Outside US & Canada?
Planning to Pay for Education with Tuition Reimbursement
By Melody GoughQuestion
I need help. I'm a single mother of three and I want to get a bachelor's degree in business to move up in my current job. My company reimburses a certain percentage of my tuition costs after I pass the classes. Do you know of any loans that don't need to be paid back until I receive my tuition reimbursement?
Answer
Most student loan repayments don't begin until after you graduate, so your best bet may be to borrow the money with the written understanding that your employer will pay all or part of it upon your graduation. This tuition assistance is an incredible opportunity for you, so get started securing interim funding.
Schedule an appointment with a financial advisor. Contact the financial aid office of your chosen accredited institution. This school of choice may be a nearby private or state school, community college or online university. You can also meet with a financial aid advisor at your local bank. Bring documentation to your appointment, specifying what your employer ultimately pays for and what the requirements are to get this financial help.
Don't rule out applying for any specific types of aid. Ask about scholarships, loans, and grants. Take notes on all of your options and ask as many questions as you feel are necessary for your complete understanding of the process. A bachelor's degree takes time and dedication. Keep focused on your goal and the long-term benefits for you and your children.
University of Nevada Reno professor Melody Gough is here to answer your questions every week. Professor Gough has taught poetry in both online and community college classrooms for almost a decade and has also taught English composition at the local university for the past five years. In addition to advising her students and inspiring them with witty classroom exercises, Professor Gough writes both poetry and memoir. Her Master of Arts in Teaching English is from the University of Nevada, Reno.
