Do companies offer "retro-active" tuition reimbursement?

Anonymous

July 2,2023 at 3:58PM UTC

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Do companies offer "retro-active" tuition reimbursement?

I know student loans is a hot topic right now.. unfortunately nowadays there's a strong correlation between degree collection and student debt collection as the grants and scholarships tend to dry up the higher you climb up the education ladder ..

Context: I graduated from my MBA school during the pandemic. Of course, jobs in Spring of 2020 were scarce, so I was happy to just have an opportunity six months out of school, and now I'm looking to find that post-MBA job I worked so hard for ..

*Question: in your job searches, are you finding companies open to "retro-active" tuition reimbursements? *

Plenty of them have professional development programs, and the irony isn't lost on me that they end up paying for these folks who end up moving on to "bigger and better" opportunities because that's how the millennial generation gets substantial promotions/raises unfortunately. At the end of the day, these companies lose their human capital investments anyway..

I think there's a strong argument to be made for "retro-active" reimbursements, but of course I'm rather bias on the topic. Would welcome a discussion and would love to hear anyone's experience (success/failure). Thanks ladies!

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AnonymousJuly 2,2023 at 4:20PM UTC
Beyond things like the PSLF program and related incentives/assists for high-demand roles (rural primary care providers, inner-city teachers, etc.) I've never heard of anyone doing this. Either the degree is required for the job and (theoretically) your pay reflects the value of the degree (so paying for it after the fact) or the degree isn't required and the new company doesn't care that you have more education.
AnonymousJuly 2,2023 at 8:30PM UTC
Id say probably not retroactive.l unless your field is super specific. Either you met the qualifications or didn't & you obviously have.
I earned a bunch of certifications during Covid as well and marketed myself as "not sitting around" while unemployed.
AnonymousJuly 2,2023 at 9:17PM UTC
I've not heard of it, as it seems that the "retroactive" reimbursement, particularly at a new company, would be reflected in the higher earning potential (usually).
Juanita BrownJuly 2,2023 at 9:36PM UTC
No. Coming from both private and public sector, I have never heard of this. I don't see this as an impossibility, but not very likely.
AnonymousJuly 3,2023 at 1:19PM UTC
A former employer of mine started a student loan debt assistance program - $100 per month with a $10k cap. I have heard of other employers doing this as well.
AnonymousJuly 3,2023 at 5:52PM UTC
Isn't that called a paycheck? Without my degree, I wouldn't have my job or my pay rate. I'm already being compensated for my education that qualifies me for my job.
AnonymousJuly 3,2023 at 9:32PM UTC
Yes, but some companies also offer a stipend for advancing your education. My brother's MBA and CPA were fully paid by the company he worked for in addition to his paycheck.
AnonymousJuly 3,2023 at 9:59PM UTC
Approaching a potential employer about retro-active tuition reimbursement is high risk, despite all the attention the student loan issue is getting right now. Tuition reimbursement is traditionally used as a retention tool, not a recruiting tool.
You’re walking into a new employer with little credibility other than your good word and your resume. As a new hire, you’ll be in a probationary period as you establish yourself and your work product.
If you propose this idea to someone who is not fond of Biden’s debt elimination proposal, you risk being passed over for a job before the interview process has come to an end. There’s an air of entitlement to suggesting a retro-active tuition reimbursement.
If you’re insistent on taking this path, I’d repackage this ask as a signing bonus or a request during review season for a salary bump.
Few of us are so special that an organization will up-end their tuition reimbursement policy to accommodate retro-active requests.
AnonymousJuly 4,2023 at 2:51AM UTC
Most employers are not going to pay for retroactive tuition expenses you incurred. If they have a tuition reimbursement policy, it is most likely while you are employed and if it is job related. Tuition reimbursement is also tax qualified up to a certain amount, so this would make it hard for an employer to reimburse you for expenses you incurred before you started working for them.
Gretchen OstermanJuly 4,2023 at 12:45PM UTC
I see this for healthcare employees. Maybe focus your search for positions that would qualify you for the 10 year payoff plan.
AnonymousJuly 5,2023 at 2:37PM UTC
What? There is definitely not a strong argument to be made here. They had no investment in you prior. Any company would not want to open this door for more repercussions from other employees. They couldn’t control Covid, this is a reach I wouldn’t have thought anyone would have the audacity to consider. « Hey, I have to go back into the office now please pay for my pants » type of thought. Shaking head…..
Companies have tuition protocols when you’re an employee not when you weren’t.
MarissaJuly 6,2023 at 5:47PM UTC
There are companies out there that help facilitate loan repayments with employers, regardless of whether you were with the company when taking the loan/going through school, typically offered as an employee benefit. My company had such a program and they paid $170 per month towards my loans up to a certain dollar amount (I think for me it was in the 15K range). Some may put limits on who is eligible, for example executive officers may not be. The company we used was Vault (previously Student Loan Genius).
AnonymousJuly 9,2023 at 6:45PM UTC
Yes: this retro-active tuition reimbursement program is your salary. Negotiate for what you’re worth with your MBA taken into consideration.
RobertK RollinsMarch 10,2025 at 4:00PM UTC
Some companies offer retroactive tuition reimbursement, but it’s rare and usually depends on company policies. Employers typically require pre-approval before covering education costs. However, if you recently completed a degree relevant to your job, it’s worth asking HR. Managing tuition debt? Learn how to handle aggressive collectors here at https://protectionforconsumers.com/how-to-handle-debt-collector-scare-tactics-effectively/. Some companies might offer bonuses or raises instead of reimbursement.