Get Your Employer to Pay for an Online Degree

Even if your employer doesn't have a program in place to pay for continuing education, you still have a shot of getting them to foot the bill for an advanced degree.  Sometimes, all you have to do is ask. Your boss might even be willing to pay for GMAT prep as well as credit-based courses.

In this blog entry we're going to address requesting an online degree since they are A) more convenient for you and your employer B) becoming more widely accepted C) we get a lot of e-mails questioning their validity.

Here are some things to know before you decide you're going to ask your job to pay for an online course:

KNOW YOUR EMPLOYER

Before approaching your boss, it is of paramount importance to understand the state of your company.  Are economic times lean?  Is a massive reorganization underway?  These could be hindrances or they could help you structure a solid case.  The key is to have an idea of what is happening internally at the organization and use it to strengthen your argument.

A great way for your organization to stay with the pack or excel in an industry is to staff an educated workforce.  If you can specifically spell out ways your degree will help the organization, you will have laid the groundwork of your case.  Be as specific as possible.

Also, is an advanced degree or certificate officially required or encouraged for the position you have your eye on?  While it is true that the greater your education, the greater the number of doors you create for yourself, some positions simply do not call for it.  Make sure the work and expense are necessary.  Look for trends in people's education who currently or have previously held the position(s) you are interested in.  Glean information by asking your co-workers or approaching the individual about their academic past in a friendly way.
 
KNOW YOURSELF

It sure sounds good when you drop the news at a family function that you're furthering your education, however, are you really up for the challenge of holding down a full-time job and studying your ass off?  Make sure you have the time, energy and desire to pursue a degree before you take on the lofty task.

You also need to be clear on what you want to study and why.  Cause let's be honest, improving your company's talent poll is a secondary goal at best.  Raising your stock as a potential job candidate, and as a person, is first.

Make sure you choose a subject that you have genuine interest in and can help you get ahead - or transition into something you want to do.

It's important to be honest with yourself on how long you plan to stay with the organization you are pitching.  Many employers will have you sign an agreement stating that you will stay employed with them for X number of years. Should you leave early, you will likely be responsible for a portion (or all) of the money the company spent on your education.

If you already have one foot out the door, the last thing you need is added pressure to stay in a bad marriage,  As with most career moves, you need to know yourself before you make a move.  

KNOW THE SCHOOL

While online degrees have certainly become more mainstream, they are certainly not on par with their brick and mortar counterparts.  

There's a good chance you'll have to "defend" the school to your employer, especially if it's one without a physical building.

This is the real world, and simply put, there are some people who will never be convinced that Walden University offers what the local state school does.  That's fine.

Your goal is to be as prepared as possible and make the strongest case you can.  How long has the school been in business?  How many students do they have?  Do they have any affiliation with nationally-recognized organizations?  These are the types of queries you should be able to answers to all question-askers.

KNOW YOUR BOSS'S CONCERNS

As I mentioned earlier, your primary purpose in continuing your education is self-improvement.  Any boss worth his or her salt will recognize this.  Your job is to disarm them as best as possible, assuring them that this will likely be the last stop on your career train.

Since I'm a tremendous fan of truth and honesty, I think it's OK to be upfront that this endeavor is about you AND the company (not necessarily in that order).  Anything else is ridiculously transparent.

There's another hurdle.  It's something that's on your boss's mind constantly: money.  You are going to have to justify that the money the organization spends on your classes will come back to them two-fold.  Get some projected numbers to back up your claims.

KNOW YOUR POSITION

You'll have a much better chance of getting your tuition approved if the education relates directly to your current job.  If it's not an exact match, you better be able to explain how it fits into your career track - and more importantly - the company's goals.

If you want to take classes that clearly fit within a department other than your own, you need to be able to explain why it's worth their time to cough up the cash.

KNOW YOUR FINANCES

Every company has a different policy when it comes to who will initially pay for your classes.  Years back, I made the case to take a specialized course.  The company agreed to pay.  The only catch was that I had to pay and they would reimburse me 6 - 8 weeks after the course was completed.  At the time I simply didn't have the expendable cash.  I also didn't want to put the expense on a credit card and be stuck with several months of interest.  Be sure you have an idea of what you're willing and capable of doing from a financial standpoint before you make your pitch.

There you have it, things to know before you decide to approach your employer to pay for an online course and/or degree.   Never be afraid to ask, the worst thing you'll hear is 'no.'  You'll be much angrier at yourself if you never tried.  Good luck!

Comments

[Melanie T]

Great advice, Andrew. I used to work for a mid-sized marketing organization. Despite there being no reference to any sort of education reimbursement in the company handbook, I approached the head of Human Resources on a whim. Sure enough, within two months I was enrolled and was only responsible for paying material fees out-of-pocket.

It never hurts to ask! Thanks for the post.

[Chris M]

Good post, especially with recruiters and talent managers becoming ever more mindful of a perceived talent shortage. Developing internal talent streams is an important topic.

That said, the questions listed in Know the School are only the beginning, and not the most crucial.

1. Is the school accredited? If so, by what organization? In the U.S. regional accreditation is king, nothing else matters. As mentioned above, accreditation/affiliation/approval by a national professional organization is also good, but apply on program-by-program.

2. What is the rigor of the program? What is the quality of the curriculum? If a school is not going to work you and push you, it is not worth your time and will not add any real value to you as an employee or job candidate. There is a very real difference between convenient and easy.

3. What student services are offered, who provides them, and how are they delivered? Prospective students should look for schools that are helpful and supportive beyond enrollment. A streamlined admissions process is great, but once you are in then what?

4. If online, what is the platform and delivery model? Here is where you want ease-of-use, plus access to tools that suit and support your learning style. Also know the difference between synchronous and asynchronous.

5. What kind of training do the faculty receive and what is the ratio of terminal degree faculty to total faculty? You want good instructors, well trained (especially in online teaching models and practices).

Continuing education is great and necessary. Mistakes can be very costly in time and money, so go in as well-informed as possible.

[Andrew G. Rosen]

Excellent additions Chris! Thanks so much for checking out Jobacle.

[Jada@PlanofStudy]

You'll have a better shot at getting reimbursed if the online degree you plan to pursue is offered by a traditional brick and mortar school. Let's face it. There are alot of skeptics out there, not only at your current job, but at your future job too. You don't want your resume to end up in the trash when you start applying to new positions. If you don't plan on applying for other jobs in the future,then I see no point to furthering your education unless it's to get a raise.

[Antony]

Excellent Opportunity to Study

Many people still think of online education as a way to take an extra class to supplement their brick – and – mortar education. However, online education, or distance learning, is becoming an increasingly popular way to complete an entire degree. More people are turning to distance learning to complete associates, bachelors and masters degrees……

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[anthony]

Online degrees offer the convenience of pursuing a degree from home or any other location where a student can access the Internet. Students can attend school full- or part-time while working to support their family, if necessary. A number of colleges and universities are now offering online degree programs with multiple fields of study available.
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[evision]

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