Answers to Common Questions
About Tuition Exchange Scholarships
What is Tuition Exchange?
Tuition Exchange (TE) is a reciprocal scholarship opportunity for eligible faculty and staff and their dependents at the 700+ schools in our network.
Who is eligible for a Tuition Exchange scholarship?
Eligibility guidelines are set by each member school. Check with Human Resources or the Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer (TELO) at your home institution for eligibility guidelines. Find your school’s TE Liaison Officer.
How many semesters does the TE scholarship cover?
Schools offering undergraduate TE scholarships typically provide awards for the equivalent of eight semesters for entering first year students. Sophomores would be awarded a maximum of six semesters, juniors would be awarded a maximum of four semesters and a senior has a maximum of two semesters. Schools offering Graduate TE scholarships provide a maximum of four semesters of eligibility.
What if I need more time to complete my degree? Can my TE scholarship be extended?
If you think you will need extra time to complete your degree program, ask the TELO at your Import School if they permit an extension beyond the typical number of terms. Some may be willing to accommodate.
What is the value of the Tuition Exchange scholarship?
The value of the TE scholarship is full tuition at the Import School or the annual TE Set Rate. Member schools may reduce/offset the amount of the TE scholarship by any federal or state grants, other school grants, scholarships and even outside scholarships that the student receives. See the TE School List for scholarship guidelines and financial aid policies at each school.
NOTE: Tuition Exchange is a reciprocal scholarship program that facilitates the exchange of students among member schools. No monetary funds are exchanged.
What is the TE Set Rate?
The TE Set Rate is the weighted average of tuition across the network. The amount is approved by the Tuition Exchange Board of Directors annually. The 2025-2026 TE set rate is $43,000/year.
Are there a certain number of TE Scholarships that TE member schools must offer?
Each member school must offer at least 3 new TE scholarships per year.
Do schools have to maintain a balance of Exports and Imports?
Member schools are not required to keep their Exports and Imports in balance. This requirement was eliminated in 2020.
Will applying Early Decision increase or decrease my chances for TE?
The answer may vary by school so be sure to ask the Admissions Office or the TELO at the school where you are thinking about applying Early Decision.
Can I have more than one child receiving TE simultaneously?
Check with Human Resources or the TELO at your home school to see if multiple members of the same family can be “export approved.”
Are transfer students eligible?
Transfer policies vary by school but many schools will consider students at all class levels. Go to the TE School List and select the specific school to see policy details.
Will I be charged any special fees if my student is offered TE?
While many schools do not charge any TE administrative fees, some do. Check the TE School List for details.
Is my TE scholarship taxable?
Generally, scholarships that cover tuition and are not in excess of tuition at the undergraduate level are not taxable. Check IRS Publication 970 at irs.gov.
Do schools offer merit scholarships in addition to TE Scholarships?
Check with the Import School. In many cases, the Tuition Exchange Scholarship will supersede any prior merit awards.
Can I receive federal, state grants or outside scholarships in addition to TE?
Check the scholarship guidelines in the TE School Search. Some schools “offset” the TE Scholarship with federal or state grants and other scholarships received.
If my parent separates from employment in the middle of the semester, will my scholarship immediately end?
Check with Human Resources or the TELO at your Export School. In most cases, your scholarship will be honored through the end of the current term.
Can Tuition Exchange Scholarships be used to pursue graduate degrees?
Yes! As always, each school sets its guidelines for program eligibility. Typically, the individuals eligible for graduate degrees are the employee and their spouse or registered domestic partner. If your employer confirms that you are an eligible export, go to the TE Express Graduate School Search to find participating graduate programs.
The Application Process
When does the application cycle begin?
The TE EZ-Application opens on July 1 for students wishing to enroll the following academic year. For example, the TE EZ-Application will open on July 1, 2025 for students seeking Tuition Exchange scholarships starting Fall 2026 or Spring 2027.
How does my student apply for Tuition Exchange scholarship consideration?
Applying is a two-step process. First, they create a student account; then they complete an online TE EZ-Application. Go to the “How To Apply” page for detailed instructions and a video tutorial.
Is there a limit to the number of schools I can apply to?
You can use the TE EZ-Application to apply for TE scholarships at up to 20 schools. If your list of schools changes, you can log into your account to add or remove schools.
What if I can’t find my parent’s school on the application?
If the parent’s school of employment is not listed as an option on the application, the parent should contact that school’s TELO (Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer). They will need to review the Export application deadline in the TELO system. See the TE School List for TELO contact information.
What if I a school I’m interested in is grayed out on the application?
If the school the student is interested in is grayed out on the application and you cannot select it, it may be that their Import application deadline has passed. Please contact that school’s TELO (Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer).
What happens after I submit my application?
Once you submit your TE EZ-Application, the TELO at your home (Export) school will review and approve your application, presuming you meet eligibility guidelines. The schools you listed on your TE EZ-Application can then review your application for scholarship consideration. Be sure to check with the Admissions Office or TELO at the Import schools for notification details. In addition, you can log into your TE EZ-Application account at any time to track the status of your TE EZ-Application.
Do I also need to apply for admission?
Yes! All students must formally apply for admission to each college or university by the posted admission deadlines. Typically, a school will only offer a TE Scholarship to a student that has been accepted for admission.
Will I get an email notification when a school takes action on my TE App?
No, but you can log into your TE EZ-Application account at any time to check the status of your application.
What’s the difference between an Export Student and an Import Student?
- Export Student: TE Scholarship applicant or recipient coming from the employee’s home institution. Example: Bob Smith is an employee at Potter University. His daughter, Sarah Smith, has been awarded a scholarship to Griffin College, another TE school. Sarah is an Export of Potter University.
- Import Student: A student awarded a TE Scholarship by the host institution. Example: Bob Smith’s daughter, Sarah Smith, applies for admission and is awarded a TE Scholarship to Griffin College. Sarah is an Import of Griffin College (and an Export of Potter University).
Post-Application
I completed my TE EZ-Application and applied for college admission. When will I find out if I’ve been selected for a Tuition Exchange scholarship?
Step one is to (hopefully!) get the good news from the Admissions Office that you’ve been admitted to the school. Next, the school will begin to review candidates for TE scholarships. Schools post their TE scholarship notification dates on our website. You can check your TE EZ-Application account at any time for the status of your scholarship applications at each school.
If I get a TE Scholarship, is there a specific date by which I need to accept it?
Schools may request a response by a certain date, but you do not need to submit your deposit or finalize your decision prior to May 1. If you do not plan to accept your TE Scholarship, please be kind and share that news with the Import School as soon as you can so they can offer the scholarship to another student.
If my student is not offered a TE Scholarship for their first year, can they be considered for a TE scholarship in future years?
Check with the Import school TELO to see if they will consider returning students for TE Scholarships and what the likelihood is that you could be offered TE in a future year.
When and how will I hear if I am selected for a TE Scholarship?
The notification process varies by school. Check with the Import school TELO. You can also periodically log into your TE EZ-Application account to check the status of your TE applications.
After May 1, is there any way to find out which schools still have TE Scholarship spots open?
Yes! Check the Tuition Exchange website in early May for our “TE Space Available” list.
Do I need to re-apply each year if I was awarded a TE Scholarship?
If the eligible parent remains employed at the same school AND you remain continuously enrolled, you do not need to reapply on an annual basis. Bear in mind that some schools may require you to complete an internal form as well as the FAFSA on an annual basis. As always, check with your Export and Import TELOs!
What happens to my student’s TE Scholarship if I leave the university?
Check with Human Resources at your employer school (aka the Export School). If your departure falls during an academic term, most schools will honor the scholarship through the end of that term.
If you are going to work at another TE school, check with Human Resources or the Export TELO at your new school to see if your student will qualify for TE certification as soon as you begin. Keep the TELOs at all of the involved schools (old employer, new employer and where the student is enrolled) in the loop during the transition period so your student’s TE Scholarship is not canceled.
Are Tuition Exchange Scholars eligible to transfer?
Possibly. Check with your employer (the Export School) to confirm your eligibility. If yes, the student can log into their TE EZ-Application account (the same one they created originally) and select the CREATE TRANSFER APP button. They will complete a new application and list the schools they are interested in as a transfer candidate. Remember, TE scholarship awards are competitive. There is no guarantee they will be selected for a scholarship at their new school.
Is there a grade point average (GPA) requirement to continue in the program?
There may be. Each school sets its own renewal guidelines for students. If there is a GPA requirement, it should be noted in your TE Scholarship offer letter. You can check with your admissions counselor or the Import TELO as well.