Tuition Assistance Programs for Nursing Students
Employer Tuition Assistance Programs for nursing students can fall into two categories: tuition reimbursement and tuition remission. If you are already working in the profession, an employer tuition assistance program can help you to achieve the necessary qualifications to improve both your position in the company and your salary.
Tuition Reimbursement for Nurses
This option is often taken when you or your employer decides that it would be beneficial for you to increase your nursing qualifications. For example, you may already have a CNA and use tuition reimbursement to study to become a Licensed Practical Nurse or earn a degree to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Part-time workers are generally not excluded from these type of programs, but it is often the case that there will be a lower reimbursement threshold if you are not a full-time employee as you are deemed to have a greater opportunity to study outside of your employment.
For tuition reimbursement, it is common procedure for you to pay for your own tuition costs (including course materials) initially and then be reimbursed by your employee at a later date - often once you have officially completed the course with a certain pass. To prove your grades, employers tend to ask you to submit a grade report at the end of the semester.
While the pass mark is predominantly dictated by your employer, you are typically expected to achieve a pass of "C" or better in academic standards or to achieve a pass in the pass or fail grading system. If your tuition has been funded by a scholarship (as opposed to you paying for it yourself), you may not be reimbursed for tuition costs but you would be for course materials such as textbooks.
Depending on the employer, you may be reimbursed for all of your tuition. In other cases, this may be restricted to half or three-quarters of your total tuition costs. For doctorate degrees, a reimbursement for three-quarters of your tuition costs is fairly standard but may vary from employer to employer. Most employers will have a maximum amount that they will not exceed. If the cost of your tuition goes beyond this, you will probably be expected to fund the rest of it yourself. In some cases, you will only be funded for a set number of classes per year. Some employers will allow you to choose the nursing school at which you will receive your tuition, while others will specify that you need to attend a specific nursing school to be eligible for tuition reimbursement.
Tuition reimbursement plans vary, with some only providing benefits for job-related courses while others provide benefits regardless of course of study. Some plans restrict benefits to degree related course work while others cover non-degree programs such as professional certificate programs. Some plans reimburse tuition expenses alone but others may cover tuition, books, and fees.
Check with your company`s human resources department to learn details of your company`s program, and be sure to fill out an application for tuition reimbursement before applying for other forms of financial aid.
General Tuition Reimbursement Procedures
- Determine available benefits and eligibility requirements for your company`s plan.
- Apply for admission at the school you plan to attend
- Get accepted for admission at the school you applied to
- Complete an application to participate in your company`s Tuition Reimbursement Plan
- Get any necessary approval signatures on the application if needed
- Submit completed form to the proper department (usually human resources)
- Apply for all other forms of financial aid and scholarships you may be eligible for
- Register for the classes you plan to take
- Upon completion of your courses for that period submit a receipt of tuition and fees paid and an official grade report from the institution to the person who manages the employee tuition reimbursement plan at your company.
- Get paid.
Tuition Remission for Registered Nurses
Whereas tuition reimbursement usually requires you to pay for your own tuition costs and be temporarily out of pocket before your employer reimburses you, tuition remission means that your employer will pay for your tuition costs on an up front basis if you qualify for the program.
Full-time employees may be eligible for up to 50 per cent remission on tuition costs., and in some cases, this will rise to 100 per cent. Most tuition reimbursement programs require you to have worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a full-time capacity for at least six months prior to taking part in the program. Temporary workers are generally excluded from these type of programs as they are not considered to be full-time employees.
Tax Information
If you receive educational assistance benefits from your employer under an educational assistance program, you can exclude up to $5,250 of those benefits each year. This means your employer should not include those benefits with your wages, tips, and other compensation shown in box 1 of your Form W-2. This also means that you do not have to include the benefits on your income tax return. However, if your employer pays more than $5,250 for educational benefits for you during the year, you will generally have to pay income tax on the amount over $5,250.
There are many ways to make nursing school affordable and tuition reimbursement plans should be the very foundation of your financial aid plan. Thousands of working adults are making use of employer paid tuition reimbursement plans in order to advance their education and career goals through campus based courses, online nursing degree programs, and professional certificate programs. You can too!
Learn More About Nursing Degree Programs
Achieve the education you need to turn your nursing career goals into reality by requesting program information from nursing schools that offer accredited nursing degree programs that match your needs:
Explore Online Nursing Programs,
Explore Nursing Schools By State
The College Network
Online
Start your nursing career with The College Network. Earn your NLNAC/CCNE Accredited nursing degree online from one of our partner universities: Regis University, Indiana State University, Angelo State University and more at 1/2 the cost and time of traditional universities with no campus attendance, no wait list and local clinicals.
Programs:- LPN/LVN to RN - BS in Nursing - Indiana St. - (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)
- Paramedic to RN
- LPN/LVN to RN - AS in Nursing (Licensed LPN/LVNs only)
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- M.S. in Nursing
- Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
- BS in Nursing (RN Required)
- St. Louis
- Clinton Township
- Online
- Fresno
- Jacksonville
- Killeen
- St Louis Park
- Ontario
- Westminster
- Costa Mesa
- Phoenix
- Sacramento
- Las Vegas
- Henderson
- Fairfax
- Livermore
- East Lansing
- Plantation
- San Diego
- Tucson
- Salida
- Nashville
- Daytona Beach
- San Antonio
- Chandler
- Elk Grove
- Aurora
- Lathrop
- Reston
- Dallas
- Oakland
- Tampa
- Lancaster
- Houston
- Miami
- Irving
- Maitland
- Livonia
- Rancho Cordova
- Spring
- Beachwood
- San Jose
- Arlington
- Sarasota
- Gardena
- Diamond Bar
- San Francisco
- Fort Lauderdale
- Los Angeles
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Woodland Hills
- Temple Terrace
- Hollywood
- Saint Paul
- Lone Tree
- Bakersfield
- Hurst
- Westlake
- Mesa
- Fairfield
- Roseville
- Murrieta
- Independence
- Manassas
- Flint
- Troy
- Littleton
- Saint Louis
- Baton Rouge
- Clearwater
- Sugar Land
- Pasadena
- Southfield
- Orlando
- Grand Rapids
- Ann Arbor
- Palm Desert
- Portage
Keiser University
Campus
Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
Programs:- Nursing, MS
- Medical Assisting, AS
- Fort Lauderdale
Kaplan College - KHE
Campus
Don't wait another day to take the next step forward in your career. Kaplan College can give you the real-world knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field.
Programs:- Associate of Science: Nursing
- Diploma: Practical Nursing
- Diploma: Patient Care Assistant/Technician
- Las Vegas
- Indianapolis
- San Antonio
- Corpus Christi
- Arlington
- Clovis
- Beaumont
- Mcallen
- Stockton
- Phoenix
- Midland
- Lubbock
- Dayton
- Charlotte
- Laredo
- Fort Worth
- Bakersfield
- Columbus
Dover Business College
Campus
Launch a business, healthcare, or technology career with Dover Business College. Train with the most current technology programs at one of our two (Dover and Paramus, New Jersey) campuses.
Programs:- LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)
- Patient Care Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Clifton
- Dover
CollegeAmerica
Campus
Finally, a college that delivers. CollegeAmerica is truly unique in that their curriculum is designed for one purpose and one purpose only: to prepare students for success.
Programs:- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online)
- Associate Degree in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online)
- Colorado Springs
- Fort Collins
- Flagstaff
- Denver
- Phoenix
- Cheyenne
Medtech
Campus
Start your career with an education from Medtech. We offer programs in biotechnology, health care management, medical assisting, medical billing and coding, medical lab technology, and nursing, plus several short-term career courses.
Programs:- School of Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
Carrington College California
Campus
Carrington College California offers the programs you need to begin a career in healthcare. Choose from Healthcare, Massage Therapy, Dental Assisting, Pharmacy Technology, or Veterinary Services.
Programs:- AS in Vocational Nursing
- Certificate in Vocational Nursing
- AS in Medical Assisting
- Antioch
- Stockton
- Pleasant Hill
- Emeryville
- San Leandro
- San Jose
- Sacramento
- Citrus Heights
- Pomona
Charter College
Campus
Prepare for a better career and a brighter future with help from Charter College. Our accelerated Bachelors Degree, Associates Degree, and Certificate programs are designed to help you complete your education as quickly as possible. We offer year-round classes and flexible scheduling - study anytime from anywhere. Our small class sizes and dedicated instructors ensure a personalized education experience. We provide students not only with the technical skills necessary for success, but also job search and placement assistance so you can find the job that's right for you after graduation.
Programs:- Vocational Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Canyon Country
- Wasilla
- Vancouver
- Oxnard
- Bellingham
- Anchorage
- Lancaster
Colorado Christian University
Campus
With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.
Programs:- Nursing: B.S. Nursing (BSN)
- RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Grand Junction
- Englewood
- Denver
- Colorado Springs
- Sterling
Sanford-Brown Institute
Campus
Get everything you need for the medical career you want. Sanford-Brown Institute's advanced programs allow you to complete your certificate or degree program in as little as 9 months. Learn more today.
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Assistant Specialist
- Melville
- Austin
- Monroeville
- Orlando
Keiser University Campus
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Nursing, BS (Online Only)
- Nursing, AS
- Nursing, MS (Online Only)
- Fort Myers
- Tallahassee
- Port Saint Lucie
- Sarasota
- Lakeland
- Fort Lauderdale
- Jacksonville
- Tampa
- Orlando
- Melbourne
- West Palm Beach
- Daytona Beach
- Hollywood
Harrison College
Campus
Get started on your career with an education from Harrison College. We offer more than 30 degree, certificate, and diploma programs in the fields of health sciences, veterinary technology, information technology, criminal justice, and business, in addition to our culinary arts academy.
Programs:- Nursing - Associate of Science
- Medical Assistant
- Fort Wayne
- Indianapolis
- Evansville
- Columbus
- Anderson
- Lafayette
- Terre Haute
- Elkhart
- Grove City
- Muncie
Stevens-Henager
Campus
For more than 119 years, Stevens-Henager College has worked to train generations of graduates for new careers. Stevens-Henager College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Our degree programs, designed to help graduates compete in the ever-evolving employment market, include Medical Specialties, Respiratory Therapy, Healthcare Administration, Surgical Technology, Business Management and Accounting, Computer Technology and Networking, Computer Programming, Computer Science, and Graphic Arts*. Online programs are offered via Stevens-Henager College, Salt Lake City/Murray. Stevens-Henager College Idaho Falls is a branch campus of the CollegeAmerica, Flagstaff, AZ, main campus.
*Check each campus for program availability.
- Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing
- Associate Degree in Nursing Education
- Master of Science in Nursing Administration
- Layton
- Ogden
- Boise
- Idaho Falls
- Orem
- Logan
- Lehi
- Saint George
- Nampa
- Murray
Lincoln Technical Institute
Campus
Lincoln Technical Institute provides career-focused, hands-on training programs with industry experienced instructors. Get the skills for a rewarding in-demand career.
For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo
Programs:- Nursing
- Medical Assistant
- Paramus
- Hamden
- Mount Laurel
- Casselberry
- Shelton
- Edison
- Brockton
- Philadelphia
- Lincoln
- Lowell
- Somerville
- Allentown
- Saint Petersburg
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