Master’s Degree Educational Assistance Eligibility Guidelines

By encouraging the professional and personal development of Tarleton State employees, this master’s degree program is designed to invest in and assist employees further their knowledge, skills, and job effectiveness.

Eligibility: Full-time, budgeted employees at Tarleton State as qualified below. This program is applicable to the pursuit of a first master’s degree only.

Employees

1. 100% of eligible tuition and fees will be paid on enrollment in a Master’s Degree at Tarleton State University.
   • Fees associated with admission applications, insurance, memberships, travel, parking, intercollegiate athletic fee, housing, meal plan, textbooks, school supplies, and transportation are not included in this benefit.
2. Employee must:
   • Be in a full-time position for at least 12 months prior to the start of the degree program.
   • Have satisfactory performance evaluation ratings for both the current and previous review cycle.
   • Must not be on a performance improvement plan.
3. Initial application process requires a professional growth plan.
   • How does completing the master’s degree relate to your current role at Tarleton State or your intended career path at Tarleton?
   • How will the additional education improve your effectiveness in your current role or prepare you for a future role?
4. To receive the benefit, the employee must be admitted to a master’s degree program at Tarleton State, be in good academic standing, and enroll in courses which are part of the degree program.
5. A benefit application must be submitted before the application deadline for each semester to be covered. A new submission is required each semester.

Tuition and Enrollment

1. Tuition and enrollment-related fees paid at the time of enrollment
   • The University will pay for costs for first time attempt of classes only.
   • A passing grade is considered to be earned if the employee receives graduate degree credit for the course, with an A, B, or C grade.
   • Courses that are retaken are not eligible for the waiver.
2. Benefit will cease if the employee is no longer making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree.
3. Maximum eligibility/benefit of 6 hours per semester and 18 hours per year.
4. Courses or auxiliary activities outside of the degree plan will not be covered or paid by this benefit.
5. Course attendance and assignment work must not interfere with work obligations, job performance, or attendance.
   • For any courses offered during regularly scheduled work hours, employee must make up those hours and/or use Vacation Leave if eligible, unless the employee’s supervisor approves Education Release Time.
6. Tuition and fee waivers in excess of IRS limits, currently $5,250 per calendar year, will be considered taxable income and added to the employee’s taxable wages.

Approvals

Must be approved by Dean/AVP and VP of the employee’s division to verify that the degree relates to the employee’s current role or intended career path.

Applications must be submitted by end of business on closing date for each semester. A new submission is required for each semester.

Term	Applications Open	Application Deadline and Closing Date
Summer Term	March 5, 2026	July 2, 2026
Fall Term	July 2, 2025	August 15, 2025
Spring Term	October 30, 2025	January 28, 2026

For Tarleton State employee eligibility questions, contact benefits@tarleton.edu. For other operational questions, contact businessofc@tarleton.edu .