Tuition Reimbursement...not exactly a "Scholarship"...but too good to overlook!

If you're going to work in college, you might as well make the most of it.  One way of doing that is to look for a company that will not only pay you for your job, but will also help to pay for your schooling!  Many companies have a "tuition reimbursement" plan, varying in the amount given, how many years given, if the degree needs to connect to your job, and other factors.  Some tuition reimbursement plans are very lenient:  benefits start on the 1st day of your job and can be applied to any major!  Other programs are more specific:  you must have worked there for a year, can only be used at one college, or require you to major in a field related to your work.  Maybe not every plan is right for you, but there is probably one that will be right for your plans.  Even though you need to do some homework to find a good match, don't bypass it because you think that "it's too good to be true".  Tuition Reimbursement programs come in all shapes and sizes...they are good AND true!

Sidenote:  many of these companies apply tuition reimbursement to their "part-time workers" (average of 20 hours / week).  Even though it's tricky to balance work with school, research continues to show that having a part-time job actually helps you manage your time better than if you didn't work at all.  What does that mean?  It means that you are forced to work for 20 hours, followed by focused studying in the 2-3 hour windows you have throughout the day.  Did you catch that?  Focused studying instead of what you would do without a job, which usually involves procrastinating for those same 20 hours and studying at the last-minute anyway.  There is a point where working combined with school can be too much, but most students that work 10-20 hours a week find that the work schedule actually helps them balance their studies, rather than hurting their grades.  

Check out these links to find a company that would fit with your education plans, and verify that the program is still being used.  Also note that these links are only a beginning--there are many companies that have tuition-reimbursement plans that don't advertise their perks.  Be willing to ask friends and family to find local companies that would do the same.  Here is a start to finding a job that will not only a paycheck, but help with college costs:

15 Companies That Will Pay for Your Tuition

4 Fast Food Jobs that Pay For Tuition

Free College Education

You probably noticed that Starbucks and UPS came up on multiple lists, and for good reason.  It's because their programs have been up-and-running for multiple years.  They are stable and a good bet for many students looking for a tuition reimbursement program that is here to stay.

Let me know if you want to incorporate this into your own college success plan, or if you need more help researching the details.  I'm excited to see which students take advantage of this program!