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If you’re working and want to continue school but aren’t sure how to fund it, your employer may offer assistance. This is called tuition reimbursement, and it’s how many companies help employees pay for continuing their education. Tuition reimbursement programs are growing in popularity as companies work to attract and retain employees.

What is tuition reimbursement? It’s when companies offer programs to help employees pay for a portion of their educational costs. These programs vary by company. Some may only cover course costs if your continuing education is related to your job. Others may require employees to remain with the company for a certain period of time after completing their degree.

If you’re wondering, how does tuition reimbursement work?, read on to learn about the process of tuition reimbursement and find out the requirements involved.

What Is Tuition Reimbursement?

Tuition reimbursement, or tuition assistance, is an arrangement where an employer pays for part or all of an employee’s continuing education whether an undergraduate degree or graduate school.

How does tuition reimbursement work? Your employment contract may lay out the terms of the tuition reimbursement, including how much of your tuition your company will cover, what courses qualify, any minimum GPA requirements, and the minimum time period you must be employed by the company.

Tuition reimbursement is often offered as an employee benefit on top of a salary package, along with other benefits like health insurance, a 401(k), or transportation expenses.

This is different from student loan repayment assistance, when your company provides some amount of money toward student loans you already have.

Not every company offers tuition reimbursement, but many large ones do provide reimbursement or financial support for continuing education. Some companies may stipulate that courses must relate to your current work.

Recommended: What Are College Tuition Payment Plans and How Do They Work?

Why Companies Offer Tuition Reimbursement

Tuition reimbursement is a perk that helps a company attract and retain employees, while also benefiting the company itself, since the courses you take may provide skills or knowledge you can put into practice at work.

Some companies are upping their educational benefits as a way to stay competitive. They may offer a range of benefits to their employees like programs for refinancing student loans and student loan contributions.

Not sure if your employer offers tuition reimbursement? Check with your HR representative to see what options are available.

Tuition Reimbursement Requirements

The specifics of each company’s tuition reimbursement policy are likely laid out in an employment contract, but it’s common for a company to offer a tuition reimbursement only in accordance with certain eligibility requirements.

You’ll probably have to sign up and pay for the courses yourself first, so you’ll want to budget appropriately. In most cases you’ll need to pay for your courses out of pocket and then provide proof of completion and your grades in order to be reimbursed.

Program requirements

Your employer may limit its reimbursement program to certain institutions. For example, they may provide a list of accredited institutions you can choose from. Or they require that you attend a four-year program.

Coursework Requirements

Your company may reimburse you only for classes pertaining to your current job description.

Other times, companies will approve courses focused on moving you into a management role or on gaining skills you can put toward other future roles or assignments. For example, if you work in project management for a large corporation and are interested in learning how to use data visualization, you might be able to take community college courses in data production and visual graphics.

After understanding what courses qualify for tuition reimbursement, you could then look over the other requirements. For example, there may be minimum GPA or attendance requirements.

Timeframe Requirements

Sometimes a company will also require you to continue working with them for a set amount of time, since they’ve invested in your education and don’t want you to take those new skills to a competitor.

Tuition Reimbursement and the FAFSA®

An employer’s tuition reimbursement program doesn’t preclude you from filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) application. In most scenarios, an employer is unlikely to cover 100% of tuition costs, and you may still qualify for aid in the form of federal loans and grants.

That said, you will be asked to note how much you are reimbursed for, which may have an effect on how much financial aid you’re offered.

Is Tuition Reimbursement Taxable?

While you should always consult with a licensed tax professional regarding the current tax law, and in no way should any of this information be considered tax advice, the IRS’ website currently states that employers can deduct the cost of tuition reimbursement (up to $5,250 per employee annually). It’s a business expense for them. The IRS website also states that the first $5,250 of tuition reimbursement isn’t considered taxable income for employees. However, anything above that counts as part of your taxable wages and salary. Again, talking to a tax professional is always recommended.

The IRS does have some requirements on tax-free educational assistance benefits — which are not necessarily the same requirements your employer has.

Typically, for the IRS to consider tuition assistance as tax-free, it should be used to pay for tuition, fees, textbooks, supplies, or equipment.

And typically, it can’t be used for meals, lodging, transportation, or any equipment you keep after the course. It’s also not applicable to sports, games, or hobbies — unless they’re a degree requirement or you can prove they’re related to your employer’s business.

Again, consult with an accountant or tax attorney to get the complete picture.

What Are Other Options to Lower Education Costs?

The average cost of attending a four-year public college as an in-state student during the 2022-23 school year was $10,950, and that price tag only goes up for private schools and out-of-state students.

Federal Student Aid

For those who do not qualify for employer offered tuition reimbursement, there are other options that could be worth considering. As mentioned above, students can fill out FAFSA annually. This allows them to apply for all types of federal student aid, including scholarships and grants, work-study, and federal student loans.

Private Student Loans

Beyond that, some individuals may consider private student loans.

While one of the basics of student loans is that they offer students the opportunity to finance their education, private student loans don’t have the same borrower protections, like income-driven repayment plans, that are afforded to federal student loans. For this reason, they are most often considered only after all other options.

Recommended: Private Student Loans Guide

Refinancing Existing Student Loans

If you already have student loans, when it comes time to repay, you could consider refinancing to a lower interest rate, if you qualify. One of the advantages of refinancing student loans is that it could help you reduce the amount of money paid in interest over the total life of the loan; refinancing at a lower monthly payment could help with budgeting in the short term. However, lowering monthly payments is frequently the result of extending the loan term, which will result in increased cost over the life of the loan.

It’s important to know that federal student loans come with benefits such as income-driven repayment plans and deferment or forbearance options. Refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for these programs and protections.

The Takeaway

Employers who offer tuition reimbursement programs will typically cover a portion of tuition costs if the employee meets specific program eligibility requirements. These requirements vary by company, but may include things like maintaining a minimum GPA, doing certain coursework, and stipulations around the length of employment.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

Learn more about refinancing your student loans with SoFi.

FAQ

What does college tuition reimbursement mean?

With college tuition reimbursement, an employer pays for all or some of an employee’s continuing education. The employer typically has specific terms and conditions, such as the amount of tuition the company will cover, what courses qualify, minimum GPA requirements, and the amount of time you must be employed by the company in order to qualify.

Is tuition reimbursement a good idea?

For employees, tuition reimbursement is an employee benefit and is generally a good thing. It provides employees with financial assistance to attend school, which can save them a significant amount of money. It also allows them the opportunity to gain skills to help advance in their career. In return, the employee typically must remain with the company for a certain amount of time and meet certain other specific eligibility criteria, depending on the company.

Do I have to pay back tuition reimbursement?

As long as you meet the terms and conditions of the tuition reimbursement agreement, you should not have to pay back tuition reimbursement. However, if you leave the company voluntarily before the specified timeframe, you may be required to repay the money. Read the terms of the agreement carefully beforehand.

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