The Duke Children's Tuition Grant Program provides a grant for undergraduate tuition expenses incurred by children of eligible employees for full-time study at any accredited college or university. Please note, there is no payable benefit to any of the UNC system schools once the per semester deductible is satisfied for in-state students. The in-state tuition only (no fees) for North Carolina public colleges and universities is less than the required deductible of the grant per semester. Therefore, no tuition grant benefit will be paid.*
The Children's Tuition Grant maximum benefit amount is based on the undergraduate tuition amount set for Duke University, and is subject to change at any time should the amount of Duke's tuition change.
- Benefits under this program provide tuition grants of up to 75% of the weighted average of Duke tuition, after applying a per semester deductible and other tuition scholarships. If scholarship is not designated toward tuition and not greater than room, board and fees, then scholarship has no impact on the Children's Tuition Grant. Summer Sessions: Two full sessions of summer school are counted as one semester.
- The tuition for NC public colleges and universities is less than the deductible per semester. Therefore, no tuition grant benefit will be paid.
- Each eligible employee may receive up to a maximum of 16 semesters of tuition assistance, no more than eight of which may be used by any one child.
- Each eligible employee may receive up to the maximum tuition grant payment as indicated for each academic year.
- The program provides a grant for full-time study at the associate or baccalaureate level at any approved, accredited, degree-granting institution of higher education in the world.
- The grant is provided for the pursuit of your child's first Bachelor's degree. Second Bachelor's degrees and graduate study are not covered.
- Only tuition expenses are eligible for reimbursement. If the scholarship is not designated towards tuition and not greater than room, board, and fees then the scholarship has no impact on payment. See these examples for more information.
*Two earlier plans continue to be available to faculty and senior administrative staff. The first plan, available to those employees hired prior to 1975, provides up to 100% of Duke's tuition and does not limit the number of children eligible. The second plan provides those employees hired between 1975 and 1986 with a benefit of up to $2,500 per child for up to two children with no deductible. Both plans are considered taxable if you meet the IRS definition of a highly compensated employee. UNC system schools may be eligible for those in these earlier plans.
Tuition Grant Seminars
Our monthly Children’s Tuition Grant seminar is now available anytime. We invite you to access the webinar presentation to learn about the eligibility requirements, taxability of benefits, and how to apply for benefits. This webinar will provide valuable information to Duke University or Duke University Medical Center parents with new college bound students.
Please note that Duke University Health System (DUHS) employees (hired after 01/01/1999) are not eligible for the Children’s Tuition Grant Program.
The benefits that you receive are based upon the plan's official plan document. For more information, please see the Summary Plan Description.
Medical Coverage for Children Who Attend School Out-of-State
If your child is attending a college or university outside the state of North Carolina, Duke Options PPO and Duke USA PPO are the only health plan through Duke that will cover dependents outside of North Carolina. If you are covering a child under Duke Select or Duke Basic, and that child attends school outside of the Triangle area or outside of NC, you should change your medical plan to one that offers coverage where your child is attending school. Similarly, the Blue Care HMO only has access to providers within North Carolina. You have 30 days from the beginning of the semester to change plans or to disenroll members who have moved out of network, if your current medical plan does not have a network of providers where your child is attending school. If you do not want to enroll in a different health plan option, your child will need to enroll in student health insurance that will cover them while they are living away at school.