Most benefits get used once, and they’re gone. The CSU Fee Waiver doesn’t work that way. It’s one of the most valuable benefits available to Unit 4 employees, and it can be used year after year, for yourself or your eligible family members, for as long as you work for the CSU.
If you’ve never looked into it, or you assumed it was a one-time deal, here’s what you need to know.
Who Can Use It
Eligible Unit 4 employees can put the Fee Waiver toward their own education or transfer it to a qualifying family member. That includes:
- A spouse or domestic partner (with a declaration of domestic partnership on file)
- An unmarried child or stepchild age 25 or younger
- A child or stepchild over 25 who meets certain disability requirements
- Another unmarried child under 25 who lives with you and depends on you financially
Full-time employees in any status, including temporary and probationary, qualify. Permanent part-time employees and permanent employees on qualifying leave also qualify.
Eligibility dates may vary, so check with your campus benefits office to confirm when you can begin using the Fee Waiver.
It’s a Bucket, Not a One-Time Gift
Here’s the part that surprises people: only one person can use the benefit at a time, but that doesn’t mean it’s locked to whoever uses it first. You could use it for your own classes for one year, hand it to your child next, and pick it back up later. If you have more than one child, they can take turns using it as each one starts school.
There’s no limit on how many children you have or how many times the benefit changes hands. The only rule is that just one person can use it during any given term.
What It Covers
The Fee Waiver covers up to six units per term, no matter who is using it. It can go toward an undergraduate or graduate degree, and it can be used at any CSU campus, not just the one where you work.
There’s no age cap for employees or spouses, so either of you could work toward a bachelor’s degree, a master’s, or even a doctorate. For dependent children, the age limit is 25, with certain exceptions for children with disabilities.
Terms don’t have to be used back-to-back. You or your dependent can take a semester off and pick the benefit back later, as long as your school knows you’re stepping away, and you stay enrolled and in good standing.
A Few Things to Know Before You Apply
A Fee Waiver request has to be submitted for every term you plan to use it, and deadlines are usually within about two months of when classes start. Because the exact date shifts from term to term, check with your campus benefits office before you count on a specific window.
If you’re using the Fee Waiver for your own education, your coursework must be related to your CSU position and approved by your department before you apply. If a course takes place during your normal work hours, you’ll also need your supervisor’s approval.
You aren’t limited to courses offered at your campus. You can take approved courses through other CSU campuses, including online, if they are state-supported.
A Separate Benefit: The Educational Achievement Stipend
Unit 4 employees who earn an advanced degree have another valuable education benefit: the Educational Achievement Stipend (EAS). Established under Article 23.4 of the APC/CSU contract, the EAS pays eligible Unit 4 employees who earn a master’s degree or a doctorate, whether or not they used the Fee Waiver to earn that degree.
The stipend applies only to you as the employee, not to a dependent who earns a degree. Your degree does not have to be issued by CSU. You can earn it at any U.S. degree-granting college or university. And if you go on to earn both a master’s and a doctorate, you can qualify for a stipend for each degree.
Why This Matters
The CSU Fee Waiver and Educational Achievement Stipend can provide significant value to Unit 4 employees, whether you’re pursuing your own education or helping an eligible family member pursue theirs. Understanding how these benefits work can help you take full advantage of opportunities already available to you.
These benefits are also part of the broader compensation and protections APC works to preserve through collective bargaining. Strong membership gives APC a stronger voice at the bargaining table and helps protect valuable benefits for current and future Unit 4 employees.
If you or an eligible family member is considering a CSU education, check with your campus benefits office early to understand the requirements and application process. You can also contact your APC steward with questions about the Fee Waiver or Educational Achievement Stipend.
If you’re not an APC member and would like to help increase our leverage at the bargaining table, you can join here.