Registering with a Waiver

We offer tuition waivers to Washington State Employees, public K-12 staff members, and people aged 60 years or above.

What is a Waiver?

Under certain conditions, some tuition costs may be waived for those 60+ years of age or for those working for the State of Washington or a public K-12 institution.

Three waiver options are available: two for Washington State employees, and one for those 60+.

Each waiver has different benefits, limitations and costs. Washington State law defines the conditions under which you may qualify.

Benefits and Limitations for all Waivers

  • By law, tuition waivers cannot be awarded to students in classes which must cover their own costs without state support, also known as "self-sustaining". Self-sustaining classes include things like summer classes.
  • Tuition waiver requests must be submitted every quarter you are registered and are requesting a tuition reduction
  • Tuition waiver requests must be submitted to the Registration and Records office no later than Friday of week 2. Any requests after this will not be approved.
  • You have access to course counseling, equal to all other students
  • You must meet all class ​requirements, equal to all other students

Employee Waivers 

We offer two waivers to Washington State employees and public K-12 staff who want to earn a degree or take classes at a reduced rate. One waiver allows you to earn your undergraduate or graduate degree for a little over half the cost of tuition. Under the other waiver, you pay an administrative fee much lower than tuition; however, it only applies to specific types of classes and only if there is an open seat when the term begins. To qualify for either waiver, you must be:

  • A permanent employee
  • Employed half-time or more in one of the following:
    • Classified service under chapter 41.06 RCW
    • Classified employee or exempt paraprofessional of a technical college
    • Faculty member, counselor, librarian, exempt professional or administrative employee at an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016
    • Teacher or other certified instructional staff employed at public common and vocational schools
    • Classified staff employed at a public common school as defined in RCW 28A.150.020, when used as part of a teacher preparation program or which is relevant to their work assignment 

Employee 50% Operating Fee Tuition Waiver 

Benefits and limitations 

  • Graduate students must contact their program prior to submitting a 50% operating fee tuition waiver form
  • Available to Evergreen, Washington State and public K-12 employees, as defined above
  • You must be admitted, seeking a degree at Evergreen
  • Limited number available
  • You may take advantage of admitted student priority registration
  • Waiver applies to any type of class, including graduate core programs, Thesis, and individual study
  • You receive benefits equal to other tuition and fee-paying students – ID card, student discount at events, etc. 
  • Once awarded, the waiver remains with you while you meet the following conditions:
    • Maintain good academic standing in your degree program
    • Continue to be an eligible employee, as defined above. You must confirm you are an eligible employee each quarter.
    • Maintain enrollment during the academic year (fall, winter, spring) toward your degree

Costs 

  • Waiver reduces​ 50% of operating fee tuition for any credit amount, part-time or full-time
  • Some fees from tuition are charged (building fee and services and activities (S&A) fee)
  • Some​ fees are waived (wellness fee and transit and late-night bus fee)
  • Fees for materials or activities are charged, if required for the class

Process

Employee Full Tuition Waiver up to 4 credits 

Benefits and limitations 

  • Available to Evergreen, Washington State and public K-12 employees, as defined in the Employee Waivers section above.
  • You do not need to be admitted
  • Limited to 4 graduate or undergraduate credits. If you register for more than 4 credits, you will be charged full tuition and fees for all credits.
  • Waiver does not apply to graduate core programs, Thesis, or individual study (contracts or internships). It does apply to graduate courses (elective or concentration courses).
  • Limited to ​classes with space available and no waitlist at the beginning of the quarter. ​Classes must already exist; creating new sections in existing classes is prohibited.
  • Employee waivers will be given to Evergreen employees first
  • Must submit waiver request along with registration form no earlier than first day of the quarter
  • If admitted, you cannot take advantage of admitted student priority registration and request a waiver. You must choose one or the other.​
  • You will not be charged Student Activity or Wellness fees; therefore, you will not receive an ID card or receive benefits from programs supported by those fees
  • Waiver eligibility is determined on a quarter-by-quarter basis. It does not remain with you from quarter to quarter.

Costs

  • $100 administrative fee
  • Fees for materials or activities, if required for the class

Process 

60+ Full Tuition Waiver up to 8 credits 

We offer a tuition waiver to those aged 60 or higher. You pay an administrative fee much lower than tuition; however, there are limitations on the types of classes that qualify. Within qualifying classes, there must be an existing available seat when the quarter begins.

Benefits and limitations 

  • Available to those aged 60 or more
  • You must not be admitted, seeking a degree
  • Limited to a total of 8 undergraduate credits; no more than two courses
  • Limited to courses with space available and no waitlist at the beginning of the quarter. Courses must already exist; creating new sections in existing classes is prohibited.
  • Waiver does not apply to programs, graduate study or individual study (contracts or internships)
  • Must submit waiver request along with registration form no earlier than first day of the quarter
  • You will not be charged Student Activity or Wellness fees; therefore, you will not receive an ID card or receive benefits from programs supported by those fees
  • Waiver eligibility is determined on a quarter-by-quarter basis. It does not remain with you from quarter to quarter.

Costs

  • $100 administrative fee
  • Fees for materials or activities, if required for the class

Process

  • Complete a special student registration form, and have it signed by the faculty member teaching your desired course Special (non-admitted) Student Registration Form (PDF)
  • Complete the 60-Plus Waiver Form (PDF)
  • Submit both forms to Registration and Records, no earlier than the first day of class and no later than the end of week 2
  • After verifying your eligibility and space-availability in the course, Registration and Records will complete your registration, apply the waiver and send a message to your Evergreen email confirming your registration
  • Registration and Records will email you if your registration request does not meet one or more of the requirements