Opinions on Using Employer TA

[rebel100]

This may seem odd to some but I am weighing my options as I gear up to start graduate school.

I have two options for payment which include fed student loans and tuition assistance.
My employer will pay up to $2000 per class that I take as a grad student.
The only drawback (if you consider it that) is I will be required to sign a promise to remain employed with the company for two years beginning the day I graduate.
The online MBA program at University of Mount Olive is only 1 year so I would be done Summer 2017 (based on starting this summer).
That means I have to stay with the company until 2019 at least.

I am on the fence about it due to the lack of advancement opportunities within the company. I enjoy my job and the pay is good. The only thing I see my degrees being good for at this company is for pay increases. I am not complaining about that, I just want to be able to pursue other interests if I want...I guess 2 years is not so bad, right?
Please share your thought/opinions.

Thanks everyone!

I'm not a fan of loans, see it as a form of slavery that will crowd into every decision you make until you have it paid off. Is the tuition assistance pro rated? Some companies will reduce the amount as you work, 1 year would decrease the payback by half...just worth knowing.

If you take the TA and leave early could you take out a loan to pay it off at that point? if you stay, great your covered. If you leave, you have an option to pay back your employer.

At my company they can hold any pay due and accrued leave to count against any paid out tuition reimbursement. Collecting any additional funds however is problematic...or HR department routinely has to make up payment plans for folks who have left early after receiving a TA payout...a little underhanded, but life happens.

Why Mount Olive? I've never heard of it, but at the $2000/class rate you have some great options. Harvard Extension wouldn't be too much more than that and every employer on the planet is familiar with that brand.

I would take the tuition assistance, worst case scenario is you opt to leave early and can deal with it then. Student loans are likely to follow you for a lot more than two years...