Emory University Tuition Reimbursement Benefits 2026

Many employers offer tuition reimbursement programs, but Emory University goes a step further by providing two separate education benefits for eligible employees. Depending on where you attend school and your employment status, you may qualify for tuition reimbursement at outside institutions or a Courtesy Scholarship that helps cover tuition at Emory University.

These programs can help employees continue their education, earn degrees, and reduce college costs for themselves and, in some cases, their family members. Below, we'll go over how each benefit works, who qualifies, and what steps you'll need to take to participate.

Does Emory University Pay for College?

Emory University offers both a Tuition Reimbursement Program and a Courtesy Scholarship Program for eligible employees. While both benefits help reduce education costs, they serve different purposes and have different eligibility requirements.

Tuition Reimbursement for Other Colleges and Universities

Emory's Tuition Reimbursement Program helps eligible employees pay for coursework completed at accredited institutions other than Emory University.

The program is designed to support career development and lifelong learning by reimbursing employees for job-related or career path-directed coursework. Eligible programs include:

• Associate degree programs
• Bachelor's degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• College-credit courses that support career growth

Courses must provide academic credit and be related to your current position or future career path at Emory. Continuing education courses and audited classes are not eligible for reimbursement.

Regular employees working at least 20 hours per week may qualify for the benefit. Full-time employees can receive reimbursement for up to five credit hours per academic session, while eligible part-time employees can receive reimbursement for up to 2.5 credit hours per academic session. Beginning August 10, 2026, the full-time limit will increase to six credit hours per academic session.

Courtesy Scholarship for Emory University Students

The Courtesy Scholarship is a separate benefit available to eligible Emory University employees and, in some cases, their spouses and dependent children. Unlike the Tuition Reimbursement Program, this benefit applies only to academic programs offered by Emory University.

The scholarship covers tuition only and does not pay for books, fees, or other educational expenses. The amount covered depends on factors such as:

• Years of service
• Full-time or part-time employment status
• Whether the student is the employee, spouse, or dependent child

For employees, eligibility begins after one year of continuous service for full-time employees and two years of continuous service for eligible part-time employees. Family members may also qualify for partial or full tuition coverage based on the employee's length of service.

One important limitation is that employees cannot use the Tuition Reimbursement Program and the Courtesy Scholarship during the same academic session. Employees enrolled at Emory under the Courtesy Scholarship Program are not eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for that same term.

How To Get Tuition Reimbursement From Emory University

Emory University's Tuition Reimbursement Program is designed to help employees build job-related skills and pursue educational opportunities that support their career growth. Whether you're working toward a degree or taking college-credit courses that align with your current role or future career path, the program can help offset a portion of your tuition costs.

Before enrolling in classes, it's important to verify that both your school and your coursework meet Emory's eligibility requirements. Taking a few minutes to review the policy and confirm your program's eligibility can help prevent delays or issues when it's time to request reimbursement.

How Do You Qualify for the Tuition Reimbursement Program?

To participate in Emory's Tuition Reimbursement Program, you must be a regular employee working at least 20 hours per week. Eligible employees may begin using the benefit at the start of the academic session following their hire into an eligible position.

To qualify for reimbursement, your coursework must:

• Be taken at an accredited college, university, institute, or technical/trade school other than Emory University
• Provide academic credit that can be applied toward earning a degree
• Be related to your current job or clearly support your career path at Emory
• Result in a grade of C or higher, or a passing grade in a pass/fail course

Eligible programs may include associate, bachelor's, and graduate degree programs, as well as college-credit courses that support professional growth. Continuing education courses and audited classes are not eligible for reimbursement.

Regular full-time employees are eligible for reimbursement of up to five credit hours per academic session, increasing to six credit hours beginning August 10, 2026. Eligible part-time employees may receive reimbursement for up to 2.5 credit hours per academic session.

How To Apply for Emory University Tuition Assistance

Emory manages tuition reimbursement applications through an online portal. To remain eligible, you'll need to complete both the approval process before reimbursement and the documentation process after your coursework is finished.

You can generally expect to follow these steps:

1. Verify that your school is accredited and that your coursework meets Emory's eligibility requirements.
2. Submit the online tuition reimbursement application no later than five business days after the first day of class.
3. Obtain approval from your dean, department director, or designated supervisor.
4. Complete the course and earn a grade of C or higher, or a passing grade in a pass/fail course.
5. Within 30 days of course completion, upload the required documentation through the online portal.
6. Submit an itemized tuition statement showing your out-of-pocket tuition costs.
7. Submit a transcript or grade report showing successful completion of the course.

Once your documentation is approved, reimbursement is issued through Emory's payroll system and will appear on your next available paycheck. Because reimbursement amounts can be reduced by scholarships, grants, or other financial aid received for the same coursework, be sure to keep records of any educational funding you receive.

How To Get the Courtesy Scholarship From Emory University

The Courtesy Scholarship is a separate education benefit from Emory's Tuition Reimbursement Program. Instead of helping employees pay for courses at outside schools, the Courtesy Scholarship helps cover tuition for eligible employees and, in some cases, their spouses and dependent children when attending Emory University.

The amount of tuition covered depends on factors such as your employment status, years of service, and relationship to the student receiving the benefit. Because eligibility requirements are more extensive than those for tuition reimbursement, it's a good idea to review your eligibility status before applying.

How Do You Qualify for the Courtesy Scholarship Program?

Eligibility for the Courtesy Scholarship depends on whether the student is the employee, a spouse, or a dependent child, as well as the employee's length of service with Emory.

For employees:

• Regular full-time employees (36 hours or more per week) become eligible after one year of continuous service and may receive scholarship coverage for up to five credit hours per academic session.
• Regular part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week become eligible after two years of continuous service and may receive scholarship coverage for up to four credit hours per academic session.

For spouses and dependent children:

• The student must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree-seeking program.
• The percentage of tuition covered depends on the employee's years of service. For eligible family members, benefits can range from 50% to 100% of Emory tuition.
• Spouses must provide a marriage certificate, while dependent children must provide proof of relationship, such as a birth certificate or adoption paperwork.

The Courtesy Scholarship covers tuition only. Books, fees, and other educational expenses remain the responsibility of the student.

How To Apply for Emory University’s Courtesy Scholarship

The Courtesy Scholarship application process begins after the student has been admitted to an eligible Emory academic program.

You can generally expect to follow these steps:

1. Apply for admission to the appropriate Emory school and complete all admissions requirements.
2. Wait for your admissions application to be entered into OPUS and for student access to be created.
3. Log in to OPUS and complete the Courtesy Scholarship Request under the Student Account section.
4. Submit any required documentation, such as a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or adoption paperwork if applying as a spouse or dependent.
5. Allow time for Emory to review and verify eligibility.
6. Enroll in approved coursework.

The Courtesy Scholarship application is generally a one-time requirement and does not need to be completed every academic term. Once approved, eligible scholarship benefits are applied directly to the student's Emory account according to the university's tuition and financial aid schedule.

One important rule to remember is that employees cannot use the Courtesy Scholarship and the Tuition Reimbursement Program during the same academic session. If you're taking classes at Emory using the Courtesy Scholarship, you will not be eligible to receive tuition reimbursement for outside coursework during that same term.

How Emory University Compares to Other Employer Tuition Programs

Many employers offer tuition reimbursement, but Emory University's education benefits are unusual because employees may have access to both tuition reimbursement for outside schools and a separate Courtesy Scholarship that can help cover tuition at Emory University itself. This dual-benefit approach gives employees more flexibility than many employer-sponsored education programs. Below, we’ve broken down how Emory’s benefits compare to similar employers and other major organizations in Georgia.

Emory University vs. Kaiser Permanente

Both Emory University and Kaiser Permanente offer traditional tuition reimbursement programs that support career development and continuing education. Employees at either organization can use their benefits to pursue approved degree programs and college-credit coursework at accredited institutions.

One major difference is that Emory also offers the Courtesy Scholarship, which can provide substantial tuition assistance for employees and eligible family members attending Emory University. Kaiser Permanente's program focuses exclusively on reimbursement for approved educational expenses and does not include a comparable family tuition benefit.

Emory University vs. The Home Depot

The Home Depot, another major Atlanta-area employer, offers tuition reimbursement to eligible employees pursuing higher education and career development opportunities. Like Emory, the program is designed to help employees build skills and advance professionally.

The biggest distinction is that Emory provides an additional scholarship benefit that can help employees, spouses, and dependent children pay for courses at Emory University. For employees interested in earning an Emory degree or helping family members attend college, this can represent a significant advantage beyond traditional reimbursement.

Emory University vs. UPS

UPS offers tuition assistance through its Earn and Learn program, which helps many part-time employees pay for college while working. The program is especially popular among students looking to earn a degree while maintaining flexible employment.

Emory's benefits are generally geared toward long-term employees and career development within the university. While UPS focuses primarily on helping employees afford college, Emory combines reimbursement with a scholarship benefit that can provide ongoing tuition support for employees and eligible family members.

Key Differences To Consider

When comparing Emory University to other employers, consider:

• Tuition reimbursement versus tuition-covered programs
• Whether family members can receive educational benefits
• School choice flexibility
• Annual reimbursement limits
• Employee service requirements
• Eligibility for spouses and dependent children
• Degree, graduate, and professional program opportunities
• Availability of scholarships in addition to reimbursement

For employees who may want to attend Emory University themselves or help a spouse or child pay for college, Emory's Courtesy Scholarship can make its education benefits stand out from many other employers. Combined with traditional tuition reimbursement for outside schools, it offers multiple pathways to reduce the cost of higher education.

FAQs About Emory University Education Benefits

Emory University offers two separate education benefits that can help employees and their families reduce the cost of college. Below are answers to some common questions about tuition reimbursement, the Courtesy Scholarship, eligibility requirements, and covered expenses.

What Is the Difference Between Tuition Reimbursement and the Courtesy Scholarship?

The Tuition Reimbursement Program helps employees pay for eligible coursework at accredited schools outside Emory University. The Courtesy Scholarship, on the other hand, helps cover tuition for employees, spouses, and dependent children attending Emory University.

Because they are separate programs, they have different eligibility requirements, application processes, and service requirements. Employees also cannot use both benefits during the same academic session.

Can My Spouse or Child Use Emory's Education Benefits?

Eligible spouses and dependent children may qualify for the Courtesy Scholarship when attending Emory University as undergraduate degree-seeking students.

The amount of tuition covered depends on the employee's years of service and employment status. Long-term employees may qualify for benefits covering up to 100% of Emory tuition for eligible family members.

Does the Courtesy Scholarship Cover Graduate Degrees?

For employees, the Courtesy Scholarship may be used for undergraduate, graduate, and professional-level coursework, subject to eligibility requirements and credit-hour limits.

For spouses and dependent children, the benefit is generally limited to undergraduate degree-seeking programs.

What Expenses Are Covered by Emory's Education Benefits?

The Tuition Reimbursement Program covers eligible tuition expenses only and does not reimburse books, lab fees, student activity fees, or other miscellaneous educational costs.

Similarly, the Courtesy Scholarship covers tuition only. Students remain responsible for fees, textbooks, housing, meal plans, and other expenses associated with attending college.

Is There a Waiting Period Before I Can Use Emory's Education Benefits?

It depends on the benefit. For Tuition Reimbursement, eligible employees may begin participating at the start of the academic session following their hire into an eligible position.

The Courtesy Scholarship has longer service requirements. Full-time employees generally become eligible after one year of continuous service, while eligible part-time employees generally become eligible after two years of continuous service.

Can I Use Financial Aid and Still Receive Tuition Reimbursement?

You can often use tuition reimbursement with financial aid, but your reimbursement amount may be reduced by scholarships, grants, and certain other forms of financial aid, including programs such as the Pell Grant, HOPE Scholarship, and Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant.

Before enrolling, it's a good idea to review how your financial aid package could affect the final reimbursement amount so there are no surprises when you submit your documentation.

Earn Your College Degree

Find out more about tuition assistance for college degrees by exploring the resources available on Learn.org. Reach out to Emory University directly to find out more about its employee benefits.