Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

Summary of changes to Employee TAP benefits that took effect July 1, 2020. (new window)

Georgetown University offers tuition benefits to eligible employees and their children through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Employees may use their TAP benefit for undergraduate or graduate studies depending on their employment category. Dependent children may use these benefits for undergraduate studies only (certain exceptions apply). You must apply for TAP benefits every semester. Lifetime maximums apply, and this benefit will pay “tuition” only; it does not cover deposits, university fees, late fees, or room and board.

How do I Become Eligible?

Effective July 1, 2020, to gain eligibility for the Tuition Assistance Program, an employee must:

  • Be a regular staff employee (including those represented by LEOSU-DC and the 1199SEIU), or a “term” employee, hired to work at least 36 hours per week; or
  • Be an academic employee hired to work at least 90% time (fellows are excluded); AND
  • Have met the “continuous years of service” requirement for the applicable TAP benefit
    • Employee Using TAP at GU: 2 years
    • Child Using TAP: 3 years
  • If you meet the above criteria, you begin gaining eligibility on your date of hire. You must attain “continuous years of service” prior to the first day of GU Main Campus undergraduate classes for the semester in which you are seeking TAP benefits.
  • Hoya Staffing placement does not count toward TAP-eligibility.

Retirees must meet full eligiblity requirements.

When Can I Use the TAP Benefit?

TAP benefits begin the semester following fulfillment of the service requirement eligibility rules outlined above.

Who Can Use the TAP Benefit?

Eligible Georgetown employees and their natural children, adopted children, children under legal guardianship as evidenced by official court documentation, or stepchildren dependent for support may use TAP. Children must be under the age of 30 to utilize the TAP benefit. Please see the complete details on benefits for dependent children for more information. 

Where Can I Use the TAP Benefit?

Effective July 1, 2020, Employee TAP benefits can only be used for up to six credit hours per semester for classes taken at Georgetown University.

Child TAP benefits may be used at Georgetown University or at any institution in the United States and at international schools that meet the following two criteria: 1. The institution must be accredited in the country in which the school is located, and 2. payment of tuition must be made directly to the institution by Georgetown University. Schools that are not already in the University systems may often take longer than anticipated to set up and pay. We appreciate your patience as we work to get new schools up and running in our systems.

The TAP Application Process

To process your TAP benefit payment, the following steps are required every semester. There is no advantage to applying for your TAP benefit prior to enrollment and course registration. You can find a step-by-step guide to the process here: TAP Application Reminders.

For Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies: Staff using benefits for non-credit certificate programs at the School of Continuing Studies Center for Continuing and Professional Education (CCPE) should note that the CCPE withdrawal and refund policies also apply to TAP students. For more information, review the policy here. 

When Eligibility Ends

If you terminate employment or move to a benefits ineligible position in a semester in which your TAP benefits have already been disbursed, you will not be required to reimburse Georgetown for that semester. However, you will not be eligible for TAP benefits for any subsequent semester. Retirees of the University may continue to use their benefits in retirement, but are subject to the same rules and maximums as active employees. Click here to learn more about retirement eligibility and benefits. 

Learn More

Click here for complete eligibility and benefit details for faculty & staff and dependent children. TAP benefits will be paid as detailed in this section of the website. Please note that the benefits offered to employees hired on or before December 31,1995 include a special provision for dependents enrolled at Georgetown University.