Tuition Waiver & UW-Extension/UW Independent Learning

Students taking courses through the UW-Extension/UW Independent Learning (UW-IL) program may qualify for a tuition waiver.

Please read the requirements carefully before you fill out the form.

1. Eligibility:
   • Must be an L&S undergraduate.
   • For fall and spring terms, must be enrolled in at least 12 credits at UW-Madison
   • For summer session/term, must be enrolled in at least 6 credits at UW-Madison.
   • No tuition waiver can be applied to Winterim.
2. Credit Limits:
   • Total credits for UW-Madison and UW-IL courses may not exceed the absolute maximum for the term.  (https://kb.wisc.edu/ls/21177)
   • When approved, a tuition waiver will cover the cost of unused credits within the UW-Madison “tuition plateau.” This is the flat fee charged for a range of credits at full-time status.  In Fall and Spring Terms, the plateau is 12-18 credits, and in Summer, it’s 6-9 credits. The waiver will cover up to the maximum end of the plateau, as long as enrollment in UW-Madison credits meets the minimum.
3. Cost:
   • The waiver is valid until the end of the UW-Madison term for which it is approved. UW-IL courses must be completed by the date on the approved waiver to avoid incurring additional fees.
   • Enrollments that exceed the tuition plateau are subject to additional tuition and fees, according to current UW-IL rates (https://il.wisconsin.edu/about-il/tuition-and-fees/).  For example, if a student is registered for 12 credits at UW-Madison in the Spring Term and is approved for a 4-credit course at UW-IL, the waiver would cover all of UW-IL tuition because the student’s total enrollment is within the tuition plateau (12+4=16). When a student is registered for 16 credits in Spring Term at UW-Madison and is approved for a 4-credit course, the waiver would cover 2 credits of UW-IL tuition and the student would be responsible for paying for 2 credits because the total (16+4 = 20) exceeds the tuition plateau for Spring Term.
   • Tuition waivers do not cover UW-IL’s administrative fee.
4. Important Note for UW-Madison Students Maintaining an F-1 or J-1 Visa:  UW-Independent Learning courses do not count toward the minimum credit hours that students need to maintain their visa status. If a student on an F-1 or J-1 visa has any questions about maintaining their F-1 or J-1 visa status, they should contact International Student Services (ISS) at UW-Madison.

The tuition waiver application is here: UW-Extension-Independent-Learning-Form-Fillable-updated.

L&S Undergraduate Academic Deans’ Services (ADS) will accept applications for tuition waivers during the periods below for L&S undergraduate students who meet the following criteria:

General questions about taking courses through UW-Independent Learning can be directed to il@uwex.edu.

If you have questions about the tuition waiver policy or process, please email lsdeans@saa.ls.wisc.edu.