APPLY
VISIT
GIVENew Application!
We are excited to announce fee-waiver applications is available through Optimize, the new CSU system-wide platform designed to make submitting and managing fee waiver requests easier for you and your eligible dependents. The Benefits Office will provide an overview of the new fee-waiver application tool. Employees utilizing the fee-waiver program for themselves or a dependent are encourage to attend.
IMPORTANT REMINDER
Employees or Dependents must be actively enrolled in courses, per semester, before submitting their fee waiver application. Applications received prior to enrollment cannot be processed.聽聽
The 好色先生 (CSU) Fee Waiver and Reduction Program (Fee Waiver) provides eligible CSU employees with the opportunity to enroll in work-related courses necessary for improving skills applicable to existing employment with the CSU or necessary for advancement in the CSU in accordance with an approved individual career development plan as a career employee in the CSU. Additionally, the Fee Waiver and Reduction Program provides eligible dependents of CSU employees the opportunity to attend classes at CSU campuses at reduced rates. All eligible non-represented and represented employees may enroll in a maximum of two (2) courses or six (6) units, whichever is greater, per term.
Fee Waiver and Reduction Program Eligibility
Eligibility criteria for represented and non-represented employee categories vary and are based on Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) for represented employees and Policy for non-represented employees as summarized on the following chart:
Represented Employees
Employee Category | Eligibility Criteria |
Units 1 (Physicians) |
|
Units 2,5,7,9 (CSUEU) 聽/ 聽Unit 4 (APC) 聽/ 聽Unit 6 (Skilled Trades) 聽/ 聽Unit 8 (Public Safety) |
|
Unit 3 (Faculty) - Non FERP |
|
Unit 3 (Faculty) - FERP Only |
|
Unit 8 (Public Safety) |
|
Non-Represented Employees
Employee Category | Eligibility Criteria |
M98 (Executives) |
|
M80 (惭笔笔)听 |
|
C99 (Confidential) 聽/听 E99 (Excluded) |
|
Overall, in order to participate in the Fee Waiver Program, employees must have an active appointment that is eligible for Fee Waiver. If you separate from CSU before the beginning of the semester, you will no longer be eligible for the benefit. The Fee Waiver will be removed and your bill will be adjusted accordingly. You can complete your course(s) by paying the fees due or drop the course(s). Normal academic standards must be maintained by the employee in order to continue participating in the fee waiver program.
Note: Please check applicable CBAs for provisions concerning the appointment of part-time, permanent employees. Also note that Executive Order 712 establishes the requirement that courses taken by employees participating in the Fee Waiver Program must either be job-related or part of an approved Career Development Plan. Refer to the Executive Order as well as to the individual CBAs for more information on this requirement.
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 chart:
Represented Employees
Employee Category | Eligibility Fee Waiver Dependent |
Units 1 (Physicians) | Spouse |
Units 2,5,7,9 (CSUEU) 聽/ 聽Unit 3 (Faculty) 聽/ 聽Unit 4 (APC) 聽/ 聽Unit 6 (Skilled Trades) 聽/ 聽Unit 8 (Public Safety) | Spouse |
Non-Represented Employees
Employee Category | Eligibility Fee Waiver Dependent |
C99 (Confidential) 聽/ 聽M80 (MPP) 聽/ 聽M98 (Executives) | Spouse |
E99 (Excluded) | N/A |
Normal academic standards must be maintained by the spouse, registered domestic partner or dependent child in order to continue participating in the fee waiver program.
Taxation
- The value of fees waived for the eligible employee's use of their own Fee Waiver benefit is non-taxable for undergraduate courses.
- The value of fees waived for the eligible employee's use of their own Fee Waiver benefit for graduate/doctorate classes is nontaxable up to $5,250 per calendar year. The value of fees waived that exceeds $5,250 in a given calendar year will be reported to the State Controller's Office and the additional taxes taken from the employee's pay warrant.
Employees are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisor to determine if courses taken are job related and include the deduction on their personal tax return, if eligible.
How to Get Started
Resources
| Deadlines | Dates |
| Fall 2026 | Apr 10, 2026 to Sep 18, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 | Feb 13, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | Aug 14,2026 |
| Attending another CSU | Check with your CSU Campus |
If you have additional questions please e-mail feewaiver@csudh.edu, visit Benefits Services located on the 3rd Floor of Welch Hall 340 or call (310) 243-3771.
To view course offerings, visit the Class Schedule.