Does anyone work for a college partly for tuition benefits?

[Cruise]

My father was a professor at a small, private, liberal arts college before he retired. All of his dependants could attend there, or one of their "sister schools" for free. My older sister went exclusively there and I went away one semester to a sister school (had to pay room and board, but not tuition), and then came back to Dad's school. We both got our BA's and only ever had to pay for books.

I think it's very true about it varying from school to school. You'll probably have better luck with this kind of benefit at a private school than a state school, but they're all worth checking into!

 

[cats mom]

I think that's one of those plans that sometimes works out... sometimes not.

My cousin used to always say that part of the reason he stayed in academia, rather than pursuing a different career path, was because he struggled for so long to pay off all his student loans and he didn't want his kids to have that burden.

Dependants could attend his university tuition free, and of course it was within easy commute distance, so no room and board fees either. He had it all worked out.

Except both of his kids chose to go elsewhere... saying they wanted the whole university experience.
They didn't want to live at home and they certainly didn't want to go to school at "Daddy U"


I think they both ended up with some scholarship money, but certainly not free ride.
Cous was not happy.

 

[lovepurple]

I worked for Notre Dame for several years, and then my husband's job moved us away. I think I would have been better off staying so as not to pay tuition for my four children.

 

[Pigeon]

I work at a state university, and we get very limited benefits for our kids, which amount to about $1200/year.

This benefit is rapidly disappearing in private schools, so if you have a college in commuting distance that still offers it, it's well worth looking into.

 

[NotUrsula]

I know many people who do, and who are putting off retirement long-term in order to get their kids through school first.

I know one mom in particular that has 8 children, but she's never been a SAHM because the tuition benefit is too good; she's an accountant in the Bursar's office at a local Jesuit university that has an excellent dependent tuition benefit.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

I work at a private university that offers free tuition to children of full-time employees (after 2 years of employment). I know a number of administrators who began working there when their oldest child was in high school and have sent several through for free. I only know of 1 or 2 faculty that have sent their children there, as it isn't a very academically-strong place (but I hear it is getting more competitive). We have no plans to send our children there, but it is a nice place to work.

 

[Green Tea]

Just under 600 colleges and universities nationwide participant in tuition exchange https://www.tuitionexchange.org/index.cfm? Being at a participating school doesn't guarantee your child will be accepted into the school of his choice as an exchange student, but for those that get accepted, it is a great deal.

 

[dsanner106]

I Used to work for Emory Univ. and I and my spouse could take a couple classes free each term, but my kids would be Free for a full load of classes. This was a wonderful benefit considering the cost. I had a woman working for me as a custodian, and in talking found that she had immigrated from the former soviet union and although she was a PHD chemist, took this job so her sons could attend Emory for free.

D

 

[ekmom]

DH works for a state univeristy. He can takes up to 5 classes free each year. The kids and I can take classes at a 50% discount. However, we've never used this benefit.

We both got our undergrad degrees there before he worked there, but our kids go elsewhere. My family couldn't afford for me to go away to school but DH and I wanted our kids to be able to do that if they wanted to. Luckily DD has a full scholarship so we only pay room and board. We expect to be able to fully pay for DS. Our goal is for them to graduate with neither them or us taking on any debt and I think we'll get there!

 

[meandtheguys2]

Wow, at both my private Liberal Arts school, and DH's state U we can receive free education for all of us. I though it was like that everywhere.

The deal we have with our kids is that they get to keep their college funds for a home if they choose free education.

 

[may06orbust]

Definitely. I work part-time (30 hours per week) at a local state university. DD20, who now is living at home after transferring home from another state university, recieves roughly 1/2 tuition free (16 tuition credits per year). It depends on the union you are in at my workplace, some people recieve 24 tuition credits per year--faculty & management usually. I had to be working at my job for 3 years before either myself or dependents were eligible. Luckily we became eligible during my DD's senior year in HS. We can use our tuition credits at any of the state universities in MN, so DD initially was about 3 hours away. I've heard that some of the private universities in our area offer free tuition to all dependents of the employee regardless whether they choose to attend that university or another. I wish we had that sweet deal, but we are happy to get what we have.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

The deal we have with our kids is that they get to keep their college funds for a home if they choose free education.

What a great idea! My DD is determined to go to school on the east coast somewhere...not sure why, but we've already told her we would pay whatever the cost would have been for in-state tuition at the local U, anything above that is her nickel !

 

[NMW]

My cousin works for the university of Pennsylvania and she can send her son there for free-as long as he gets accepted.

 

[SleepyatDVC]

DH USE to work at an Ivy League university. Great benefits, mega vacations days, and the tuition benefits for our kids if they got in. I think he mentioned they have a reciporical relationship with the other Ivy's also.

Well, he QUIT that job after over 5 years there when I was pregnant with our first child. He hated the job. Bored out of his mind most days. He was a supervisor and was good at delegation. And was annoyed at dealing with arrogant students and their even worse parents who had major "entitlement" attitudes.

The very THOUGHT of having to hang onto that job for another 18-24 years just to put our girls through a free Ivy League education (assuming they get in), was almost enough to send him to the loony bin!!

He left for a job in a totally different field with NO benefits, less vacation, and almost the same pay. He wasn't crazy about the company but enjoyed the work.

He's NOW at a different company working at a challenging job. He enjoys the challenge, the benefits are waaaaay better now, he gets along with his co-workers, and his boss appreciates him and his work. He's MUCH happier now. A happy DH, means a happier family!!

 

[carone0318]

This is how I finished college. I went to school when my parents could afford to send me. In the beginning of my jr. yr I took a leave of absence (cost was the main factor.) I worked wherever for 2 yrs and said I have to go back to school. So I went to Rider University (where I was currently registered prior to the leave) and ended up getting a job as a secretary. I worked there for 2.5 yrs full-time and went to school part-time for free. I think I could take up to 7 credits a semester. If I had stayed, my children would of had free tuition, but who gets a college degree and then works as a secretary (I was 26 when I graduated, so it wasn't like a job after I retired from something else.)

I remember my last semester of school, I worked full-time. I took 3 classes. One of Monday night, one on Tuesday night and one class on my lunch hr Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I was also 5 months pregnant at the end of the semester when I graduated. I don't know how I did it because if I thought about it I would cry. I will admit that dh did write 1 paper for me - but only one. I did bake cookies and other baked goods to butter up the teachers though.