Tuition Reimbursement

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Can some of you explain tuition reimbursement to me? Does it pay for school that you have already had-- like if you are hired as a new RN, will they help to pay your loans from nursing school?

Or is it only for classes you are taking currently, like if you are an ADN RN, who is currently taking classes towards a BSN?

What I'm looking for is how to get a future employer to help me pay for nursing school that I took in the past. Also, if I were to find an employer who would do this, would it have to be to pay off a loan that I had taken out, or could it just be to pay back the cost of nursing school that was paid for outright with cash? Any advice on how to get some funds back after you have already paid for nursing school would be appreciated!!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Very, very few (if any) employers will reimburse for education completed prior to employment. Mine not only requires the education to take place while employed, but also stipulates a minimum amount of hours that must be worked to be eligible for reimbursement (2000), the number of hours that must be worked while a student (20hrs/week), and the length of time required to be worked following the last check (1 year). An employer isn't going to benefit from paying for education that took place prior to hiring you, especially if that education was necessary to make you eligible for the position. Many facilities, with the economy and current oversupply of nurses in many areas, are even doing away with all tuition reimbursement.

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You are not going to find a way to get money back. Education is not free. You pay for it.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

No where I know will pay for what you have already taken. You get reimbursement usually after you have worked somewhere for a certain amount of time, then they will reimburse your classes you are taking then. Some places are full reimbursement, others aren't. Some will only pay X amount per year. And most of the the you have to stay at that hospital for X amount of time or you have to pay back everything they paid. Same for if you drop out and don't finish, you have to pay it back.

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What about loan forgiveness programs? Has anyone had experience with that?

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Same deal. The people who issue the loan are the ones who would "forgive" it. If you're looking for somebody to hire you and then pay off your existing loans, well, I think you could probably make more selling that nice bridge over the East River.

Or not. Welcome to adulthood, where the obligations you take on, you get to honor.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

My first employer did that for a two-year commitment, but I graduated during the nursing shortage. Those days are no more.

My current employer has a tuition reimbursement benefit for classes applicable to our position. We become eligible after 6 months' employment and there's a limit I think of $3K per year. How it works is the class has to start after we become eligible; so say Feb 1 was my 6 month anniversary, a class starting this month would be on me. Once the class is finished, you submit an application for tuition reimbursement and proof of a passing grade. I haven't done it yet, but I think they pay us directly...you have to pay tuition upfront, and they pay for classes AFTER they're passed.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

My employer has a tuition reimbursement program but it is only for classes attended while working and one must have worked at the hospital for at least a year with full-time employees qualifying for more than part-time (nothing for PRN folks). I have heard something about a federal loan forgiveness program but I believe it's an extended application process and to qualify you need to work in an at-need facility.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

I'm fairly certain there are threads somewhere here on allnurses about people getting more information, going through the application process and awaiting word on awards received.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

IIRC, There is a Federal Loan forgiveness program for those in under served areas, but you'll have to do the legwork to check it out.

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Specializes in ICU.

This might happen if there was a severe nursing shortage, but there isn't, so I wouldn't expect it. I graduated in 1989. Hospital A gave me a scholarship to attend college if I would work for them for 2 years. Hospital B needed to hire more registered nurses, so they paid off Hospital A, therefore ending my 2 year contract with Hospital A. Remember, that was way back in 1989, and there was a shortage of RN's in that area, at that time. Most hospitals that I have worked for would only reimburse tuition for one class at a time, like 5 credits per quarter, or a 3 credit semester class. It would take forever to graduate at that rate. The hospital I am currently employed with will cover tuition if you contract to work for them for X amount of time, and only if they approve you, and only for LPN to RN classes, and only if you pass.

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Specializes in ICU.

Regarding the loan forgiveness program: I have researched this for two RN friends of mine; they each are paying back loans, and they both work in a rural setting. I have not been able to find much info on this, and apparently it is great if you are a nurse practitioner in a rural setting. Personally, unless you are disabled and unable to work, I think everyone should pay back their own loans, or go to a school that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Anyway, this makes me wonder just where the loan forgiveness funds are sitting, and who is responsible for deciding who gets it.

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Specializes in Med Surg.
What I'm looking for is how to get a future employer to help me pay for nursing school that I took in the past.

Lemme know if you find one!

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