Tuition Grant for Children

The Tuition Grant Plan covers full-time (12 or more degree-required credits per semester for colleges with two full-time semesters (Fall/Spring); 24 or more degree-required credits required per academic year for colleges with full-time trimesters or quarters) undergraduate studies at an accredited, degree-granting institution. Once eligibility requirements are met, entry dates for the program are October 1st for the Fall semester and February 1st for the Spring semester.

Employee Eligibility

Full-time faculty, staff, or bargaining unit members of the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Carey Business School, School of Education, Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Peabody Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Libraries, University Administration, Academic Centers, and Homewood Student Affairs are eligible if you:

• complete a minimum of two consecutive years of full-time service prior to October 1st or February 1st and continue through these dates in a full-time position, and
• if you are on authorized leave, your leave does not exceed one year in duration after which you return to full-time employment*

The two-year minimum employment requirement will be waived for faculty and staff that come to the university directly from another employer (within 30 days) where they were previously eligible for a similar dependent education benefit. Proof of eligibility is required from the prior employer. Waivers submitted for new faculty positions will be reviewed on a semester basis. Please see the sample Waiver Letter for the required language.

Each parent is eligible if both are full-time members of the faculty, staff, or Bargaining Unit and have completed two consecutive years of employment with the university.

JHU retirees are also eligible for the Tuition Grant Plan.

*The benefit is available only during periods in which the faculty or staff member is employed full-time, or during periods of authorized leave not exceeding one year in duration from which the faculty or staff member will return to full-time employment. A faculty or staff member is not eligible to receive the benefit while on a leave of absence that exceeds one year. The faculty or staff member’s benefit will be reinstated when they return from leave as an active full-time employee, and payments will begin with the next eligible term.

Dependent Eligibility

Effective January 1, 2023, dependents are eligible to participate in this Plan through the end of the calendar year in which they turn 26. For this purpose, “dependent children” are: biological children, adopted children, children placed with the eligible employee for adoption, stepchildren (by marriage), children of the employee’s domestic partner, or children for whom the eligible employee has been appointed legal guardian. Eligible dependents are limited to the following: A child who is the employee’s “dependent” within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code section 152 and is either a “qualifying child” or a “qualifying relative”.

Proof of dependent citizenship must be provided prior to receiving benefits under the Plan. Employees must submit the completed Tuition Grant Plan Application and a copy of the child’s birth certificate (English translation). For children not born in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, one of the following documents must be submitted in addition to a birth certificate:

1. Green Card
2. U. S. Visa
3. U.S. Passport
4. Certificate of Naturalization

The dependent children of domestic partners may also participate in the plan provided the employee’s completed Affidavit of Marriage/Domestic Partnership is on file with the Benefits Service Center. Any benefit provided for dependent children of employees’ domestic partners is taxable income. The amount of taxes withheld from the employee’s check is based on the amount of the benefit. Tax questions should be directed to the Tax Office at 443-997-8688.

In circumstances where disability prevents an otherwise eligible dependent from enrolling as a full-time undergraduate (i.e., the 12-credit hour requirement), the university shall consider waiving the credit hour and/or age requirement. All such requests shall be considered by the university’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) in accordance with the university’s commitment to ensuring equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. Additional information supporting the disability will be required by the university’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE).

About the Plan

The Tuition Grant Plan covers full-time, undergraduate studies at an accredited, degree-granting institution. It does not cover studies at institutions that do not offer degrees, non-credit courses, part-time studies, room and board, and optional fees. Cooperative programs that do not offer academic credits are not covered by the plan.

Except as provided below, for each eligible employee, the Tuition Grant Plan pays for 50% of each dependent child’s full-time, undergraduate tuition and eligible fees*, up to a maximum of one-half of Johns Hopkins University’s freshman undergraduate tuition. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the university’s original freshman undergraduate tuition is $62,840.  Payment is limited to four years of full-time, undergraduate study per dependent child at any accredited, degree-granting institution.

The university’s policy is to cover fees that are charged by the majority of institutions currently participating in the plan. Currently, the following fees may be eligible:

These 10 fees are considered eligible for payment when they meet all of the following criteria:

• The fee is charged to all students no matter what type of degree they are pursuing
• The fee does not fund debt or financial aid for other students
• The fee is not optional and cannot be refunded to the student
• The fee is not related to a specific course or degree
• The purpose of the fee can be defined by the institution

Payments are available for mini-sessions and summer courses if:

• The continuing student meets the definition of a full-time student (see FAQ question 16) within the current academic year, and
• The student, new to the plan, meets the definition of a full-time student (see FAQ question 16) in the upcoming academic year – eligible for courses taken in Summer/Fall/Spring/Summer during his/her first year, and
• The student has not received the maximum grant allowance for the academic year, and
• The employee is in a full-time position when the student begins the mini-session or summer course.

Part-time mini sessions (e.g., summer sessions) do not count against the student’s maximum participation.

If attendance in the upcoming academic year does not occur, it will be the employee’s obligation to promptly repay any monies disbursed erroneously, after notification by the university.

If other “restricted” aid (aid that must be spent on tuition and fees) is received in addition to the university’s tuition grant, the total combined tuition support may not exceed 100% of the tuition and eligible fees. If the total exceeds 100%, the tuition grant will be reduced.

Payments issued for students who withdraw involuntarily (e.g., illness) before the end of the term will be refunded based on their college’s refund policy. If 100% of the grant is not refunded, the term will be considered used and counted towards the eligible terms within the four-year period.

Payments issued for students who voluntarily withdraw before the end of the term must be refunded in full. If 100% of the grant is not refunded, the university will consider the student to have used the benefit for that term. (see FAQs for additional information)

If an overpayment of tuition grant occurs, the university will request a refund of 100% of the overpayment from the college. If the college is unable to refund 100% of the overpayment, it will be the responsibility of the parent to promptly repay any monies disbursed erroneously after notification from the university. Future participation in the Tuition Grant Plan may be suspended for the employee until a repayment agreement has been signed.

To Participate

Complete the Tuition Grant Plan Application which will facilitate the processing and payment of the grant.  Tuition Grant Plan applications are accepted beginning May 1 for the upcoming academic year. You will receive a confirmation email once your application is submitted.  If additional information is needed, you will receive a follow-up email. You may also log in to https://web.onbase.jh.edu/StatusView to see if your application has been approved and to upload any required documentation.

Retirees and beneficiaries, please contact the Benefits Service Center to request a paper application. Email your completed form to benefits@jhu.edu.