Dependent Category Fee Waiver Eligibility

Eligible employees may transfer their fee waiver benefit to a spouse, dependent child (within applicable age limits) or registered domestic partner, as noted in the following table:

• The following dependent child criteria also apply: A dependent child for fee waiver eligibility is defined as:
  • (a) your child or stepchild under age 25* who has never  been  married;  
  • (b) a child living with you in a parent-child relationship who is economically dependent upon you, under age 25* and has never been married; or
  • (c) your child or stepchild age 25* or above who is incapable of self-support due to a disability which existed prior to age 25*.
• Domestic partners are eligible for fee waiver if their partnership is registered with the California Secretary of State. For information on registering a domestic partnership, click on http://www.sos.ca.gov/dpregistry/
• The dependent fee waiver applies only to certain fees incurred by California residents.  Thus, spouses, domestic partners and dependent children who do not meet established in-state residency requirements will be responsible for paying non-resident tuition charges based upon the total number of units in which they are enrolled.
• Fee waiver eligibility may be transferred to only one person at a time, regardless of whether that individual uses the full entitlement of 2 courses or 6 units.  Dependents taking courses in addition to the fee waiver courses shall pay any difference in fees.
• If both parents are employees and eligible to transfer their fee waiver benefit to a dependent child, each employee may transfer the benefit. Therefore, it is possible for one child to receive both benefits and be eligible for a full tuition waiver on a fee waiver basis.
• Normal academic standards must be maintained by the spouse, domestic partner or dependent child in order to continue participating in the fee waiver program.

Please note: it is not a CSU requirement that an eligible fee waiver dependent also be enrolled as a dependent on health, dental, vision, etc., in order to be considered a dependent for fee waiver purposes. If the dependent is not currently enrolled in benefits, campuses may obtain other documentation to substantiate dependent eligibility (e.g., birth certificate).

Go back to the Fee Waiver/Reduction Program page