Waivers

What is a Waiver?

Waivers are a non-cash method of satisfying all or a portion of tuition and fee costs.  There are several types of waivers listed below:

  • State-Authorized Waivers
  • Graduate Assistant/Fellow Waivers
  • Employee Education Program
  • UF Department-Awarded Waivers

State-Authorized Waivers

Information about the waivers is available in State University System of Florida Board of Governors Regulation BOG 7.008.

Programs of Strategic Emphasis Waiver (formerly STEM Waiver) 

Undergraduate, Florida resident students in certain programs receive a waiver for 50% of tuition and fees associated with courses required for their majors. The waiver will be applied until the student completes the degree or reaches 110% of the credits required for the degree program. There is no need to apply as qualified students will be identified by their enrollment information and will receive the waiver automatically. Starting in Fall 2023, qualified instructional programs include: Computer & Information Sciences, Information Technology, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Accounting, Finance, Elementary Education, and Special Education. Physics is no longer an approved program. Students who have previously been granted the waiver for Physics will continue receiving the waiver until they graduate, exceed the number of allowable credit hours, or withdraw from the program. 

Change in Waiver Application Process

In accordance with recent changes to state legislation, the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Tuition Waiver (POSE) will no longer generate financial aid refunds to students. The waiver is now administered as a “last-dollar” award, which means:

  • The waiver is applied only after all other gift aid (e.g., grants and scholarships) has been applied to a students tuition charges.
  • If a student’s gift aid fully covers their eligible tuition, they will not receive the waiver.
  • If a student’s gift aid does not fully cover their eligible tuition, the waiver will cover 50% of the remaining out-of-pocket tuition costs, up to a maximum of 50% of the eligible tuition charges.
  • Waiver amounts will be calculated in late September to ensure the majority of aid has been disbursed, as this is now considered a “last-dollar” award.
  • Students who have not received any aid will have a fee deferment placed on their account to preserve their course registration and prevent late payment fees until the waiver can be applied.

Students who previously received refunds as a result of the Programs of Strategic Emphasis Tuition Waiver—due to total grants and scholarships exceeding tuition charges—will no longer receive such refunds.

In accordance with the recent changes to state legislation, the waiver will solely be applied to reduce any remaining out-of-pocket tuition costs. It will not generate excess aid or result in a financial surplus to the student.

Free Seat Waiver 

The Online Free Seat Program was created by the Florida Legislature to encourage veterans, active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces, active drilling members of the Florida National Guard, and nontraditional students who have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree to enroll in an online baccalaureate degree program. For more information about qualification and to apply, visit UFOnline.  

Grandparent Waiver 

This waiver allows eligible non-resident incoming freshman to be charged the same as Florida resident students if they have a grandparent living in the state. UF been granted an allocation of 145 spaces for this waiver which are filled on a first-come/first-serve basis. To learn more about eligibility and to apply for the waiver visit the UF Admissions website (hyperlink to https://admissions.ufl.edu/cost-and-aid/residency#fee-waiver) 

The student must submit paperwork from the appropriate agency to the Bursar via email at ubwaivers@mail.ufl.edu by the start of the term for the following waivers:

  • Deceased Law Enforcement, Correctional, or Correctional Probation Officers Employed by the State or Political Subdivision
  • Deceased Firefighters Employed by the State or Political Subdivision
  • Deceased Teacher or School Administrator Employed by a Florida District School Board
  • Disabled Veterans Tuition Waiver
  • Intern Supervisors
  • Florida Linkage Institutes

The student must submit paperwork from the appropriate agency to the Office of the University Registrar for the following waivers:

  • Acceleration (High School Dual-Enrolled or Early Admission)
  • Purple Heart Recipients
  • Florida Residents 60 Years of Age or Older
  • Select Florida High School

The University of Florida department will submit paperwork for the following:

  • School Psychology Training Program

Graduate Assistant and Fellow Waivers

UF Graduate students; Research Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Fellows that have an active Letter of Appointment (LOA) file will have the waiver automatically entered by the department providing the tuition and or fee waiver on the student financial account.

Questions concerning the Letter of Appointment file or a graduate or fellow waiver should be directed to the department sponsoring the student.

Employee Education Program

University of Florida employees may find information about tuition waivers on the UF Human Resource website: Employee Education Program.

Santa Fe College employees may contact their Human Resource department for additional information.

UF Department-Awarded Waivers

UF departments awarding waivers will submit the waiver information to be posted to student’s account.  This does not apply to Graduate Assistant waivers processed through the Letter of Appointment process.

  • Authorized UF Departments must email a spreadsheet with a list of students’ UF IDs and waiver amounts to ubwaivers@mail.ufl.edubefore the end of drop/add period for the University Bursar to apply waivers to student accounts by the fee payment deadline date.

Students should contact the awarding department with any questions that they may have regarding their graduate waiver.

Resources

Employee Education Program

Office of the University Registrar

Contacts

Bursar: (352) 392-0181

Registrar: (352) 392-1374

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