Qualified Tuition Reduction and Merit
How does Qualified Tuition Reduction (QTR) work with merit?
QTR is an employee benefit option that reduces base tuition and differential tuition by 75%. QTR does NOT reduce the cost of fees or course fees.
Tuition Awards (i.e. Wildcat, National Merit, All-AZ, etc.) are intended to only pay for up to 100% of the cost of base tuition. They do not pay differential tuition, fees, course fees or any other charges on a student’s account.
Tuition Award offered for an amount greater than the cost of base tuition will be reduced to the remaining 25% of base tuition if QTR is being used. Students and their families will be responsible for paying any differential tuition costs, fees and course fees.
| 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES (7+ UNITS) FOR IN-STATE RESIDENTS | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total | $13,605.96 |
The values in this example for a new incoming student with Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 guaranteed tuition. If your student is from a different guaranteed tuition cohort, please visit the Bursar's website to determine their tuition rate.
| EXAMPLE 1: 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES FOR A DEPENDENT WITH QTR | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| QTR (75% Reduction) | ($8,903.25) |
| Balance of Base Tuition After QTR | $2,967.75 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total out of pocket | $4,702.71 |
| EXAMPLE 2: 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES FOR A DEPENDENT WITH QTR + $3,000 TUITION AWARD | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| QTR (75% Reduction) | ($8,903.25) |
| Base Tuition Due | $2,967.75 |
| Tuition Award (reduced from the original $3,000 offer to remaining cost of base tuition after QTR) | ($2967.75) |
| Base Tuition Due (after Tuition Award applied) | $0.00 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total out of pocket | $1,734.96 |
In this example, Tuition Awards in combination with QTR will be reduced from $3,000 to $2,967.75 for the academic year. Students and their families would be responsible for paying for fees $1,734.96 for the academic year.
If the student is not a dependent of the employee, but rather the Employee or Employee's Spouse, then the Tuition Award would be reduced to $50.
| EXAMPLE 3: 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES (INCLUDING DIFFERENTIAL TUITION) FOR A DEPENDENT WITH QTR + $3,000 TUITION AWARD | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| Honors Program Fee (Tuition Differential) | $500.00 |
| Total Base Tuition plus Tuition Differential | $12,371.00 |
| QTR (75% Reduction) | ($9,278.25) |
| Tuition Award | ($2,967.75) |
| Tuition Due (after Tuition Award applied) | $125.00 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total out of pocket | $1,859.96 |
QTR will reduce the amount of Differential Tuition by 75%. This is on top of 75% off base tuition as shown above. The student's Tuition Award, however, can only apply to Base Tuition charges, per the Terms and Conditions of the award therefore the Tuition Award is reduced to cover the remaining 25% of base tuition only.
| EXAMPLE 4 – SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF ALL EXAMPLES | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | WITHOUT DIFFERENTIAL TUITION | WITH DIFFERENTIAL TUITION | ||
| CHARGE | BASE AMOUNT | REDUCED AMOUNT | BASE AMOUNT | REDUCED AMOUNT |
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 | $2,967.75 | $11,871.00 | $2,967.75 |
| Honors Program Fee (Differential Tuition) | $0.00 | $0.00 | $500.0 | $125.00 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 | $1,734.96 | $1,734.96 | $1,734.96 |
| Total | $13,605.96 | $4,702.71 | $14,105.96 | $4,827.71 |
| Tuition Award | ($3,000.00) | ($2,967.75) | ($3,000.00) | ($2,967.75) |
| Total Out of Pocket | $10,605.96 | $1,734.96 | $11,105.96 | $1,859.96 |
Should Students Use their QTR Benefit?
Students and their families should weigh out all the options when financially planning for the student’s education at Arizona. Students who are offered Tuition Awards greater than the cost of base tuition (for example, any tuition award greater than $11,871 for an incoming, Fall 2023 Resident), might consider not to elect to use QTR as there is no additional cost benefit to the student. The "unused" amount of merit will not be saved for future use and cannot be converted to cash to use to pay for other expenses such as room and board, books, etc.
| EXAMPLE A: 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES + $12,500 TUITION AWARD | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total | $13,605.96 |
| Tuition Award | ($12,500.00) |
| Total out of pocket | $1,105.96 |
| EXAMPLE B: 2023-2024 TUITION & FEES FOR A DEPENDENT WITH QTR + $12,500 TUITION AWARD | |
|---|---|
| Base Tuition | $11,871.00 |
| QTR (75% Reduction) | ($8,903.25) |
| Base Tuition Due | $2,967.75 |
| Original $12,500 Tuition Award Reduced | ($2,967.75) |
| Base Tuition Due (after Tuition Award applied) | ($0.00) |
| Fees | $1,734.96 |
| Total out of pocket | $1,734.96 |
In this example, a student with a $12,500 Tuition Award was reduced to $2,967.75 for the academic year due to QTR. Students and their families would be responsible for paying for fees $1,734.96 + 25% of any differential tuition billed, for the academic year. This would be an example of a student who might not benefit from utilizing QTR.
Disclaimer: The information above is for example purposes only and is intended to provide information for students and their families to educate them on how this benefit works with merit scholarships. OSFA is not advising students and their families that they should or should not utilize these benefits. Please refer to the Bursar’s website for more information on how QTR is applied as well as to determine the exact charges applied to each individual student.
For instructions, eligibility, application, and deadlines go to the Human Resources - Educational Benefits web page.
For more information about each individual scholarship, please visit the Terms and Conditions of the scholarship for the year the award was initially offered.