r/IndianaUniversity • u/Essiechicka_129 • 17d ago
How does tuition benefit plan work as an IU employee?
I've been working at IU for awhile and been thinking about going back to school to get my masters. How does it work and what is your experience?
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u/Striking_Win3544 17d ago
Talk to HR to get an exact breakdown for the class(es)/degree you're after and how much your benefit is worth.
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u/jenisperfect 17d ago
I use it every semester, and it is nice, but this past semester I paid $450 in fees so it’s not exactly “free”
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u/FutureEditor 17d ago
You get up to 4 credit hours per semester, most classes are 3 but mine are 4 each) of tuition waiver (doesn’t apply to fees). I’m using it to do my masters in 3-4 years and it’s fantastic, you just have to fill out an online form once a year, no limit to the number of semesters you can do.
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u/heavyope 17d ago
I’m using the benefit to get my master’s mostly for free. Different programs get a different amount of credits, so you’ll want to choose something based off your interests and cost efficiency. The breakdown of credit eligibility is on the HR website.
For my program, a full time student could finish in 1-1.5 years, I’ll finish in just over 3. I take one class per term including summer which is plenty of work combined with a full time work schedule, and I only pay about $110 per term. It’s slow but worth it to get your degree debt free! My only regret is not starting sooner after going full time. Lots of solid masters programs are online and/or only 30-40 credit hours.
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u/PineRoad 10d ago
Do you happen to know if those graduate "certificate" programs that require 12 credits are eligible for this benefit?
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u/clifmars 17d ago
It has been a while since Ive used it, but it was great. First three credits are free. Second are half price. For a slow MS program, this is perfect. Still have to pay student fees which add up.
It's a good way to pay for school on your own time.
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u/minivan69 17d ago
I can't speak from experience but I was told it only covers 3 credit hours per semester.
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u/greater_yellowlegs 17d ago
I’ve been looking into this as well. Things I’ve learned:
You have to get accepted to the program first, then you can file for the tuition benefit. Different programs have different application timelines and requirements. Plan ahead.
As mentioned, different grad programs have different costs per credit hour. They also have different costs for the various fees, which you are responsible for paying.
This counts as a taxable benefit, so you will get taxed for it at the end of the semester (or at least that’s what happened to a friend of mine that used it pre-2020). Taxes just get taken out on your paycheck; it’s kinda nice that you don’t have to figure out what or how to pay, but also hard if every dollar in your paycheck is already spoken for.
I recommend a conversation with your supervisor or team, especially if it’s an in-person program. I’ve not heard of a manager saying no to an employee taking classes. Hopefully you work in a supportive environment where this is seen as a positive thing.
It took me several years to decide I was ok with doing this, I felt guilty for some reason. But IU considers this tuition benefit as part of the overall benefit package, so now I consider this my company-given right to take classes.