Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to some of the most common questions about the Fee Waiver Program
Benefits
Eligibility for the CSU Fee Waiver depends on your employment status and the terms of your collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Below is a summary of eligibility. Click on your CBA for more details, or refer to the full CBA for comprehensive information.
Available to full-time or part-time permanent employees only.
Available to full-time employees (permanent, temporary, and probationary) and part-time permanent employees. Hourly employees are not eligible.
Available to tenured and probationary faculty unit employees (excluding coaches), and temporary faculty unit employees with three (3) year appointments as outlined in Article 12 of the CBA.
Coaches must have at least six (6) years of consecutive service in the department. One (1) year of service is defined as one (1) semester or two (2) quarters of employment in the bargaining unit at a single CSU campus within a single academic year.
FERP (Faculty Early Retirement Program) participants are considered tenured faculty
and are eligible for the fee waiver only during the semesters/quarters in which they
are actively employed in a FERP appointment. Timebase is not a factor.
Available to full-time or part-time permanent employees, as well as full-time probationary employees. Hourly and temporary employees are not eligible.
Not eligible for Fee Waiver (except as provided under the Executive Order 611)
Available to full-time or part-time permanent employees, as well as full-time probationary employees. Hourly and temporary employees are not eligible.
Please note: C99 and E99 employees only attain permanent status in part-time
positions as a result of completing a probationary period in a full-time position
and,
subsequently reducing their time-base.
Available to full-time employees, including temporary employees
Available to full-time or part-time permanent employees, as well as full-time probationary
employees. Hourly and temporary employees are not eligible.
The fees waived or reduced under the CSU Fee Waiver Program differ for represented and non-represented employee categories. For represented employees, eligibility is based on collective bargaining agreements, while non-represented employees follow CSU policy.
Eligible Fees:
- Courses Waived: Employees can have fees fully waived for up to two (2) courses or six (6) units per term, whichever is greater. This includes Tuition Fees for state-supported summer term courses.
- Covered Courses: The fee waiver applies to CSU state-supported (general fund) courses, including summer term courses (e.g., Summer Arts).
- Excluded Courses: The fee waiver does not cover self-support programs (e.g., Continuing Education, Extended Education) or fees for joint doctoral programs paid directly to the partner university.
Unit Limitations:
- Non-represented and represented employees may enroll in a maximum of two (2) courses or six (6) units per term, excluding CSU Doctoral Programs.
Doctoral Programs:
- A flat fee equivalent to the Part-Time Graduate Tuition Fee is waived for CSU Doctoral Programs in Educational Leadership, Nursing, and Physical Therapy.
- Units for doctoral programs are determined independently based on program offerings. Employees must pay any difference in fees for additional courses beyond the fee waiver.
Employees may request release time to attend one job-related or Career Development
course per semester, provided it does not interfere with department operations. The
request must be approved by the appropriate administrator. Faculty enrollments must
not conflict with scheduled classes or office hours.
Fee waiver approval is granted for one semester only and must be re-established each
semester of enrollment.
Eligible faculty and staff can transfer the fee waiver benefit to a spouse, dependent child (within age limits), or registered domestic partner. The domestic partner must be registered through the Secretary of State’s Domestic Partners Registry.
Requirements for Dependent Eligibility:
- The dependent must be matriculated in a degree or teaching credential program at any of the 23 CSU campuses.
- The courses must count toward the completion of the degree or credential.
- The dependent is subject to the same academic standards as all students.
The fee waiver covers up to two courses or six units per semester for the dependent. If the dependent takes additional courses beyond the fee waiver limit, they will be responsible for paying the difference in fees. Please note that the fee waiver is approved for one semester only and must be re-established for each term of enrollment.
Yes, if both parents are eligible, they can each transfer their fee waiver benefit. This means a dependent child could receive two fee waivers (up to 12 units or 4 courses in total).
A dependent child or stepchild who is under 25 and unmarried is eligible for the fee waiver. If the child is 25 or older and has a disability that prevents self-support, they may remain eligible for the fee waiver.
Employee Categories and Age Limits for Dependents:
| Employee Category | Eligible Fee Waiver Dependents: | Age Limit for Dependent Child |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 (Physicians) | Spouse, Dependent Child, Domestic Parter | Up to Age 23 |
| Units 2, 5, 7, 9 (CSUEU), Unit 3 (Faculty), Unit 4 (APC), Unit 6 (Skilled Trades), Unit 8 (Public Safety) | Spouse, Dependent Child, Domestic Parter | Up to Age 25 |
| Unit 10 (IUOE) | Spouse, Dependent Child, Domestic Parter | Up to Age 23 |
| Non-Represented (C99, E99, M80, M98) | Spouse, Dependent Child, Domestic Parter | Up to Age 25 |
The dependent fee waiver will be denied if the student’s academic standing is Probation
or Disqualification, or if the dependent is no longer registered at CSU.
If a dependent turns 23 (or 25) during the semester, they may complete the current
semester under the fee waiver. However, any future courses taken after the age threshold
has been met will no longer be eligible for the fee waiver.
Fees waived or reduced under the CSU Fee Waiver Program differ for dependents of represented and non-represented employees. Eligibility is based on collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) for represented employees and university policy for non-represented employees.
To qualify, the dependent must be enrolled in a degree or teaching credential program at one of the 23 California State University campuses, and the courses must count toward the completion of the degree or credential.
The fee waiver applies only to CSU state-supported (general fund) courses, including those offered during the summer term (e.g., Summer Arts). It does not apply to self-support courses (such as Continuing and Global Education, Extended Education) or fees for joint doctoral programs paid directly to a partner university.
For a detailed overview of the dependent fees that are waived, please refer to this chart.
The fee waiver benefit may be transferred to only one person at a time, regardless
of whether that individual uses the full entitlement of 2 courses or 6 units. Dependents
taking courses in addition to the fee waiver courses shall pay the difference in fees.
Reimbursement of the CSU Application Fee ($70) is available one time only.
- For Graduate Admissions, contact Hortencia Iribe at 559-278-4073 or hiribe@csufresno.edu.
- For Undergraduate Admissions, contact Maribel Olea at 559-278-6090 or molea@mail.fresnostate.edu, or Pang Thao at 559-278-6064 or pangt@csufresno.edu.
- For questions about refunds for prior semesters, please contact Student Accounts at 559-278-2876.
- For more information, visit the Accounting Services website.
Students participating in the fee waiver program must maintain Good Academic Standing to continue their participation.
At the end of each semester, academic standings will be reviewed to determine eligibility for the following semester. To remain in Good Academic Standing, students must not be on Probation, Disqualification, Contract Status, or Administrative Approved Academic Probation.
PLEASE NOTE: Both the campus GPA and the total GPA must be 2.00 or higher to maintain Good Standing.
| Student Level | Disqualification | Probation | Good Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freshman (< 30 units) | GPA of 1.49 or below | 1.50 - 1.99 | 2.00 or above |
| Sophmore (30-59 units) | GPA of 1.69 or below | 1.70 - 1.99 | 2.00 or above |
| Junior (60-89 units) | GPA of 1.84 or below | 1.85 - 1.99 | 2.00 or above |
| Senior (90+ units) | GPA of 1.94 or below | 1.95 - 1.99 | 2.00 or above |
| Post Baccalaureate | GPA of 1.94 or below | 1.95 - 1.99 | 2.00 or above |
| Graduate | GPA of 1.99 or below | 2.00 to 2.99 | 3.00 or above |
For additional information on academic standing please contact Student Records (University Registrar) at 278-2245.
The Fee Waiver program is a fringe benefit and, as such, is subject to strict reporting requirements established by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Internal Revenue Code Sections 117(d) and 127] and the State of California Controller's Office. According to these requirements, the fringe benefit must be taxed in the calendar year it is received.
Taxable vs. Non-Taxable Fees
- Undergraduate Fees for employees and eligible dependents are non-taxable.
- Graduate/Doctoral Fees for employees are non-taxable if expenses do not exceed $5,250 in a calendar year, as per IRC Sections 117(d) and 127.
- Graduate/Doctoral Fees for eligible dependents are taxable, in accordance with IRC 117(d).
Imputed Income and Tax Rates
Imputed income related to participation in the CSU Fee Waiver & Reduction Program is subject to the following tax rates:
- Federal Tax: 22% (Mandatory) Subject to Change
- State Tax: 6.6% (Mandatory)
- Social Security Tax: 6.2% (If applicable based on normal wages)
- Medicare Tax: 1.45% (If applicable based on normal wages)
The tax amount is calculated as follows:
Value of Fee Waiver (above) × Flat Tax Rate = Flat Tax Amount Deducted from Employee Pay Warrant
The imputed income is reported to the State Controller's Office once each term, after the census date, meaning there will be no adverse tax reporting if an employee or their dependent drops a course.
If you are subject to imputed taxes, you will receive a letter. It is recommended that you consult with a tax consultant or financial advisor for specific guidance regarding tax implications.
Tax Status Breakdown
| Eligible Participant | Course Level | Tax Status |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | Undergraduate | Non-taxable |
| Graduate/Doctorate | Non-taxable (up to $5,250) | |
| Employee's Spouse of Dependent Child | Undergraduate | Non-Taxable |
| Graduate/Doctorate | Taxable | |
| Registered Domestic Partner | Undergraduate | Taxable |
| Graduate/Doctorate | Taxable |
All courses listed on the Fee Waiver application for employees or dependents attending Fresno State will be verified after the 4th week of the semester. It is the responsibility of the employee or dependent to report any course changes to Human Resources promptly.
Graduate/Doctoral Students
If courses that are not part of your assigned curriculum are included, our office
will reach out for course justification. Failure to provide justification may result
in the removal of the fee waiver benefit.