Tuition Assistance

Fully completed applications must be submitted via the online application. Applicants are strongly encouraged to send only their own or their spouse/dependent's application from their own email address. This will ensure that the applicant will have electronic record of submission.

Yes. When an the online application is received, an automated response will be generated. For this reason, applicants are asked to send only their own or their spouse/dependent's application from their own email address. This will ensure that the applicant will have electronic record of submission.

Note: This response is acknowledgement of receipt, and not a confirmation of acceptance/approval. If any corrections and/or clarifications are needed, a member of the team will reach out to the applicant.

Applications for tuition assistance can be submitted for the full academic year - Fall, Spring, and Summer - in one application.

Applications can be submitted for the full academic year - Fall, Spring, and Summer - in one application

If applying for only a single semester, you may submit applications for each semester separately prior to the deadline for the applicable semester. 

The tuition assistance program has been growing rapidly each semester. As we progress, we learn more over time and are able to refine processes. With the tuition assistance policy updates effective Spring 2025, the application process has been updated by the Total Rewards team effective with applications for the 2025 Spring semester. 

These changes are designed to aid applicants, by better defining the expectations of the program and making the applicaiton process easier. As questions and circumstances have arisen in previous semesters, we continue to update both the application process and guidelines to clarify or aid applicants in understanding the program and program policies.  

The semester deadlines for tuition assistance are driven by financial aid deadlines, and processing timelines, therefore late applications will be automatically denied. There will be no exception to this policy.

No, the semester application deadlines still apply. While there is no wait period for employees to request tuition assistance, applicants must be employed in an eligible position at the time of application. Additionally, to ensure proper distribution of award funds if approved, applicants should be accepted to and enrolled in an eligible program prior to application.

Notifications of award status for a given term are typically sent within one month of the application deadline for the term.

These notifications are sent to the email address of the student requesting assistance, not the employee. If an applicant is a dependent or spouse requesting assistance, they should check the email address on file in their student record for their award notification.

If the notification has not been received and the deadline was greater than one month ago, please contact TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.

At the time of application, the employee (and the spouse or dependent, as applicable) will receive an email confirmation to the email addresses submitted on the application. The confirmation will advise whether a completed application was successful, and the student will be advised of their preliminary approval status.

Formal notification of award status for a given term is made by email to the student for whom the award has been requested. This is typically sent within one month after the application deadline for the term. If it is not currently one month past the deadline, please understand that applications are being processed. If the notification has not been received and the deadline was greater than one month ago, please contact TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.

All confirmations of application receipt and preliminary approval status are sent to the email address(es) provided on the application. Before submitting, ensure that all email addresses are spelled correctly.

Notification of award status is sent to the student's email address on file as a student. For employees requesting tuition assistance for their own coursework, this may or may not be their @wichita.edu email address. If an applicant is a dependent or spouse requesting assistance, they should check the email address on file in their student record for their award notification. If the notification has not been received to the student's email address associated with their student file, and the deadline was greater than one month ago, please contact TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu.

The HR Total Rewards team is not able to release information related to student records, including tuition assistance awards granted as part of the employee benefit program. The student for whom the award has been requested should contact TuitionAssistance@wichita.edu directly.

At this time, courses at WSU Tech or through the CMD programs are not eligible for tuition assistance, as the tuition is neither charged by nor paid to Wichita State University.

The benefit of continuing education and professional development for employees is recognized, and the goal of the tuition assistance program is to assist employees and their spouse/dependent(s) in the pursuit of an accredited degree, certificate, or badge from WSU. For this reason, all education courses that are for credit are eligible for tuition assistance. Dependent and Spouse tuition assistance does require that the student be admitted into a degree seeking program. 

Tuition assistance does not cover fees. Student support fees for employees are waived per the Comprehensive Fee Schedule which is unrelated to the tuition assistance benefit. Other course fees, including but not limited to online, lab, and materials fees, are the responsibility of the student.

No. Each application is for either graduate or undergraduate assistance, based on the student's enrolled program.

Tuition assistance is limited to the cost of resident tuition. Additional costs related to non-resident tuition rates are waived for employees, as well as their spouse and dependent(s), per the Comprehensive Fee Schedule. This is unrelated to the tuition assistance benefit.

If a course(s) is withdrawn, it must be done before the Full-Refund Deadline for tuition assistance funds to be applied appropriately. Withdrawing from courses paid for with tuition assistance received under this policy may affect eligibility for future semesters unless the recipient has demonstrated that extenuating circumstances caused the late withdrawal. A recipient seeking to preserve their eligibility under this policy may petition the Tuition Refund Board of Appeals by submitting a Petition for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy for Dropping Courses to the Financial Operations and Business Technology Office by mail to Box 38, Wichita, KS 67260; by email to wsuaccountsreceivable@wichita.edu, by facsimile to 316-978-3107; or by delivery to Jardine Hall, Room 201. 

If the appeal is not granted, the employee must take and pass an equivalent course (GR/UG of the same or greater number of credit hours) at their own expense to regain eligibility.

For dependents and spouses, if a course(s) is withdrawn after the Full-Refund Deadline, the funds disbursed will be applied to the credit-hour maximum even though the course(s) have not been completed.

Yes. Each student's eligibility and lifetime maximums, if applicable, will stand alone when determining their eligibility for tuition assistance. A single employee can use the tuition assistance benefit for themselves, their spouse, and any dependent(s) concurrently, so long as the employee meets eligibility requirements to request tuition assistance, and each student maintains their individual eligibility.

Yes. Dependents are eligible for assistance during a given semester as long as they meet the eligibility requirements on the first day of the semester for which assistance is being requested.

There is no wait period for participation in the tuition assistance program. However, only those employed in an eligible position at the time of application may be awarded tuition assistance funds. No exceptions will be made to the application deadline for employees hired after the application deadline for a given academic term.

If a course(s) is withdrawn, it must be done before the Full-Refund Deadline for tuition assistance funds to be applied appropriately. Withdrawing from courses paid for with tuition assistance received under this policy may affect eligibility for future semesters unless the recipient has demonstrated that extenuating circumstances caused the late withdrawal.  A recipient seeking to preserve their eligibility under this policy may petition the Tuition Refund Board of Appeals by submitting a Petition for Exception to Tuition Refund Policy for Dropping Courses to the Financial Operations and Business Technology Office by mail to Box 38, Wichita, KS 67260; by email to wsuaccountsreceivable@wichita.edu, by facsimile to 316-978-3107; or by delivery to Jardine Hall, Room 201.

If the appeal is not granted, the employee must take and pass an equivalent course (GR/UG of the same or greater number of credit hours) at their own expense to regain eligibility.

For dependents and spouses, if a course(s) is withdrawn after the Full-Refund Deadline, the funds disbursed will be applied to the credit-hour maximum even though the course(s) have not been completed.

Employees are responsible for all tax consequences.  Tuition assistance for graduate courses for an Employee’s spouse and dependents may be included in the Employee’s gross income as wages and subject to income tax consistent with federal and state tax laws.