UNF Student Financial Services Office-Waivers

Senior Citizens/Learning for a Lifetime (LFL)

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.24, The LFL program was designed to promote the increasing desire for knowledge among experienced citizens of the First Coast community. The LFL program allows Florida residents for tuition purposes, aged 60 or older, to audit college-level courses with tuition waived.

• How do I apply?

  Complete the Learning for a Lifetime Application and return it to the Office of Admissions prior to course registration. Students may also complete our online application.
  
  

• Are there any restrictions for the waiver?

  No academic credit shall be awarded for attendance in classes for which fees are waived under Florida Statute section 7.008. This privilege will be granted only on a space-available basis, if such classes are not filled as of the close of registration. Students begin registration the day before classes start.
  
  

• What fees does the waiver cover?

  The University will waive any or all application, tuition, and associated fees for persons 60 years of age or older who are Florida residents for tuition purposes and who enroll to audit courses being offered for college credit.
  
  Tuition and mandatory fees will be waived. Any miscellaneous fees such as Osprey ID,  lab fees, course materials and distance learning fees are the student’s responsibility to pay.

   

State Employees

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.265, the University shall waive tuition and associated fees for state employees who qualify. 

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  State employees complete the State Employee Tuition Waiver Form located under the Student Services tab in your MyWings account. It can be found in the Online Forms option. The form will be open only after the date designated for State Waiver employees to register for classes each term (please see the University Academic Calendar). 

   

  Any courses registered prior to that date will not be accessible to the waiver and you will be responsible for all related fees.
  

   

  UNF will verify employment before the waiver is posted to the student’s account.  

   

• What are the Registration Policies?

   

  • Students may register for up to six hours of tuition-free courses.
  • Students not classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes are responsible for the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
  • Fees will only be waived for courses listed on the online State Employee Fee Waiver form. When registration changes, the waiver (our system) will re-apply the waiver, provided the course is eligible.
  • State Waiver students must register on the registration day . Only after non-waiver students have registered will you be able to register. Please be prepared for the possibility that your first choice of courses may be unavailable.
  • You will be responsible for all fees for courses listed on your form that you register for, or are on a wait list for, prior to the State Employee Tuition Waiver registration date.   
  • If you register before the State Employee Tuition Waiver registration date, later drop the course and re-register on or after the State Employee Tuition Waiver  registration date, this course will not be eligible for a waiver and you will be responsible for all associated fees.
  • Failure to submit your form by the deadline will result in you being fee liable for all courses for which you have registered .
• Are there any restrictions for the waiver?

   

  • State Employee Fee Waiver students are not eligible for advanced term registration and may not register prior to the designated State Waiver SPACE AVAILABLE registration date . Please disregard the time ticket assigned to you; this is based on student classification and UNF hours earned and is not reflective of your status as a state waiver student.
  • Tuition will not be waived for the following types of courses: thesis, dissertation, internship, directed independent study, non-credit, sponsored credit, courses taken in an audit grade mode and Continuing Education
  • The State Employee Waiver will not cover additional fees including, but not limited to, lab fees, the Wall Street Journal Fee, Week of Welcome Fee, Osprey ID Card Fee, Orientation Fee, Distance Learning Fee, or the state mandated Repeat Surcharge and Excess Hours fees . 
  • Waiver of tuition for Market Rate or Self-Supporting courses will be at the approved tuition rate for traditional courses--$105.07 for undergraduate and $408.10 for graduate courses
  • Students need to check the University Academic Calendar for the submission deadline  

   

High School/Dual Enrolled

• What is this waiver?

   

  • Dual enrollment allows academically talented students to take college courses for UNF credit while currently enrolled in high school to fulfill graduation requirements. 
  • UNF offers a limited number of dual enrollment courses. If you plan to participate in dual enrollment, you should work closely with your high school guidance counselor to ensure your courses will be compatible with your future college goals. Your dual enrollment classes should help you meet UNF general education requirements, meet prerequisite or lower division requirements for your intended major, or substitute for elective hours. In addition, comparable high school courses should be unavailable, and the university must have space available in the requested class.

   

• What are the eligibility requirements?

   

  • Eligibility for participation in the Dual Enrollment program is set by written agreement between the school district and UNF. 
  • There are two ways students can receive dual enrollment credit from UNF -- through a pre-arranged dual enrollment course on the student's high school campus, or by taking classes directly on UNF's campus. Pre-arranged courses are created by mutual inter-institutional agreement and are governed separately.

   

• How do I apply for the waiver?

   

  To qualify for dual enrollment, you must submit the following by the posted general admission deadline:  
  

  • Admissions Application NOTE: Application is valid for one semester only. Students must reapply each term (by the posted deadline). 
  • Dual Enrollment Term of Agreement with signatures from high school principal, counselor, and parent (available through the high school guidance counselor or UNF's Admissions Office) NOTE: Terms of agreement form is valid for one semester only.
  • Official high school transcripts reflecting a 3.0 recalculated, unweighted high school GPA or higher and at least 18 high school credits 
  • ACT or SAT scores taken within the last two years (minimum 24 ACT or 1100 SAT) 
  • Immunization form  

   

• Can a high school student who was home educated receive the waiver?

  The Dual Enrollment Program at UNF is also available to high school students enrolled in a home education program.  The Dual Enrollment Program is in compliance with Florida Statute 232.02, which regulates home education programs. The appropriate district school superintendent or designee must verify that the student is participating in an approved education program. Home school students must meet the admission criteria outlined above in order to participate in dual enrollment at UNF.

Foster Care/Department of Children and Families (DCF)

• What is this waiver?

  The University shall waive tuition and associated fees for any student who is or was at the time he or she reached the age of 18 in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCF) or a relative under Florida Statute 39.5085; who was adopted from the Department of Children and Family Services after May 5, 1997; or was placed in a guardianship by a court after spending at least 6 months in the custody of the Department after reaching 16 years of age.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students must provide a certification of eligibility from Florida DCF (on DCF letterhead) to the Student Financial Services Office located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53.  This waiver is valid for Florida DCF only.

   

  The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.

• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • This waiver will waive tuition and associated fees, including Osprey ID and lab fees
  • It remains valid until the student reaches the age of 28
  • The waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.
  •  It does not waive the excess hours nor repeat surcharge fees as they are not defined as associated fees by the BOG regulation 7.008

Linkages

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute section 288.8175, Florida linkage institutes were created to assist in the development of stronger economic, cultural, educational, and social ties between this state and strategic foreign countries through the promotion of expanded public and private dialogue on cooperative research and technical assistance activities, increased bilateral commerce, student and faculty exchange, cultural exchange, and the enhancement of language training skills between the postsecondary institutions in this state and those of selected foreign countries. Each institute must ensure that minority students are afforded an equal opportunity to participate in the exchange.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students who are granted a linkages waiver receive a letter from the University or department issuing the linkage. This letter must be submitted to the Student Financial Services (SFS) Office located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53. Sometimes the University or department will send the letter to the SFS Office on behalf of the student.

   

  The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.

• What fees does the waiver cover?

  The waiver will waive all out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee for the semester as indicated on the linkage letter.

Homeless

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Board of Governors regulation 8.014, the University shall waive tuition and associated fees for any student who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, excluding university housing, or whose primary nighttime residence is a public or private shelter designed to provide temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students requesting a homeless waiver are required to provide proof of homelessness (affidavit from a homeless shelter, for example)  to the Office of the Dean of Students (Tom & Betty Petway Hall, building 57, suite 2700) by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.

   

  Students must submit proof of homelessness each semester.

   

• What fees does the waiver cover?

  This waiver will waive tuition and associated fees including lab fees.  The waiver does not include repeat surcharge or excess hours fees.

Purple Heart Recipients

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.26, the University shall waive undergraduate tuition and associated fees for each recipient of a Purple Heart, or another combat decoration superior in precedence which was awarded for valor.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students are required to submit to the Student Financial Services Office (located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53) form DD-214 issued at the time of separation from service as documentation that the student has received a Purple Heart or another combat decoration superior in precedence.

   

  The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the first term as noted on the University Academic Calendar; the waiver will automatically be applied to your account in future terms.

• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • The waiver covers only tuition and fees associated with credit hour instruction provided directly by the University and does not include any additional fees that may be charged for specialized programs or by external organizations
  • A waiver for a Purple Heart recipient or recipient of another combat decoration superior in precedence shall be applicable for 110 percent of the number of required credit hours of the degree or certificate program for which the student is enrolled

  • Is currently, or was at the time of the military action that resulted in the awarding of the Purple Heart or other combat decoration superior in precedence, a resident of Florida

  • This waiver can be used for Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition only

Certificate of Participation

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.26 (2), persons who supervise interns for institutions within the State University System may be given one non-transferable certificate (fee waiver) for each full academic term during which the person serves as an intern supervisor. This certificate shall provide for waiver of the basic tuition fee (as defined in Regulation 7.001). 

• How do I apply for the waiver?
  The certificate, along with payment of fees, must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office (located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53) by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.
• What fees does the waiver cover?

  Certificate holders are entitled to a waiver of tuition for a maximum of six (6) credit hours (including credit through The Division of Continuing Education) during a single term.  Certificates shall be valid for three years from date of issuance and are not transferable.

   

  Waiver of tuition for Market Rate or Self-Supporting courses will be at the approved tuition rate for traditional courses--$105.07 for Cost Recovery courses and $408.10 for Market Rate courses.

Deceased Law Enforcement and Firefighters Surviving Dependents/Spouse

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 112.191 (3) students whose parent or spouse was a member of law enforcement or firefighter who died in the line of duty before July 1, 2019 are eligible for a waiver of tuition and associated fees.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students must submit a letter from the agency chief indicating the parent died in the line of duty.

  • The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar. 
  • Students must be in good standing with the University to receive the waiver.
• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • The waiver will waive tuition and associated course fees up to 120 credit hours.
  • The benefits under this waiver are valid until the child’s 25th birthday
  • Spouses must commence benefits within 5 years after the death occurs and benefits shall continue until the 10th anniversary of the death
  • This waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.

Deceased First Responders Surviving Dependents/Spouse

• What is this waiver?
  Pursuant to Florida Statute 112.1912, students whose parent or spouse was a member of law enforcement,  firefighter, correctional, correctional probation officer or emergency medical technician/paramedic who died in the line of duty after July 1, 2019 are eligible for a waiver of tuition and associated fees.
• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students must submit a letter from the agency chief indicating the parent died in the line of duty.

  • The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.  
  • Students must be in good standing with the University to receive the waiver. 
• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • The waiver will waive tuition and associated course fees up to 120 credit hours.
  • The benefits under this waiver are valid until the child’s 25th birthday
  • Spouses must commence benefits within 5 years after the death occurs and benefits shall continue until the 10th anniversary of the death
  • This waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.

Deceased Teachers/School Administrators Surviving Dependents

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 112.1915, students whose parent was a teacher or school administrator of a Florida district school board who died as a result of their job are eligible for a waiver up to 120 credit hours

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students must submit a letter from the school administration indicating the parent died in the line of duty. 

  • The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.
  • Students must be in good standing with the university to receive the waiver.
• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • The waiver applies to tuition and regular course fees 
  • The benefits under this waiver are valid until the child’s 25th birthday 
  • This waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.

Deceased Active Duty Military Surviving Dependents/Spouse

• What is this waiver?
  Pursuant to Florida Statute 295.061 students whose parent or spouse was a active member of the military who died in the line of duty are eligible for a waiver of tuition and associated fees.
• How do I apply for the waiver?

  Students must submit a certified copy of a death certificate letter indicating the parent died in the line of duty.and the servicemember was a resident of Florida for 1 year immediately preceding the death.

  • The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.

   

• What fees does the waiver cover?
  • The waiver will waive tuition and associated course fees up to 120 credit hours
  • The benefits under this waiver are valid until the child’s 25th birthday
  • Spouses must commence benefits within 5 years after the death occurs and benefits shall continue until the 10th anniversary of the death
  • Students must be in good standing 
  • This waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.

Victims of Wrongful Incarceration

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Board of Governors regulation 7.008, the University will waive tuition and associated fees up to 120 credit hours of instruction for persons wrongfully incarcerated.

• How do I apply for the waiver?

  The student needs to submit proof that the felony conviction was vacated by the court and the original sentencing court has issued its order finding that the person neither committed the act, nor did aid, abet or act as an accomplice or accessory to the act or offense. The forms must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar.

• What are the eligibility requirements?
  • The wrongfully incarcerated person meets and maintains the regular admission requirement of the University.
  • The student remains registered and makes satisfactory academic progress as defined by the University.
• What fees does the waiver cover?

  The waiver will waive tuition and associated fees up to 120 credit hours of instruction if the eligibility requirements are met.

   

  This waiver can be used for Market Rate and Self-Supporting programs and will cover tuition, capital improvement fee, ID card fee, financial aid fee, technology fee and distance learning fee.

Nonresident Waiver

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to HB 851, Florida Statute 1009.26, the University shall waive out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee for students who attend a Florida secondary school for three consecutive years immediately preceding high school graduation.

• What are the eligibility requirements?

  Students must be admitted to UNF and meet the following requirements:

  1. Have attended a Florida secondary school for three consecutive years immediately before graduating from a Florida high school (students must attend a public or private Florida high school; home schooled students are not eligible);
  2. Submit an admissions application to a State University System Institution, Florida College System institution, or technical center within 24 months of high school graduation; and 
  3. Submit an official high school transcript(s) that provides evidence of meeting the criteria above

   

• What fees does the waiver waive?
  • The waiver will waive the out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee only, if applicable, for students who meet the requirements. The waiver does not waive any other tuition and fees.  
  • UNF will verify that the student’s residency status before the waiver is applied.
  • The waiver is valid for 110 percent of the required credit hours of the undergraduate degree for which the student is enrolled.  
  • Students are not eligible for state financial aid programs.
• Can a high school student who was home educated receive the waiver?

  Due to the requirement of attending a Florida secondary school, home educated students are not eligible.

• What documentation do I need to submit?
  • Students must submit an official paper high school transcript(s)
  • Students must complete an Enrollment Services tuition waiver form  
• Where do I submit the required documentation?
  • Students submit the waiver form and official paper high school transcript to Residency Processing via One Stop Student Services located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53.
  • The forms must be submitted by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar .

Veteran and VA Educational Assistance Out-of-State Tuition Waiver Program

• What is this waiver?

  Pursuant to Florida Statute 1009.26 (12)(a), and the federal Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 (Title VII, section 702), the University shall waive out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee for an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Services, the United States Reserve Forces, or the National Guard who physically resides in Florida while enrolled in the University.  This waiver has been amended as of July 1, 2015 to include any dependent who receives VA educational assistance and resides in Florida; they will also receive instate tuition. 

• What are the eligibility requirements?

  Veterans must:

  1. Have received an honorable discharge from the Armed Services, Reserve Forces or the National Guard AND 
  2. Physically reside in Florida while enrolled at the University

  OR:

  1. Dependent receives  VA educational assistance AND
  2. Physically reside in Florida while enrolled at the University
• What fees does the waiver waive?

  For Veterans:

  • The waiver will waive the out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee only, if applicable, for veterans who meet the requirements.
  • The waiver is valid for a maximum of 110 percent of the required credit hours of the degree for which the student is enrolled

  For Dependents using VA educational assistance:

  • The waiver will waive the out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee only, if applicable, for dependents using VA educational assistance who meet the requirements.
  • The waiver is valid for a maximum of 110 percent of the required credit hours of the degree for which the student is enrolled and using VA educational assistance. The waiver is not applicable once the dependent has exhausted benefits. 

  UNF will verify that the student’s residency status before the waiver is applied.

• What documentation do I need to submit?

  For Veterans: 

  1. Veterans must submit a copy of their DD 214 to prove the student has been honorably discharged   
  2. Veterans must annually submit proof that they currently reside in Florida, such as a current lease or bill in the veteran’s name  

  For Dependents using VA educational assistance:

  1. Dependents of veterans receiving VA educational assistance must submit a copy of their certificate of eligibility each semester   
  2. Dependents receiving VA educational assistance must provide proof of residing in Florida each semester. Students living in UNF residence halls need to submit a copy of their housing contract.  Other proof of residency must be in the student's name  

   

• Where do I submit the required documentation?
  • Students submit proof of living in Florida and a copy of their DD 214 (or proof of using VA educational assistance [certificate of eligibility]) to the Student Financial Services Office located in Ann and David Hicks Hall, Building 53, suite 1100
  • The forms must be submitted by the payment deadline for the term as noted on the University Academic Calendar .

Active Duty Military

• What is this waiver?
  Pursuant to Florida Board of Governors regulation 7.008 (23), the University shall waive out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee for ctive duty military residing in or stationed outside the state.
• What fees does the waiver waive?
  The waiver will waive the out-of-state tuition and out-of-state financial aid fee so that the student is assessed the same rate as an instate student.
• What documentation do I need to submit?
  Students need to submit a copy of their military ID card and a copy of their current military orders.
• Where do I submit the required documentation?
  Students must turn in their documentation to the Student Financial Services Office  (Suite 1100 Hicks Hall) no later than the published deadline date for the semester. Documentation needs to be submitted annually or to the end date of the orders, whichever is less, to qualify for the waiver.

Child Protection and Child Welfare Personnel Tuition Exemption Program

• What is this waiver?
  Pursuant to Florida Statutes 402.403, persons employed as child protective investigators, child protective investigation supervisors employed by the department of Child Protection and Child Welfare and case managers and case manager supervisors employed by a community-based care lead agency or a subcontractor of a community-base care lead agency who do not possess a master's degree in social work may qualify tor a tuition and fee waiver to pursue a Master's Degree in Social Work.  
• What fees does the waiver waive?
  This waiver covers tuition, fees and field placement costs up to six (6) credit hours per term.
• What documentation do I need to submit?

  Students need to provide documentation from their Human Resources department that they meet the employment eligibility requirements:

   

  • Employed in one of the eligible positions/jobs
  • Perform at a high level as established by their personnel evaluations
  • Accepted in a graduate-level social work program or certificate program related to child welfare which is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education
  • Must remain employed by the department, a state agency or a contracted provider for 5 years after completion of a graduate level social work program.  If employment ends before the 5-year period, the benefit shall be repaid according to a pro rata calculation based on the number of years of service

  Students are also required to maintain at least a "B" average to maintain eligibility.

• Where do I submit documentation?

        Students are required to submit all documentations verifying eligibility to the Student Financial Services Office no later than the payment deadline each semester.

        Student Financial Services will verify students have met the minimum grade eligibility with the Registrar's Office prior to posting the waiver.