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Employer-Sponsored Tuition Benefits

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Employer-Sponsored Tuition Benefits

Take advantage of your employer's education benefits, such as tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance.
Take advantage of your employer's education benefits, such as tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance.
If you are currently employed and you are interested in taking college courses or pursuing a degree in order to advance your career, be sure to check with your company’s human resources department to find out if tuition reimbursement is an option for you.
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How Tuition Reimbursement Works

Enroll → Pay → Complete → Reimburse

Many employers offer tuition reimbursement to help pay for college. The good news is that once your reimbursement comes through, you can use those funds to pay for your next course, so you'll only need to budget for your first enrollment term.

While policies vary, the process typically follows these steps:

1. Enroll in Your Course

Choose a UMass Lowell course or program. Before enrolling, check with your HR department to confirm eligibility, any required pre-approval and annual reimbursement limits.

2. Pay for Tuition

Register and pay for your course using personal funds, a payment plan, financial aid or student loans. Most tuition reimbursement programs require employees to pay upfront but note that this may impact your financial aid award, so it's best to reach out to ContinuingEd-financialaid@uml.edu with any questions.

3. Complete the Course

Finish the course and meet your employer's requirements, such as earning a passing grade. Save your tuition receipt and final grade report.

4. Submit for Reimbursement

Provide your employer with required documentation, typically proof of payment, your final grade and any reimbursement forms. Your employer will review and reimburse eligible tuition costs in accordance with their policy.

Repeat Each Term

You can repeat this process each semester while working toward completing your program. Many employers offer up to $5,250 in education benefits per year.

A Win-Win Benefit

Tuition reimbursement benefits both employees and employers. For employees, it can make earning a degree more affordable while building new skills and creating opportunities for career growth. For employers, supporting education can help attract talent, strengthen retention and develop a more skilled workforce.
Employer Financial Help

How Tuition Assistance Works

Tuition assistance helps remove the upfront cost of earning your degree. Unlike tuition reimbursement, which usually requires you to pay first and get paid back later, tuition assistance often covers eligible tuition costs at the beginning, making it easier to start classes without a large out-of-pocket expense. For working adults, that can mean less financial stress and a faster path to reaching their goals.

Not sure if your company offers either of these benefits?

Step 1: Check your benefits

Start by reviewing your employee benefits or contacting your HR department to see whether your company offers tuition assistance or tuition reimbursement.

Step 2: Make the case

If a formal benefit is not listed, ask anyway. Share how a UMass Lowell program can strengthen your skills, improve your performance and help you bring more value to your organization. See our email reimbursement template to create a proposal for your organization.