5 Ways to Get Your Boss to Pay for Your Masters

5 Ways to Get Your Boss to Pay for Your Master’s Thanks to online master’s programs, employees can now go back to school to enhance their skill sets without ever leaving the work force. The majority of employers are willing to cover the costs of a graduate degree for an employee, because it means improving their talent pool and possibly enabling a worker to move up in the organization, without incurring the often much higher costs of recruiting new workers who already have advanced degrees. So, let’s say you work in communications or a related field and want to get your boss to pay for your master’s. If you’re like many workers these days, that’s the only way you can afford to go back to school online. How do you go about getting an employer to foot the bill for your education? You’ll have to convince your boss that it’s worth it for your company to pay for your degree, and that you’ll stay with the company for at least a few years. Remember, you’ll need more than cash to realize your dreams of academic success, and transitioning back into school takes time, even when you’re enrolling in an online program. 1. Show a Clear Benefit to Your Company Many companies will cover tuition costs as a matter of policy, but even those that don’t are often willing to reimburse employees for grad school expenses if said employees can show that the company will benefit from their advanced education. Put together a convincing argument that will show your boss how your company will benefit when you earn a master’s degree. For example, Explain to your boss how the Master of Arts in Strategic Communication from American University can help you improve your company’s marketing campaigns by teaching you how to create compelling content, evaluate marketing campaigns, utilize influencers in the field, and manage any crisis that arises. James Marsh, a MonaVie employee who convinced his company to pay for an online master’s, told U.S. News World Report that he succeeded by “putting together a presentation about how this would add value.” Don’t forget to point out that employers can take a tax break of up to $5,250 a year for tuition reimbursement. 2. Have Confidence in the Value of the Degree Online degrees are really catching on, and most of the country’s most reputable institutions are offering them. But that doesn’t mean some employers aren’t still somewhat skeptical about the value of online degrees in general. Show confidence in the value of the degree you’re interested in. Don’t talk about the online program as if it’s a poor substitute for a traditional program. Point out that you’ll be taking classes with the same professors that teach traditional courses at your prospective school. 3. Commit to Stay With the Company for a While After Graduation Many companies are reluctant to pony up for an employee’s graduate education because they worry that they’ll be investing money in an employee who will then abandon the company for a better position elsewhere before the ink is dry on his or her new credential. Assuage these fears by committing to remain with the company for a period of time after graduation. Most companies will be happy with a five-year post-graduation commitment. 4. Remember, You Need More Than Cash to Earn a Master’s For many, employer reimbursement is the only thing that makes an advanced degree affordable. But tuition funds aren’t all you’ll need to finish your degree in a timely fashion. You’ll also need some scheduling flexibility and maybe even extra days off so you can focus on your schoolwork during academic crunch times. If your employer is reluctant to cover the entire cost of your master’s degree, you may still be able to bargain for flex-time scheduling that you can use to fit attending classes and studying into your schedule. 5. Transitioning Back Into School Takes Time If you’ve already been in the work force for a few years, you’ve probably forgotten how long it took to study for and take college entrance exams, submit applications, and line up financial aid. Expect the process of applying to graduate school and lining up funding to take at least a year, if not longer. Initiate lining up support from your employer first, then study for and take the GRE or GMAT, and apply to programs. Finalize your tuition reimbursement and other employer support while you’re waiting to hear back from schools. A graduate degree can be great for your career, and online programs allow you to earn the credential without leaving the workforce. But what if you can’t cover tuition costs for an online degree? Don’t worry â€" there’s a good chance you can convince your company to pick up the tab. Images: Getting a Masters.