Now is a really hard time to head back to school because of our economy.  It is tough to make the decision to quit your job and attend school full time because who knows if a job will be waiting for you when you graduate.  Can you and your family afford to go without a paycheck or to live off school loans for the next couple of years?  Are you wondering whether or not it is even worth it to take out loans in the first place?  These are all great questions to think about before making the big leap to head back to school.

College and Grad School: Companies and Tuition Reimbursement

Did you know these facts about tuition reimbursement?One option you may be considering is going to school at night or during the weekends at programs that are flexible and geared towards working adults.   Benefits to doing this are not only that you may have the opportunity to get promoted at your current job while in school but you will also not have to go without a paycheck for a couple years.  After further research, you will find that most of the flex programs aren’t even that much longer than going full time.  In addition, your current company may actually help you pay for school!

• 4 in 5 companies say they offer a tuition benefit

• 1 in 3 small companies offers reimbursement

• 62% of respondents who had received training or mentoring said they were very likely to stay with their current employer.

My company is assisting me with tuition which has helped out a lot.  My management is also very supportive if I have to leave early to study for a final.   Here are some of the companies I found that could be good companies to apply to if you are considering heading back to school.  (Note: Other companies offer tuition reimbursement but I could not find the actual amounts on their websites. Remember to ask about how much they will support you with education and career development during your interview!)

Here are the companies shelling out the bucks to help us all become smarter and better employees:

• Circuit City: Up to $1,000 per semester.

• CSC: $15,000 for courses in pursuit of a graduate level degree or its equivalent, $7,500 for courses in pursuit of a bachelors level degree or its equivalent, $5,250 for a certification or professional designation.

• General Mills: Reimburses eligible employees for the cost of job-related courses from accredited institutions.

• Google: Tuition reimbursement is up to $12,000 per calendar year.

• LifeBridge Health: Tuition reimbursement of up to $5,000.

• Mitre: Employees can receive a one-time bonus of $2,500 to go toward a Master’s degree or $4,000 for a PhD.

• Pfizer: Up to 100% tuition reimbursement for eligible degrees or courses with no maximum benefit amount to enhance the potential for growth at Pfizer.

• Quicken Loans: Up to $5,000 per calendar year in college tuition reimbursement for full-time team members.

• Qualcomm: Reimbursement of up to $5,250 per calendar year for cost of tuition, books, and parking for courses toward continuing education, certification program, associates degree or a bachelor’s degree. Reimbursement of up to $10,125 per calendar year for costs of tuition, books, and parking for courses toward a graduate or post-graduate degree.

• Sherwin-Williams: Covers the cost of tuition and lab fees for course work that’s related to your position or any course required for a work-related degree.

• Starbucks: $500-$1,000 depending on level and length of service.

• Target: The program allows eligible team members to take approved, work-related courses and receive up to $3,000 reimbursement per year for undergraduate courses or certificates, up to $4,000 per year for graduate-level studies and $5,250 for MBA courses.

• Wells Fargo: Will reimburse you for eligible tuition expenses up to $5,000 annually.

• Yahoo!- Expand your mind with up to $5,000 a year for tuition, books and other fees.

Don’t forget to ask your manager or Human Resources Department these very important questions before you make a decision to head back to school. Do you have to stay with the firm for a certain amount of time after graduating? Is there a certain amount you have to pay back the firm if you leave? Is there a restriction on the type of classes you can take? Will your employer be supportive of you and not give you extra work on nights and weekends when you will have to do homework? Will your employer allow you to study at work and be flexible if you have to leave early to finish a paper? Do you have to get a certain grade? Do you have to repay the firm if you don’t get the required grade?

How does your company support your education?