Tuition Scholarship Program for Spouses, Domestic Partners and Eligible Children

Spouses, domestic partners and eligible children of CSU employees can receive a scholarship for 50% of resident tuition for regular, on-campus credits. The amount may vary depending on degree program.

Employee Eligibility

  • Faculty members with regular, special, senior teaching appointments of half-time (0.5) or greater. Faculty transitional appointments are eligible for the same benefit available to full-time academic faculty.
  • Administrative Professionals with regular or special appointments of half-time (0.5) or greater, and;
  • Non-temporary state classified appointments of half-time (0.5) or greater.

Spouse, Domestic Partner or Civil Union Partner, or Eligible Child Criteria 

The student must be a Spouse, Domestic Partner or Civil Union Partner or Eligible Child of an Eligible CSU Administrative Professional, Academic Faculty, or State Classified staff member.

Spouse

The eligible employee’s legal spouse, including common-law spouse.

Domestic Partner or Civil Union Partner

The eligible employee’s domestic partner or civil union partner. A domestic partner or civil union partner is eligible if an Affidavit of Domestic Partnership or Certificate of Civil Union Partnership and the Certification of Dependency for University Benefits forms are submitted and approved, in conjunction with this application. 

Eligible Child

The eligible employee’s biological children, adopted children, foster children, stepchildren, and legal wards of either the eligible employee or the eligible employee’s spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner as well as any person for whom either the eligible employee or the eligible employee’s spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner, or civil union partner is standing in loco parentis, provided that the eligible child is under twenty-six (26) years of age. The Certification of Dependency for University Benefits form must be submitted to determine tax consequences (imputed income), if applicable. 

Course Eligibility and Restrictions

  • The student must be enrolled in regular on-campus credits.
    • Note: Test-Out, Advanced Placement, CSU Online, and Education Abroad credits are not considered regular on-campus credits.
  • The student must be admitted to a degree-seeking program at CSU, CSU-Pueblo or CSU-Global. Students seeking Teacher Certification or Principal Licensure may do so at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

There are certain eligibility criteria that both the student and the employee must meet in order to be eligible for this scholarship. These criteria are described in detail on the application form.

Scholarship Amounts

Undergraduate Students

The scholarship is equal to 50% of student’s share of base tuition for in-state, regular on-campus credits (even if student is classified as a non-resident/out-of-state for tuition purposes). This includes 50% of Differential Tuition charges but does not include 50% of other fees, charges, or program fees. Student’s share of base tuition is base tuition minus the College Opportunity Fund stipend. The amount is rounded to the nearest dollar and will be determined after the add/drop date each semester.

Graduate Students

The scholarship is equal to 50% of Colorado Resident in-state, regular on-campus credits, Graduate Tuition (even if student is classified as a non-resident/out-of-state for tuition purposes). The amount is rounded to the nearest dollar and will be determined after the add/drop date* each semester. The amount does not include 50% of Graduate Differential Tuition, fees, charges, or program fees.

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Students

The scholarship is equal to 50% of Colorado Resident Graduate Tuition (not Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Tuition), not including Graduate Differential Tuition, fees, charges, or program fees. The amount is rounded to the nearest dollar and will be determined after the add/drop date each semester.

Application Deadlines

The scholarship will be processed after the add/drop date each semester because individual enrollment can fluctuate until then. The student will not be assessed a late payment penalty (Payment Deferral Charge) for not making the payment due date, meaning you can wait until the tuition scholarship amount pays and then remit any remaining balance due, even if it is after the payment due date.

This scholarship is not automatically renewed; it must be applied for each year. An application must be submitted for summer if the student is enrolled for the summer semester.

TermDeadline to Submit
Summer 2024June 20, 2024
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025Sept. 18, 2024
Spring 2025 OnlyFeb. 19, 2025
Summer 2025June 26, 2025

Application Process

The scholarship application is available to complete here:

Note: The Certification of Dependency form (page 2 of the application) must be completed by employees for domestic partners or children. The Certification of Dependency form does not need to be completed for spouses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often do I need to re-apply for the scholarship?

This scholarship is not automatically renewed; a new application must be submitted each year. An application must be also submitted for summer if the student is enrolled for the summer semester.

Who is eligible to receive the Colorado State University Tuition Scholarship?

A spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner or eligible child of an eligible Colorado State University Administrative Professional, Academic Faculty or State Classified staff member. Eligible staff members include all Colorado State University Administrative Professionals and Academic Faculty with regular or special appointment at half-time or greater, those on a transitional appointment and all non-temporary State Classified appointments of half-time or greater. 

Domestic partners and civil union partners are eligible if the Affidavit of Domestic Partnership or Certificate of Civil Union Partnership and the Certification of Dependency for University Benefits forms are approved by Human Resources. You must submit the Certification of Dependency for University Benefits form for any eligible child regardless of tax dependency status (may or may not be YOUR “qualified” federal tax dependent). Program benefits received by a “non-qualified” federal tax dependent are subject to imputed income, which means the value of the benefit received by the student will be treated as taxable income to the employee and deducted from the employee’s pay advice. 

Contact Human Resources at (970) 491-MyHR (6947) if you have questions regarding this program. 

What if both parents are employed by Colorado State University - does the dependent student receive a duplicate tuition scholarship?

No, the value of the tuition scholarship program is as described above in the Scholarship Amounts section.

When will the tuition scholarship be credited to the student's University account?

The scholarship amount will be determined and funds credited to the student’s University account after Census date each semester. The scholarship amount is based on the student’s enrollment after Census date (the end of the regular schedule change period). 

What if the student is also an eligible employee for a study privilege or a reciprocal study privilege benefit at their own employer?

The student who is an eligible employee for the study privilege or reciprocal study privilege benefit at their employer is required to first exhaust any available tuition program benefits each academic year prior to utilizing the Tuition Scholarship Program. The student should consult their employer (e.g., CSU Global, CSU Pueblo or UNC) for study privilege program eligibility. 

If the student is receiving other aid, including scholarships, will the CSU Tuition Scholarship Program reduce this aid?

The total financial aid awards received (through scholarships, grants, work-study, or loans) may not exceed individual costs for attending Colorado State University. Student Financial Services will notify the student if this scholarship causes a reduction in other aid. 

Are courses other than regular on-campus courses counted as credits for payment of this scholarship?

No. Only Resident Instruction (RI), regular on-campus credits count for payment of this scholarship. Test-Out, Advanced Placement, CSU Online and Study Abroad are not considered regular on-campus credits. 

Can this scholarship be used to cover the cost of continuous registration fees for graduate and professional students?

No.

What if the eligible staff member discontinues employment or dies while employed with the University?

For all cases of separation from employment of an eligible employee other than death, the spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner, civil union partner and eligible child of the spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner shall cease to be qualified for this Tuition Scholarship Program at the end of the academic year in which the separation from employment occurs. If a person dies while an eligible employee, his or her spouse, common-law spouse, domestic partner or civil union partner shall continue to be qualified for this Tuition Scholarship Program until six (6) years after the date of the death, and each of his or her eligible children shall continue to be qualified for this Tuition Scholarship Program until the eligible child reaches the age of twenty-six (26). 

Does this scholarship need to be reported as income on a federal income tax return?

Students may exclude from their income the amounts received from this scholarship because they are a candidate for a degree as defined by the IRS, and the scholarship is used for tuition. However, the value of the benefit will be treated as taxable income to eligible staff members for all dependents who are “non-qualified” federal tax dependents of the employee. Refer to IRS Publication 970 “Tax Benefits for Education” for more information. The student will receive a Form 1098-T (Tuition Statement) for this scholarship. If the student has obtained an undergraduate degree and is pursuing a second undergraduate degree OR enrolled in graduate level courses, the value of the scholarship received under this program will result in tax consequences (imputed income) to the eligible employee unless the student is a graduate research or teaching assistant. In accordance with current tax code, the value of the scholarship for graduate level course work will be reflected on the employee pay advice each semester. If you have questions regarding tax treatment of this benefit, consult your personal tax advisor. 

Can eligible dependents of CSU employees attend other institutions affiliated with the CSU system?

Yes. The student must be admitted to CSU Global or CSU Pueblo in a degree-seeking program or as a degree-seeking student with an undeclared major. The program eligibility rules and tuition scholarship amount remain the same regardless of the institution in which you enroll. Submit the completed Tuition Scholarship application to Human Resources, rather than to the Office of Financial Aid. 

Who can I contact with questions regarding the Tuition Scholarship Program?

If you have additional questions on this program, please contact the HR Service Center: