VII. WAIVERS OF TUITION AND FEES

A college and its president do not have the authority to waive fees and tuition unless such waiver is pursuant to an established University policy or is otherwise specifically authorized by The City University of New York Board of Trustees. Although the list below indicates the waivers currently offered by CUNY, it may not be an all-inclusive list. New waivers may be added with the approval of the Board between Manual updates.

A. Application Fee Waivers

Students for whom application fee is a financial hardship

Application Fee Waivers are dependent on the following:

• University Office of Admission Services (OAS) in conjunction with the University Budget Office determines, annually, the amount of money available for application fee waivers.
• OAS allots each high school in New York State a number of application fee waivers proportional to their application rates from needy students, as measured by their financially eligible Special Program applicants.
• High schools distribute application fee waivers to students who have applied for the Special Programs.
• University Director of Admissions may waive the application fee in special cases.
• Application fee waivers for degree students are not permitted unless submitted for Board approval through the University Budget Office, the Office of Student Financial Assistance and the Office of Internal Audit and Management Services.
• Application fee waivers for non-degree and graduate students do not require the approval of the University Director of Admissions.
  • Individual non-degree and graduate student waivers will continue to be reviewed and approved by the college, on a case-by-case basis, for submission to the Board for approval.
  • Any waivers pertaining to a group of students must be submitted to the Board for approval.
  • Individual non-degree and graduate student waivers must also be submitted for Board approval before the college grants them.

  Veteran’s Application Fee Waiver

  Veterans and their spouse are entitled to an application fee waiver based on eligibility. For more information about the Veterans Application Fee Waiver, contact the CUNY Office of Veteran’s Affairs.

  B. Tuition Waivers

  B. Tuition Waivers

  NYC High School Students

  Colleges may apply for and receive Board approval to waive tuition for current New York City high school students taking college course(s) while completing their high school education.

  • These tuition waivers must be renewed every year.
  • The request for tuition waivers may include a request to waive application fees, student activity fees, the consolidated services fees, and the technology fee.
  • The amount of the tuition and/or fee waiver will be calculated utilizing the applicable senior or community college lowest undergraduate resident degree tuition rate/credit.
  • Tuition and fee waivers for high school students attending separately funded City or State programs, such as College Now, do not require Board resolutions.
  • For all colleges, tuition waivers for high school students will be considered unfunded waivers for revenue purposes.
  • Accounting procedures will keep track of these students by utilizing an OSIS number, a unique nine-digit number assigned to each student by the Department of Education. This number is easily obtained from the student’s high school permanent record and program card. A social security number should also be entered, or in the absence of an accurate number, the college should generate the number.

  University Skills Immersion Program (USIP)

  • All tuition and fees are waived for USIP students. There is no TAP eligibility for USIP courses. Students enrolled in both USIP and non-USIP summer courses will be assessed tuition and fees for non-USIP courses.
  • The colleges will be required to report USIP enrollment data to the Office of Institutional Research and Analysis, but the data must be properly identified as USIP enrollment data so that the FTEs are not included in the University Budget Office’s revenue projections. It should be noted that any USIP courses, that do not offer basic skills components and are only educational experiences, and do not generate credits or equated credits, will not be included in official college transcripts.

  Macaulay Honors College University Scholars

  Macaulay students who meet CUNY’s New York State residency requirements for in-state tuition receive the tuition scholarship , which ensures full tuition funding for eight semesters of full-time undergraduate study. The Macaulay Tuition Scholarship also covers a limited number of summer and winter classes between the start of freshman year and the end of the 8th semester but does not include fees. The total of the Macaulay tuition scholarship is based on tuition charges remaining after application of financial aid and other scholarships , including federal, state, and local scholarships and grants and those awarded by or through CUNY, its schools, and affiliated entities. The Macaulay tuition scholarship is based on resident rate of tuition. Scholarships are for tuition only; Macaulay students are responsible to pay for applicable University fees. Non-resident students are not eligible for the Macaulay tuition scholarship.

  Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs

  • Students participating in the ASAP program who are eligible for state or federal financial aid will be entitled to receive waivers for tuition and fees not covered by State and/or federal financial aid programs. ASAP students who are not eligible for State or federal Financial Aid programs must pay all tuition and fees assessed and will not receive any waivers.
  • The waiver amount will differ for every eligible student dependent upon the amount of financial aid applied to the tuition and fees assessed.
  • ASAP Program students are required to complete and file a Financial Aid Application (FASFA). Students who do not file the FASFA, or who are adjudged not eligible for aid will be required to pay the entire amount of tuition and fees.

  Grants and Contract Students

  CUNY General Policy

  “Whenever funds are received by the University or an individual college from private, State or City sources specifically to cover instructional and other costs for a special program of study or for a clearly defined special group of students, the Board may waive any tuition and fees which would otherwise be imposed on the affected students.”

  • Tuition may be waived for students enrolled in graduate and undergraduate courses when they are enrolled in an identified grant or contract (G/C) program.
  • The terms of the G/C must provide for full payment of the costs of the program.
  • Student activity fees , Consolidated Services Fees , and technology fees may be waived upon submission of sufficient justification to the Board when courses are held off campus.
  • Application fee waivers for all UG degree students, even for those students admitted directly by the college, must be approved, in advance, by the University’s Director of Admissions
    • Waivers for other students (e.g., non-degree and graduate) may be submitted directly to the Board for approval.
    • In all cases, the total tuition and fees to be waived must be less than or equal to the amount of the grant/contract. If not, an adequate explanation/justification must be provided. Waivers granted by the college, which do not eventually appear in the Chancellor’s Report, are considered invalid and become the responsibility of the college.
    • Where funds received under grants or contract programs are deposited with the Research Foundation (RF) and the costs are paid directly by the foundation, the Board may waive tuition and fees.
      • RF should provide the college with funds to cover overhead costs.
      • The headcount and FTEs are reported appropriately in the Enrollment Report
      • Either the third party or the student may pay fees.
      • The headcount and FTEs are reported appropriately in the Enrollment Report

      Graduate Students

      Senior college base budgets include amounts that are to be used to offset tuition waivers for graduate students, who could not otherwise afford the University’s tuition charges. These waivers should be administered in the following manner:

      • Waivers should be granted only to degree students who meet the financial need criteria established in the CUNY Needs Analysis System. No waivers should be granted to non-degree students.
      • Full-time degree students who are residents of New York State and apply for a tuition waiver on the basis of financial need are required to show evidence of application for a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award or provide an adequate explanation for not being eligible for such an award.
      • Part-time graduate students may also be granted waivers if they meet the financial need criteria established in the CUNY Needs Analysis System, provided they are also taking a minimum of six (6) credits in the semester for which a waiver is granted.
      • The total tuition assistance provided, including the tuition waiver may not exceed tuition and other fees.
      • Tuition waivers granted to part-time students should not exceed 50 percent of tuition and other fees except in the case of unusual financial hardship.
      • Residents of the City or the State of New York should be given tuition waiver priority.
      • Out-of-State and foreign students are also eligible for awards up to the resident student tuition rate.
      • The maintenance of matriculation fee paid by graduate students who are not registered for any course or research credit may not be waived.
      • Doctoral candidates who have completed all requirements, except thesis, may audit graduate courses without paying tuition.

      Cooperating Teacher

      See “Special Programs and Special Situations”

      • Upon payment of the $40 application fee, cooperating teachers may be granted tuition waivers for up to 3 credits for any semester (including summer session)
        • Limited to a total of a maximum of 18 credits
        • Granted to residents and non-residents (up to the resident student tuition rate)
        • Waivers are applicable to undergraduate and graduate courses
        • Charges for excess contact hours may also be waived for courses in which tuition has been waived.
        • $25 Cooperating Teacher Fee, a Consolidated Services Fee, and a technology fee are charged to each student per semester.
        • Cooperating Teacher Waiver cannot be used for the Maintenance of Matriculation Fee.
        • Cooperating teachers who take credits in excess of those waived are required to pay tuition at the applicable rates for the additional credit and the $25 Cooperating Teacher Fee.

        Employees

        CUNY employees are eligible for tuition waivers for undergraduate and graduate courses at any college of The City University of New York on a space available basis.

        Employees requesting tuition waivers for any CUNY college must submit a CUNY Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Form, signed by the employee’s Director of Human Resources (or designee). Annually, the Bursar should receive a copy of the authorized signatories at each college from the University’s Office of Faculty and Staff Relations.

        An employee tuition waiver covers either the resident or non-resident tuition rate. There is a 3-6 credit cap on graduate courses (dependent on title) per semester. Any credits taken above cap will be assessed at the applicable resident or non-resident tuition rate.

        Employee Category	Service Requirements	Course Type & Credit Limits	Summer Session	Winter Session
        Instructional Staff	UG — 1 year GR — None	UG – No Limit GR – 6 Credits	No	No
        Classified Managerial	UG — 1 year GR — None	UG – No Limit GR – 6 Credits	No	No
        Adjunct Teaching Titles	10 consecutive semesters	1 Course (UG or GR)	No	No
        Gittleson Titles	6 months	UG – No Limit GR – 6 Credits	Yes UG Only	No
        Classified White Collar	1 year	UG – No Limit GR – 3 Credits	Yes UG Only	No
        Classified Blue Collar	1 year	UG – No Limit GR – 3 Credits	Yes UG Only	No
        Skilled Trades	1 year	UG – No Limit UG Only	Yes	No

        Firefighters

        • Firefighters and Fire Officers of the New York City Fire Department who are enrolled in CUNY programs that lead to a baccalaureate or higher degree at a senior college are statutorily entitled to a one-time, one course tuition waiver (with no limit to the number of credits) pursuant to NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(d).
        • The one-time course tuition waiver and does not extend beyond the semester in which the waiver is granted, and the course must be related to their employment with the NYC Fire Department.
        • To apply for the waiver, the Firefighter and Fire Officer must present his/her NYC Fire Department shield (badge) and department issued photo ID.
        • The Firefighter and Fire Officer must complete a certification form stating that he/she serves in the rank of Firefighter or Fire Officer and that he/she has never received this type of tuition waiver at any other CUNY College.
        • The waiver may apply to any semester, intersession or summer term*.
        • There is a specific code for this waiver.

        *Note: NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(d) expires biennial and must be renewed by the State Legislature. Before granting the Firefighter Tuition Waiver, confirm that the statute has been renewed for the year in which the Waiver is sought.

        Police Officers

        • Members of the New York City Police Department who are enrolled in CUNY programs that lead to a baccalaureate or higher degree at a senior college are statutorily entitled to a one-time, one course tuition waiver (with no limit to the number of credits) pursuant to NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(c).
        • The one-time course tuition waiver and does not extend beyond the semester in which the waiver is granted, and the course must be related to the officer’s employment with the Department.
        • To apply for the waiver, the Police Officer must present his/her NYC Police Department shield (badge) and department issued photo ID.
        • The Police Officer must complete a certification form stating that he/she serves in the rank of Police Officer and that he/she has never received this type of tuition waiver at any other CUNY College.
        • The waiver may apply to any semester, intersession or summer term*.
        • There is a specific code for this waiver.

        *Note: NYS Education Law § 6206 (7)(c) expires annually and must be renewed by the State Legislature. Before granting the Police Officer Tuition Waiver, confirm that the statute has been renewed for the year in which the Waiver is sought.

        Inmates of Correctional Institutions

        The City University of New York has agreed to waive the required tuition and fees (including the student activity fee, the consolidated fee, and the technology fee) for residents of the City of New York who are inmates of correctional institutions and enroll in courses offered by The City University of New York.