Want a College Degree? How to Ask Your Employer to Pay For It

Whether you’re looking to finish your four-year degree, attend graduate school for a master’s degree, or complete a certificate, the increasing expense of everyday necessities like food, housing, and utilities are hard to ignore. Don’t let the cost of going back to school prevent you from achieving your dream of getting a degree – here’s how to talk to your organization about funding your education through an employee tuition reimbursement program.

What is an Employee Tuition Reimbursement Program?

Tuition reimbursement programs are an employee benefit that typically cover the cost of tuition, books and supplies, or other school-related expenses. Some companies offer full tuition reimbursement, while others offer partial reimbursement – or a set amount of money each year that can be put toward courses. 

Some organizations budget for continuing education for staff as an annual expense; others will reimburse on a case-by-case basis. In most scenarios, you will need to apply for tuition reimbursement. Learn what your employer’s requirements entail. For example, you may need to maintain a certain grade point average to receive reimbursement or remain with the company for a set amount of time after completing your degree.

Elizabeth Garfoot, a graduate of the Master of Science: Information Technology Management program at UW Online Collaboratives, received tuition reimbursement while taking one to two courses per semester. She is among one of many UW Online Collaboratives and UW Flexible Option students who have received help from their employers to get their degrees. 

Vikki Surerus, a nurse, approached her employer and was able to use her company’s tuition benefit to return to college to earn her bachelor’s degree.

“I would not have gone back for my BSN without the tuition benefit. It can be hard for working women to think that they should invest in themselves,” Vikki explains.

In Vikki’s case, her employer did not limit how many courses she could take, and they also covered the cost of textbooks. The UW Flexible Option Tuition Guarantee locks in your tuition rate for the entire time that you are actively enrolled in the program. And if you take advantage of the unique All-You-Can-Learn tuition rate, your tuition reimbursement benefits can go even further because you can take as many courses as you want during each subscription period, saving your organization even more money.

How Can I Get My Tuition Reimbursed?

A number of major companies offer tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit. If you don’t know whether your company offers tuition reimbursement, check with your manager or HR department. Here are some questions you should ask:

1. How much can I receive? (Unlimited funds, or a set amount per semester or year)
2. When can I start school?
3. How long do I have to be employed with my company to take advantage of this benefit? 
4. When do I get reimbursed? (Up front, or after I’ve completed a course?)
5. Am I required to maintain a certain grade point average?
6. How long will I need to remain in my current job after completing school? (For example, some companies will require that an employee stay at least three years after graduation or they will have to pay the company back).
7. What types of educational programs are eligible for tuition reimbursement?

Once you gather that information and you’re admitted to your program of choice, you’ll coordinate with your employer and your home campus bursar’s office to get your tuition paid.

Can I Get Financial Aid if My Employer Doesn’t Cover My Entire Tuition Bill?

It depends on your situation. For example, financial aid could help if you want to take more courses than what your organization reimburses. Financial aid could also come in handy if your employer requires you to submit your grades before reimbursement, which usually means you won’t get financial support until after your term has ended and grades are awarded. If you can’t afford the cost of the first term without assistance, financial aid could help for that initial term. From there, you can use the reimbursement you receive from your employer to pay for the next term and budget accordingly. 

If you apply to a program through UW Online Collaboratives or UW Flexible Option, you are encouraged to complete your FAFSA using the school code for your home campus of interest and submit your application to the program (if you haven’t already). Once those items are completed, you can work with the appropriate financial aid department to find out what you are eligible for.  Note: If you are eligible for employer reimbursement, you must report the amount you’ll receive on your FAFSA, which may reduce your eligibility for need-based aid.

What if My Company Doesn’t Offer Tuition Reimbursement?

Even if your company doesn’t actively promote tuition reimbursement, that doesn’t mean they won’t fund your education or at least consider it. Here’s how to approach your employer for financial help:

1. First, decide what you’d like to study. Are you seeking some continuing education courses, a certificate, or a degree?
   
2. Research schools and programs offering the education most likely to fit your needs. Be sure to find programs that align with the skills you’ll most likely use on the job so that you can show your employer the value of additional training. You want them to see how a degree or certificate program can help you fill your current role more effectively – or prepare for future roles in the company.
   
3. Prepare a short letter or some talking points that you can use to discuss with your supervisor. Try to answer these questions:
   Why are you seeking education? What skills and knowledge do you hope to learn? How will these skills help you do your job better? How will this program help you do that? How long will it take for you to complete the program and what are the costs? This is your elevator pitch, and you want to make it difficult for your employer to say no!
4. Set up a time to meet with your supervisor in person or set up a Zoom call. If neither of these are an option, craft an email or message you can send to them instead. If possible, include links to the potential programs or schools you’ve researched so they can see for themselves what these programs offer. Showing them you’ve also done your homework indicates that you’re serious about your education and demonstrates a willingness to improve.
5. Remember that even if your supervisor says no, that doesn’t mean continuing education is completely off the table. If your organization isn’t in a position to fund your education right now, don’t sweat it – there is always a possibility that funds will become available in the future. You can suggest to your human resources department that they include tuition reimbursement as a future employee benefit – or ask what free training or educational opportunities are available. It’s hard for a good company to NOT want to invest in the future of their employees, especially those who want to take initiative to grow their skills. 

Ready to learn about some educational programs to help you achieve your career goals? We’re ready to help you navigate the process, including how to pay for your education. UW Online Collaboratives and UW Flexible Option have a variety of degrees and certificates for working adults spanning technology, business, healthcare and much more.