Columbia University Human Resources

Spouses and Same-Sex Domestic Partners: The Benefit

The amount of tuition exemption granted to an Officer's spouse or same-sex domestic partner depends on the Officer's eligiblity, rank and school, and on the level of the courses taken.

 

Undergraduate Tuition: What is Covered?

The Tuition Exemption Benefit pays 100 percent of undergraduate tuition costs for an eligible Officer’s spouse or same-sex domestic partner each term, at Columbia only, whether or not the spouse or partner is registered in a degree program. The benefit does not cover fees or the tuition charged for auditing courses.


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Graduate Tuition: What is Covered?

Course Numbers 4000 and Above (unless taken to fill an undergraduate degree requirement)

A spouse’s or same-sex domestic partner’s Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate level courses depends on the Officer’s date of appointment as a full-time, salaried Officer of the University:

  • Officer appointed after June 30, 1993, and continuously employed at Columbia University: There is no Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses for spouses or same-sex domestic partners.
  • Officer appointed between July 1, 1987 and June 30, 1993, and continuously employed at Columbia University: Spouse or partner’s Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses equals seven points per semester
  • Officer appointed before July 1, 1987, and continuously employed at Columbia University: Spouse or partner’s Tuition Exemption Benefit for graduate school or graduate level courses equals 100 percent of tuition costs

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Courses Not Covered

The following courses are not covered by tuition exemption for spouses or same-sex domestic partners:

  • Courses offered at Teachers College
  • Courses offered at Columbia University Law School
  • Courses taken as part of the Computer Technology and Applications (CTA) program
  • All short-term, intensive, and fee-based courses in which the instructor is paid on the basis of the number of students registered in the course
  • Courses with no point value
  • Applied music courses (i.e., musical instrument instruction)
  • Continuing education (i.e, those beginning with the letter “Q” or “N,” unless such a course is taken to fulfill a degree requirement)
  • Any audited or non-credit courses.

 

Next Steps:

Please see “Procedures” at left for details on how to apply for the Tuition Exemption Benefit.


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