Advancing your skills can transform your career, but we know funding the investment can be a barrier. Here’s the good news: 92% of employers help with continuing education expenses. Here are three tips on how to ask your employer to fund your tuition expenses.
More and more employers are adding tuition reimbursement to their employee benefit packages. Have you checked your employee manual? Or a quick note to HR might do the trick. A continuing education benefit is one way employers are working to retain employees and combat "the great resignation."
Gallup’s research indicates that it costs one-half to two times an employee’s salary to replace them. So, if your employer doesn't offer tuition reimbursement, don’t give up. You can make a strong case for reimbursement, we’ll show you how.
Prepare a clearly outlined, and professional presentation. Center your messaging around how tuition reimbursement will save or make the business money.
Here’s some employer-centered ideas for your presentation:
Include in your presentation your willingness to commit to your proposed plan. Consider offering one or more of the following:
Start with this email template. Just copy and edit to fit.
Hey [MANAGER],
I would like to continue my professional growth by enrolling in this Project Management course offered by University of Missouri–St. Louis. It’s a ten-week hybrid course with online self-paced content and weekly live sessions. The instructors are industry experts currently working in the project management field.
Here are a few course highlights:
I anticipate quickly gaining skills that I can apply before the course is even over. Plus, I can share what I’ve learned with our team so that everyone benefits.
Would [COMPANY] invest in my professional development and cover the cost of this course? Not only will this course benefit my growth, but I believe it will benefit [COMPANY] by:
What do you think? I’d be glad to meet with you to discuss this further.
Best,
[NAME]
A company that invests in your personal growth earns your return value and loyalty. It’s a win-win proposition. And remember, if you don’t ask, it’s not likely they’ll offer. The worst thing that can happen is they say no. Take the initiative—they’ll appreciate it in the long run!
