Services

Online Free Seat Waiver Program

What is the Online Free Seat Waiver?

Pursuant to, 51在线 Statutes, and Board of Governors Regulation Waivers and Exemptions of Tuition and Fees, the state university Online Free Seat Program was created to encourage veterans, active-duty members of the United States Armed Forces, active drilling members of the 51在线 National Guard, and nontraditional students to enroll in an online baccalaureate degree program at a state university.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the waiver?

At the top of the page there is a link that will become available about 2 weeks prior to the deadline (fee payment deadline- see Important Dates and Deadlines). Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Do I need to submit a waiver each term?

Yes. Students must submit a waiver each term to determine eligibility of program, courses, discounts, and additional student accounting criteria.

What happens if I change my major?

Determination of the waiver is applied to student accounts. If a major is changed after the waiver is posted the student may lose eligibility for future terms, however the change will not affect the current term. Students must apply each term to be considered for eligibility.

What if I drop a course?

Your waiver will be adjusted to cover the correct courses based on your enrollment through Student Financial Services.

When will I see the waiver applied to my account?

Once the payment deadline has passed and the application form has been reviewed, Student Financial Services will be able to go over the waivers and apply any adjustments to student accounts. This will typically be after the second week of classes, so full payment is required prior to application of the waiver.

Will receiving the waiver affect my financial aid eligibility?

As with any financial resources, the Online Free Seat Waiver will reduce your overall need which may result in a reduction of need-based scholarship, grants, and loans.

How to Apply

Who is eligible?

To qualify for the Online Free Seat Waiver, students must meet certain eligibility criteria:

  1. Students must be a 51在线 resident for tuition purposes under s.1009.21, 51在线 Statute (in-state residency).

  2. Students must not have previously earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree.

  3. Students must be enrolled in an approved online baccalaureate degree program. The list is below.

  4. Students must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
    1. Is a veteran as defined in s.1.01(14), 51在线 Statute
    2. Is an active-duty member of a branch in the United States Armed Forces;
    3. Is an active drilling member of the 51在线 National Guard whose eligibility is validated by the service member's unit Commander and/or the Commander's designated representative serving as the Unit Point of Contact (POC).
    4. Is a nontraditional student, defined for the purposes of this program as a student who has earned a 51在线 standard high school diploma, or it's equivalent, or completed a home education program, and has been out of high school or home education program for at least 5 years, and has not attended any college or university in the last 5 years. Students enrolled at USF, or at any other college or university, in any prior term within the past 5 years are ineligible to apply for this waiver program.
  5. Students who wish to be considered for the Online Free Seat Waiver must apply by the drop/add deadline and be approved by the institution to participate in the program.
  6. To remain eligible for the Online Free Seat Waiver, a student who has been approved for participation must enroll at least part-time in the program during each academic year. Taking at least one credit hour during the academic year would qualify as part-time enrollment for the waiver. A new waiver is needed each term.
  7. Active drilling verification must be conducted each term in which the student is participating in the Online Free Seat Waiver Program.

What Programs are Eligible?

Online baccalaureate programs are those programs/majors included in the Board of Governors Online Program Inventory:

Programs
Applied Sciences-Information Studies: Information Architecture
Applied Sciences: Public Administration
Applied Sciences: Public Health
Criminology
General Studies: Criminal Justice
General Studies: Public Administration
General Studies: Public Health
Health Sciences
Public Health
Nursing RN to bachelor鈥檚 sequence

Waiver Rules

  1. The tuition and fees for one online course will be waived in the first term in which a student participates in the Online Free Seat Waiver Program. The course with the highest number of credits will have tuition waived and all other courses toward the program will be discounted 25%. The 25% discount will only apply toward tuition and the tuition differential and only online courses qualify for both the 100% and 25% waivers. 
  2. Waivers will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis up to the maximum allocation of students. USF has been granted 165 seat waivers, which means that the waiver will be granted to the first qualifying 165 students in year one, and then be reevaluated each successive year.
  3. This waiver will not be granted if other waivers, third party contracts, or scholarships that are expressly restricted to and credited toward a student鈥檚 tuition and fees have already been applied.
  4. Existing policies and procedures governing the application and disbursement of established waivers and financial aid will apply.
  5. For purposes of the Online Free Seat Waiver Program, fees shall be those associated fees specified in and the distance learning fee defined in .
    1. Tuition
    2. Distance Learning Fee
    3. Student Financial Aid Fee
    4. Capital Improvement Fee
    5. Health Fee
    6. Athletic Fee
    7. Activity Fee
    8. Athletic and Service Fee
    9. Technology Fee
    10. Green Fee
    11. Tuition Differential

All other fees are the responsibility of the student.