Overview
The tuition benefit for full-time SJU employees is outlined in the Staff and Administrative Employee Handbook. For full details and processes, please review that section of the handbook. This article will only broadly review the policy and provide high-level reminders/clarifications, and this article is subject to change at any time with a change in the policy in the handbook. If you have any questions about this policy or how to apply for this benefit, please log a benefits ticket.
You can view a brief presentation on our tuition benefit policy, presented to merging PA College employees on 12/6/2023, at the link here.
Tuition Remission for SJU Employees
Employees who have completed 3 months of benefits-eligible service are able to take courses at SJU along the following criteria:
Undergraduate Courses
The tuition benefit covers 100% of undergraduate courses, up to a max of 9 credits per semester or 18 credits total per academic year.
Graduate Courses:
The tuition benefit covers 100% for 6 graduate credits per semester or 18 credits per academic year, with the exception of doctoral programs and certain excluded master’s programs.
The following programs have special admittance processes which are communicated annually in the winter:
- Interdisciplinary Doctor of Education for Educational Leaders (IDEPEL)
- Executive Master's of Business Administration (EMBA)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Ph.D. of Healthcare Education
Tuition Remission @ SJU for Spouses & Dependents
An employee who has completed 4 years of benefits-eligible employment with Saint Joseph's University, the employee's qualifying spouse and dependent children are eligible for tuition remission at SJU as outlined below.
Undergraduate Courses
Tuition benefit covers 100% of tuition for 4 years of full-time undergraduate study toward a single bachelor’s degree, or a max of 40 courses per student.
Graduate Courses:
Eligible spouses and dependents will receive the tuition benefit at the current Adult Learner rate for graduate courses. This tuition remission is not 100% cost of graduate courses. Dependent students will be responsible for paying the difference between the cost of the graduate course and the Adult Learner rate. The fifth year of a BS/MS or 4+1 program will be provided at the undergraduate adult learner tuition rate (see sju.edu/tuition-fees for current per credit rate).
Dependent Children Qualification
Dependent children must meet the definition of a dependent as defined by the Internal Revenue Service Code – A dependent child must be age 23 or younger as of the end of the calendar year to be eligible for tuition benefits in that year. The dependent child must also be listed on the employee's previous year 1040 to qualify for these benefits.
Tuition Exchange/FACHEX for Dependents of SJU Employees
An employee who has completed 4 years of benefits-eligible employment with Saint Joseph's University, and whose qualifying dependent child is interested in attending another college or university, may take advantage of two inter-institutional agreements between SJU and certain other colleges and universities. These programs can offer up to 8 semesters of full-time undergraduate study towards a bachelor's degree.
These programs require a separate application process that is outlined in the Staff & Employee Handbook, and dependents must be listed on the employee's previous year 1040 as well as be age 23 or younger as of the end of the calendar year in which they are applying for this benefit.
Tuition Benefit for Partner High Schools
Employees who have completed 3 months of benefits-eligible service are eligible to participate in the tuition reduction benefit with three partner high schools: Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, Merion Mercy Academy, and Academy of Notre Dame de Namur. This benefit provides a limited number of $2,000 scholarships at those schools for each year an eligible dependent attends. As with the other tuition benefits, employees must present their most recent 1040 tax form that lists the dependent child in order to qualify for this benefit.