Making it work for you
You know that a degree can advance your career, but with work and other commitments, earning one can be challenging. Arizona State University is making it more affordable with a tuition scholarship exclusively for Arizona public employees, and easier on your schedule with online options. Eligible state, city, town and public employees will receive scholarship aid equal to 10 percent off the base tuition rate.
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Find out more
Select your employer to view details about the Public Employee Scholarship scholarship opportunity available to you.
FAQs
General
What are the eligibility requirements?
To participate, you must 1) be a full-time or part-time employee at a state, county, city government or employed by a public entity 2) remain in an approved ASU degree program 3) meet the minimum standards required by applicable ASU graduate policies and procedures, including continuous enrollment, maintaining satisfactory academic progress and earning your degree within the program’s maximum time limit for graduation.
This program is intended for non-university Arizona government and municipal employees. State university system employees interested in ASU degree programs should explore the Qualified Tuition Reduction Program.
How do I go about getting started?
Browse ASU’s degree programs. When you have chosen a degree program to pursue, submit an application for admission. Once admitted, fill out and submit the Arizona Public Employee Scholarship Program form.
What degrees are covered in the program?
Any ASU undergraduate or graduate degree, offered on-campus or online. But note that the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law does not have a part-time or evening JD program. Additionally, full-time employment is strongly discouraged while pursuing the JD. Potential JD applicants should contact ASU Graduate Admission Services before submitting an application.
How much is the program scholarship?
The Program offers scholarship aid equal to 10 percent of the base tuition rate for your degree program.
Do I have to maintain a certain grade point average?
To remain eligible for the Program, graduate and undergraduate students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, but certain degree programs may have higher requirements. Students should check with their program of study or discuss with their academic advisor to make sure.
Graduate students must meet ASU’s Graduate College minimum GPA requirement of 3.00 on all GPAs. See more details on ASU’s Graduate College minimum GPA requirement.
Is there a certain time period I must complete my degree?
Graduate programs may require students to complete their degree within a certain time period. Please check your program of interest for its specific deadline.
Do you accept past credits for transfer?
Contact the Admission Services team at ASU4AZemployees@asu.edu or 480-965-7788 to find out about transferring credits for an undergraduate degree or to see if credits you have previously earned will transfer to your master's program of interest.
Is this program for on-campus or online programs?
Both; program degree options include on-campus and/or online instruction.
Can my dependent take advantage of the program?
The Program is open only to Arizona state and municipal government employees and not their dependents.
What happens if I cease being an Arizona public employee while participating in the program?
If your employment with the Arizona government terminates while you are in the process of completing your degree, you will no longer be eligible for the Arizona Public Employee Scholarship. However, you may complete the semester in which your employment terminated using the scholarship. You will not be required to reimburse the tuition scholarship you received in previous semesters. You may also still continue your program of study at ASU without the Arizona Public Employee Scholarship.
How will I know my Arizona Public Employee Scholarship program has been approved and applied?
Complete this form after you apply for admission to Arizona State University. Complete a new form every semester to remain eligible. After a certifying HR official completes the form, you can submit it to Financial Aid and Scholarship Services through this landing page: students.asu.edu/forms/arizona-public-employee-scholarship. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing. You will be able to view your ASU Arizona Public Employee Scholarship on your MyASU Finances tab.
When do I need to submit the Arizona Public Employee Scholarship program form?
The Arizona Public Employee Scholarship form should be completed and submitted after you apply for admission. Complete a new form every semester to remain eligible. Confirmation forms should be generated and dated no more than 30 days prior to the start of the semester in order to be considered valid. Please see the ASU academic calendar for important dates and deadlines.
How will my Arizona Public Employee status be verified?
It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the authorization and signature from their human resources department. After obtaining the appropriate signatures, please submit your form to students.asu.edu/forms/arizona-public-employee-scholarship and watch your MyASU Finances tab for your Arizona Public Employee Scholarship. If however, it is determined the student is no longer an active Arizona public employee, the student will be responsible for all billed tuition and fees. Students are encouraged to review their ASU student account periodically by logging into their MyASU account and selecting the “Finances” link to review all student account transactions and balance information.
Who can I contact at ASU for more information?
Questions about the scholarship can be directed to Admission Services by calling 480-965-7788 or by emailing asu4AZemployees@asu.edu.
The online student experience
Are online programs comparable in quality to on-campus programs?
Yes. The same faculty and instructors that teach on the ASU campuses teach ASU Online courses. This means that the rigor and quality of the content, as well as the course load is the same as the on-campus classes.
When are classes offered?
ASU Online offers six start times every year. There are two starts during the spring semester, two during fall and two over the summer. Check the academic calendar for specific dates.
Can I take some classes on campus but most online?
ASU Online degree programs are 100% online. If you wish to take courses on campus, then you will need to enroll as a campus-based student.
Can I attend graduation on campus?
Yes! ASU Online students are encouraged to participate in university graduation ceremonies. More information can be found on the University Ceremonies Website.
Can you tell me about the "classroom" experience?
ASU instructors and faculty use a variety of methods to share materials, have students interact, and monitor student’s progress throughout the course.
One of the benefits of completing your degree online is flexibility. A few courses may require specific log-on times for certain activities or assignments, but most courses have assignments and due dates. Some assignments and tests may only be available for a limited time (such as a 48-hour period), so they must be completed at some point within the designated time.
Do I have to attend any on-campus classes?
The majority of our degree programs are offered entirely online with no campus visits required; however, there are a couple of programs that require occasional campus attendance. Your success coach or academic advisor will let you know if this is a requirement for your program.
What tools do I need to successfully participate in online classes?
ASU Online courses are taught using the learning management system Blackboard and include a variety of multimedia tools and resources. To ensure you can successfully access the multimedia tools in your courses, ASU Online recommends you use a standard PC or Mac desktop or laptop computer with a webcam, headset and microphone. Mobile devices such as a cell phone, Google Chromebook or tablet computer (Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy, Microsoft Surface) will not provide the access and functionality necessary for ASU Online courses and are not recommended.
