Tuition Assistance

Employee tuition is available to regular, full-time employees upon completion of their initial probationary period. The tuition benefit is limited to tuition for courses taken for academic credit toward an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree from an accredited institution; activity charges, travel, books, certificate programs, and other fees are not eligible. The benefit pays per credit hour at a rate of:

• Up to $279.00 for undergraduate courses
• Up to $418.00 for graduate courses (through the doctorate’s level)

Eligible employees may receive this benefit for up to 12 credit hours per calendar year.

Requests should be submitted to Human Resources at least two weeks prior to the payment deadline. The tuition bill must accompany the application when requesting payment for each attending semester. The tuition bill must include the school name, employee’s name, the attending semester, the tuition amount (separate from any fees), and the school’s mailing address.

• Application for Employee Tuition Benefit form – Payment is made prior to courses starting and is paid directly to the attending college, university, or vocational-technical school. When requesting payment, you must sign the Tuition Remission Agreement located on the back of the application; grades must be submitted to HR within two weeks upon completion of course and receipt of grades.

Employees who are in a regular, full-time position may also audit or enroll for credit in one Colby course each semester at no cost.

The College offers a tuition subsidy benefit of up to 38.1% of Colby’s comprehensive feee for dependent children of continuing, full-time employees who have been employed at Colby for six continuous years. Benefits are earned on the basis of one year of benefit for each year of service and is payable for tuition only. Room and board and fees are not eligible expenses. Tuition benefits paid on behalf of any one eligible child may not exceed the equivalent of two semesters, three trimesters, or three quarters in a fiscal year. Benefits are payable up to four academic years for a maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters to any one dependent and are intended for undergraduate instruction only at any regionally accredited institution. Note summer terms will count as one of the semesters or quarters. Students must carry a full time course load to be eligible for this benefit. Employees should check with the dependent’s institution to understand how this benefit is factored into a financial aid package. 

The dependent tuition subsidy for 2024-25 is payable up to $33,334 ($16,667 per semester).

Applications for dependent tuition subsidy need to be submitted each quarter or semester that an employee is requesting a tuition subsidy payment. Applications along with a copy of the dependent’s detailed student statement or bill should be submitted to the Office of Human Resources prior to or during the attending term. Payments will be made directly to the college or university, so please make sure that the mailing address is included.

• Application for Dependent Tuition Subsidy

Employees using the subsidy must notify Human Resources if an eligible child, on whose behalf benefits are claimed, withdraws before or during the quarter or semester for which the tuition is paid, and must return to the College any refund paid by the qualified institution.

Colby offers various programs for non-traditional students at Colby. Non-traditional students include high school seniors, College employees, faculty/staff spouses and dependents, area residents, and visiting students. More details can be found in the Non-Traditional Students at Colby policy.

Colby has partnered with the Finance Authority of Main (FAME) to Offer employees the ability to contribute to a NextGen account through direct deposit.The NextGen College Investing Plan is Maine’s Section 529 plan that allows you and your family to plan and invest for future educational expenses.To learn more about NextGen and to open an account, visit them online here.