Tuition Exchange program deadlines. The school will decide if they will offer a scholarship as it is not guaranteed. 

Tuition Covered

• If granted, it covers up to 4 years of continuous full-time undergraduate studies at another institution. The institution granting the scholarship will decide the scholarship amount. 

Imports

Eligibility

• The home institution from where the student is applying from decide the eligibility requirement.

Requirements

• Students must apply for undergraduate admission and meet all Tuition Exchange program deadlines. The student could be a first year student, transfer student, or a student at SCU who did not receive a Tuition Exchange scholarship their first year. 

Tuition Covered

• If granted, it covers up to 4 years of continuous full-time undergraduate studies at another institution. 
• SCU will grant the amount set by tuitionexchange.org. For the 2026-2027 year it is $44,000.

Application Information

1. Create Tuition Exchange EZ Profile. The dependent child completer their profile and can select up to 20 schools. This application is in addition to any admission application.
2. Export school (home institution) will approve any application that is eligible. 
3. Import school will decide if the student will be receiving the scholarship. 

Deadlines for AY 2026-2027

Definition
FACHEX is an undergraduate exchange program that allows dependents of eligible faculty and staff employed at 26 Catholic, Jesuit institutions to apply for a full tuition FACHEX Scholarship.

Exports

Eligibility

• Service: 3 years of service in a benefits-eligible position with FTE ≥ 75%.

• Dependent: Dependent children applying for undergraduate admission at other participating institutions. Awards are not guaranteed, as they are based on each institution’s criteria.

Requirements

• Students must apply for undergraduate admission and meet all FACHEX program deadlines. The school will decide if they will offer a scholarship as it is not guaranteed. 

Tuition Covered

• If granted, it covers up to 4 years of continuous full-time undergraduate studies at another institution. The institution granting the scholarship will decide the scholarship amount. FACHEX scholarships usually cover full tuition. 

Imports

Eligibility

• The home institution from where the student is applying from decide the eligibility requirement.

Requirements

• Students must apply for undergraduate admission and meet all FACHEX program deadlines for first year students. Transfer and SCU students who did not receive a scholarship their first year may apply. 

Tuition Covered

• If granted, it covers up to 4 years of continuous full-time undergraduate studies at another institution. 
• SCU will grant full tuition. 

Application Information

1. Create Tuition Exchange EZ Profile. The dependent child completer their profile and can select up to 20 schools. This application is in addition to any admission application.
2. Export school (home institution) will approve any application that is eligible. 
3. Import school will decide if the student will be receiving the scholarship. 

Deadlines for AY 2026-2027

Applications

• Tuition Remission Application - AY 2025-2026 (CLOSED)
• Tuition Reimbursement Application for Dependents
• Tuition Reimbursement Application for Employees
• Tuition Exchange/FACHEX Application

Resources

• Taxable Tuition Schedule
• Taxable Tuition Remission Calculator (Google Sheet)
• Model My Pay Guide Taxable Tuition