Unlocking Tuition-Free Education: A Guide to UAGC's Full Tuition Grant

The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable education. A key component of this commitment is the Full Tuition Grant (FTG) program, designed to make higher education dreams a reality for eligible individuals. This article delves into the requirements, benefits, and overall structure of the UAGC Full Tuition Grant, offering a comprehensive guide for prospective students.

UAGC's Commitment to Accessible Education

UAGC recognizes that financing a college education can be a significant hurdle. To address this, UAGC works with more than 1,300 companies and organizations across the country to help them optimize the use of their corporate tuition assistance programs. The FTG program is a testament to UAGC's dedication to removing financial barriers and empowering individuals to pursue their academic and career aspirations.

Who is Eligible for the Full Tuition Grant?

The FTG program is primarily designed for individuals affiliated with organizations that have partnered with UAGC. This includes employees of these organizations and, in some cases, their family members. For instance, the City of Tucson has partnered with UAGC to provide FTGs to its employees and their family members. Tucson officials have shared that the "hometown" brand, no tuition cost to their student employees, and easy, online accessibility are driving the interest in collaborating with UAGC.

To determine eligibility, prospective students should:

Confirm eligibility for tuition assistance through their employer or a third-party administrator.
Call 855.805.6911 to speak to a University of Arizona Global Campus University Admission Specialist and review all available payment options, benefits, disclosures, and employer-approved degree programs.
Be in a degree program approved by your employer or sponsor organization.

It's important to note that doctoral programs do not qualify for the Full Tuition Grant.

Read also: Financial Aid Options at UAGC

How the Full Tuition Grant Works

The Full Tuition Grant is designed to work in conjunction with an employer's tuition assistance program. A company’s tuition assistance dollars, combined with the FTG, covers tuition costs for eligible employees/students. The FTG covers the remaining tuition costs when combined with your employer’s tuition assistance. This combined approach ensures that eligible students can pursue their undergraduate or master’s degrees tuition-free.

Diane Sotelo, City of Tucson HR Manager for Learning and Development, highlights the benefits of such partnerships, stating, "Through the Full-Tuition Grant partnership, employees can maximize our tuition reimbursement benefit toward a bachelor's or master's degree. Career and organizational growth for our employees translates to enhanced services for our community. This partnership is a win-win-win."

Maintaining Eligibility and Navigating the FTG Program

Once approved, as long as your employer or participating organizations remits full tuition assistance payment and you meet all FTG policy guidelines, each period will last up to 12 months. You may complete up to 10 undergraduate courses or 8 graduate courses in this time frame. At the completion of each FTG Year, documentation will be required to show proof of renewed funding prior to starting any subsequent FTG Year.

To maintain eligibility and fully benefit from the FTG program, students must adhere to specific guidelines:

Documentation: All students must submit the Full Tuition Grant Acknowledgement and Release form and submit documentation selecting FTG as their payment option. Other documentation may also be required depending on your employer or sponsoring organization. Additional documents may include but are not limited to; the Tuition Grant Student Payment Authorization form, a Letter of Credit/Voucher, or proof of employment documentation.
FTG Year: Your FTG Year begins once all documents have been successfully submitted and approved by UAGC.
Course Load: Once approved, as long as your employer or participating organizations remits full tuition assistance payment and you meet all FTG policy guidelines, each period will last up to 12 months. You may complete up to 10 undergraduate courses or 8 graduate courses in this time frame.
Continued Funding: At the completion of each FTG Year, documentation will be required to show proof of renewed funding prior to starting any subsequent FTG Year.
Tuition Grant Student Payment Credit Card Authorization form: If action is needed by a student to ensure funding provided by an employer reaches UAGC, then the Tuition Grant Student Payment Credit Card Authorization form is required along with submission of valid credit card information. Personal credit cards will only be charged 60 days after a valid course grade posts if the employer contribution has not already been received. Pending the successful completion of all steps in requesting reimbursement for courses, your personal card should not be charged.
Degree Program: You are always welcome to change your degree program; however, to participate in the FTG you must be in a degree program approved by your employer or sponsor organization.
Breaks: FTG students are held to all applicable break policies detailed in the Academic Catalog; however, to take full advantage of the FTG, it is recommended you speak with your advisor and employer contact before taking time off between classes.

Potential Financial Responsibilities

While the FTG program aims to cover tuition costs, students should be aware of potential financial responsibilities:

Read also: Accessing the UAGC Student Portal

Non-Passing Grades: Should a non-passing grade be received, you will be financially responsible for any costs for that course. This includes withdrawals (“W” grades) as well as failed courses according to university grading policies. However, if you were to receive a passing grade that might fall outside of an employer reimbursable range, the university will cover up to 3 of these grades per FTG Year. Students may become ineligible for the FTG program if they receive more than two (2) of these successful grades that fall outside of an employer reimbursable range that must be covered by the FTG program.
Concurrent Enrollment: Students may take more than one course at a time (concurrent enrollment), permitting the additional course cost is personally financed. Additional courses are not part of the FTG program and therefore must be paid in full, including all course materials and fees, prior to the start of the course. Please speak with your advisor if you are interested in applying to take a concurrent course. Your advisor will ensure your eligibility based on UAGC policies and advise you on the course cost.
Books and Fees: Students are responsible for the cost of course materials/books and fees.

Other Tuition Savings Options at UAGC

Besides the FTG, UAGC offers various other grants and programs to help students save on tuition:

Liberty Grant: Specific eligibility requirements apply.
Patriot Grant: Specific eligibility requirements apply.
Alumni Tuition Grant: For UAGC alumni seeking further education.
Bright Horizons Tuition Grant: For individuals affiliated with Bright Horizons.
College Continuation Benefit: Students who opt out of FTG or lose eligibility may be eligible to utilize the College Continuation Benefit to help finish their degree.
Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) for Domestic Partners: The Domestic Partner Tuition Program (DPTP) extends the tuition reduction benefits to employees’ qualified domestic partners and dependents. DPTP is available only for courses at the University of Arizona. Complete and submit a Qualified Domestic Partner Affidavit and required supporting documentation. This must be approved prior to the start of the semester in which you wish to apply for your domestic partner or their dependent child.

Understanding Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) at UAGC

The University of Arizona offers a Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) benefit to its employees, their spouses, and dependent children. This benefit can also be applied to UAGC courses, offering significant tuition savings.

QTR Application Deadlines

Apply for QTR in UAccess during the following application timeframes. These deadlines apply to all University of Arizona employees, whether using QTR at ASU, NAU, or University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC), regardless of class start dates. Medical school applications are also subject to these dates and deadlines. Note: You must submit a separate application for each semester or session. However, only one application is required for all summer sessions.

UAGC Note: The UAGC academic calendar is continuous rather than on the semester system. QTR is applied within a benefits period that may not align with semester dates. However, to apply QTR for UAGC courses, an employee must:

Be active on the first day of the semester during which their desired UAGC course occurs, regardless of when it starts.
Meet the semester’s QTR application deadline if their desired UAGC course occurs anytime during that semester.

Applications can be submitted online up to three months before the beginning of the semester for which the tuition reduction is requested. However, submitting an online application does not guarantee the continuation of this benefit if the employee's status changes before the first day of the semester. UAGC students can expect to complete the QTR application process 3 times per year.

Read also: A Look at Student of the Year

QTR Benefit Amounts

The amount of tuition reduction varies depending on the relationship to the employee and the university attended:

	Employee	Spouse	Dependent Child
Tuition Reduction U of A, NAU, and ASU only	Tuition is reduced to $25 per semester/term.	Tuition is reduced to $25 per semester/term.	Tuition is reduced to 25% of in-state tuition amount.
Tuition Reduction University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) only	Tuition is reduced to $3.57 per credit hour for undergraduate programs. Tuition is $4 per credit hour for master's and doctoral programs.	Tuition is $3.57 per credit hour for undergraduate programs. Tuition is $4 per credit hour for graduate programs. Includes qualified domestic partners.	Tuition is reduced to 25% of tuition.

Credit Hours Covered by QTR and DPTP

	Employee	Spouse	Dependent Child
Fall/Spring:	1-9 credit hours.	1-9 credit hours.	No Limit
Summer/Winter	1-6 credit hours	1-6 credit hours.
Credits above	resident tuition rate.	resident tuition rate

Tax Implications of QTR

	Employee	Spouse	Dependent Child
Undergraduate Degree	Tuition savings are not taxable	Tuition savings are not taxable	Tuition savings are not taxable
Graduate Degree Tax Impact	savings up to $5,250/year

*Tuition savings up to $5,250/year are not taxable. *Tuition Benefits Taxation Guidelines The Tuition Benefits Taxation Guidelines page provides a general overview of the tax liability of the QTR and DPTP benefits. This does not constitute tax advice.

How to Apply for QTR

QTR applicants must be admitted as students at their respective universities and have a student ID to apply. Once you log into UAccess, select the compass (diamond in a circle) in the top right corner.

Verifying Application Status

Once you have submitted your application online, you can view its eligibility status in UAccess Employee at any time. After logging in, select Main Menu > University Benefits > Qualified Tuition Reduction > View QTR Applications. To view a specific application, enter your transaction number and click "Search." If you do not know your transaction number, you may click "Search" to view all submitted applications.

Once Human Resources has approved the application, the Bursar’s Office will adjust student account balances within 48-72 hours.

Additional Financial Aid Options

UAGC also provides access to a range of traditional financial aid options, including:

Federal Pell Grants: Available to undergraduate students with financial need who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG): Awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, with priority given to Pell Grant recipients.
Federal Direct Loans: Subsidized and unsubsidized loans for students, with repayment typically beginning six months after graduation or withdrawal.
Direct PLUS Loan: A loan borrowed by the parents of the student.
Grad PLUS: PLUS for graduate/professional students allows graduate/professional students to borrow a PLUS loan up to cost of attendance (COA) minus other aid.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant: This grant is available to students whose parent or guardian died as a result of military service in Iraq or Afghanistan following the events of September 11, 2001.

Making Education an Investment

UAGC understands that earning your online degree is also a financial investment, and understanding your college tuition costs and options to pay for school are important. Your tuition and fees will depend on your degree level and sometimes your field of study. Before you enroll in any degree program, you need to know exactly how much it will cost.

UAGC offers a variety of payment options and resources to help you pay for college. One obstacle to pursuing a degree may be the cost. Know what you can expect with help from the Net Price Calculator. This tool takes the cost of tuition, the price of books, the price of course materials, and estimated fees to produce an estimated program cost for the year.

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