Staff Tuition for Education Program (STEP)

UC Davis Health is proud to offer tuition reimbursement to eligible employees through the Staff Tuition for Education Program (STEP). 

STEP is administered by the Human Resources Employee Well-being unit and supports eligible employees pursuing accredited degree programs and certain accredited vocational and specialized certificate programs that prepare candidates for skilled allied health positions.

STEP at a Glance

• Up to $4,000 per calendar year for eligible educational expenses paid by the employee
• $16,000 lifetime maximum
• Amounts over $4,000 do not roll over to the next calendar year
• Submit requests within 60 days after course completion

Funds are subject to change and may be impacted by budgetary or other considerations. Please note that only submissions complying with the STEP Guidelines provided below will be considered. 

Preauthorization of course of study is not required. Reimbursements will not be provided for ineligible programs.

Who is Eligible to Participate in STEP?

What Type of Programs Qualify for STEP?

Both online and instructor-led courses in accredited programs qualify if they are one of the following:

• Prerequisite Courses (to qualify for reimbursement, proof of prerequisite requirement must be submitted)
• Specific Skilled Allied Health Vocational Certificate Programs – Examples include EMT, Phlebotomy Technician, LVN, and Surgical Technician, Billing and Coding, among others
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree 

Important! If you are unsure if a program qualifies, please contact your school of interest to check for accreditation and degree status. To check eligibility of your program you can use the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

Which Expenses Are Eligible for Reimbursement?

Please note: Expenses covered by gift cards, grants, scholarships (including Pell Grants), or other non-reimbursable funds must be deducted from the total cost before determining the amount eligible for reimbursement.

For continuing education-related resources, please speak with your department manager. Information regarding departmental reimbursement is available at Professional Certifications and Licensing.

Information about educational discounts is available at Educational Discounts.

Payment and Tax Information

How to Submit a Request

When should I submit my request for reimbursement?

You have 60 days after the completion of your coursework for that academic period (term, quarter, or semester) to submit your STEP request and expenses for reimbursement consideration. STEP requests received on day 61 or after will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Supporting documents include:

• An itemized tuition invoice, including the academic term and dates, and the cost breakdown for all fees paid.
• A paid tuition receipt indicating form of payment.
• A paid book/materials receipt or itemized invoice indicating form of payment (a course syllabus may be requested if necessary).
• Proof of successful course completion and a final grade of “C,” Credit*, or Pass* (*accepted only for courses that do not provide a letter grade).
• If you receive a grant or scholarship, provide us with documentation showing your disbursement information.

These documents can typically be obtained by contacting your school's registrar, business office, or financial aid department. You may let them know that you are applying for an employer-funded tuition reimbursement program.

Important requirements

• Supporting documentation must include:
  • Your name
  • Name of educational institution (as appropriate)
  • Date
• Screenshots are unacceptable - contact your school for assistance with obtaining official documents

How to complete your request in the STEP program's application portal, Tuition.io

1. Create an application in the Tuition.io portal. The application link is available at the bottom of the page.
2. Enter the school or program information, including the term and graduation dates. 
3. Enter each course separately, include the grade, and associated tuition and/or book fees, individually. 
4. Upload all required documents.
5. Submit the application no later than 60 days after you've completed your term.

If you are unable to access the Tuition.io application portal, please review the eligibility requirements above to confirm that you qualify for the program.

If you meet all eligibility requirements and are still unable to access the reimbursement application, please contact the Wellbeing team at [email protected] for assistance.

Please Note: If your term start and end dates fall in different calendar years, funding for your request will be applied to the year in which the term ends. Please ensure that your term dates are entered accurately, as they determine the funding year and may differ from your graduation date.

Submitting your application and what to expect

• Submit your application within 60 days of successfully completing your course and receiving a passing grade.
• Monitor your application status for updates. 
• Your request may need revision, additional information, or may be approved or rejected.
• Decisions and comments will be viewable in the comment section of your application. 

How are Reimbursements Issued?

After your STEP reimbursement request has been approved, the request is routed to Accounts Payable for them to complete their payment processing. Approved non-taxable tuition reimbursement payments are sent to participants via US mail.  Please allow up to 6 weeks for reimbursement to be issued.  

• Payments issued by check are mailed to the address provided on the reimbursement application, not to the address in UC Path. 
• If you change your name it's important to contact the Well Being team as soon as possible. If the name on your reimbursement payment does not match the name on the banking or credit union account, it may not be honored. 
• If you change your mailing address, and it is different than the one provided in your reimbursement application, you must contact the Wellbeing team as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving your paycheck. 

Approved Reimbursement Check Issue Dates 

If you received an approval with one of the approval dates listed in the table below, please allow additional processing and mailing time to receive your reimbursement check. If you have not received your check via US Mail within 10–15 business days of the mail-out date associated with your approval date, please contact Accounts Payable directly at [email protected]. Someone from their department will assist you. 

SUBMIT YOUR STEP REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST HERE