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Tips to get reimbursed for our online courses

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.

Step 1

See if your employer offers tuition reimbursement

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.

Step 2

Prepare your pitch

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:

  • Show how your new skills will benefit a specific major project or client.
  • Show how this training will enable you to take on new, needed projects.
  • Detail how this knowledge will improve your job performance.
  • Calculate and present the return on investment for your training if real numbers are available.

Include in your presentation your willingness to commit to your proposed plan. Consider offering one or more of the following:

  • A plan that addresses job productivity vs. the time required for this course.
  • Periodic updates on your progress and grades.
  • An agreement that you will remain with the company for X amount of time after course completion.

Reimbursement email template

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 business analytics course offered by Oklahoma State University Center for the Future of Work. 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 business analytics field.

Here are a few course highlights:

  • Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification Exam prep is built into the course along with one year’s access to Tableau eLearning
  • Coursework is hands-on, mentored, and applicable to our current goals
  • Project work with like-minded peers and industry-insider instructors which I can leverage for our team
  • Tuition is:  $2,450 (Save 10%)

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:

  • Gaining a deeper understanding of our data
  • Increasing my ability to communicate data insights
  • Increasing my ability to pinpoint needed actions for the strength of our company.

What do you think? I’d be glad to meet with you to discuss this further.

Best,
[NAME]

Step 3

Be confident

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!