November 2016
STRETCHING YOUR TUITION ASSISTANCE DOLLARS TO
MINIMIZE OUT OF POCKET COSTS
When you’re looking at going to school, there are some obvious questions. But there are many questions you
may not think to ask. In this edition of The Educator, we bring you a checklist of questions to consider as you
explore going to school:
Is an institution regionally accredited? Why is that important?
Accreditation is an important factor in your college search for many reasons. For one, many employers will
only provide tuition reimbursement for courses taken at regionally accredited universities. Regional
accreditation is more widely recognized than national accreditation and demonstrates that your university
meets the highest quality of standards. You can check your university’s accreditation on their website or
use the Council for Higher Education Accreditation website and database to search for accredited
institutions and programs.
Additional Resources: Department of Education Accreditation Database
Are courses offered online, on-campus or both?
Thanks to technology, it’s possible for you to earn a college degree while
you work full-time or take care of your family, and more people are opting
in to online colleges than ever before. In fact, online degree programs have
outpaced traditional degree programs in terms of growth in the last
decade, and, according to an online education survey by Babson Survey
Research Group, 70% of academic leaders say that online learning is now a
fundamental part of their postsecondary institution’s long-term growth
strategy. In other words, online programs from accredited online colleges now offer the academic quality
and the flexibility professionals need.
Ask yourself these five questions to begin the search for the best online colleges for you:
 What do you want to do with your degree?
 What degree level do you want to earn?
 What majors will help you achieve your career goals?
 How much flexibility do you need?
 How much can you afford to spend on an online degree program?
“The Best Online Colleges of 2016”, BestColleges.com Article, 2016
You also need to determine if you can thrive in an online environment. Many colleges and universities
provide demos of their online learning platform so you can see firsthand how information is provided.
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What can I expect the cost to be?
The cost will vary depending on a few factors. Is the school a public institution or a private institution
and is it a 2-year or 4 year college? These factors can play a part in the cost of tuition with the range for
one year of tuition being anywhere from $2,500-$45,000. Here are a few examples of average annual
tuition and fees*:
 Public institution (2 year)- $3,440
 Public institution (4 year)- $9,410 (in-state), $23,890 (out-of-state)
 Private institution (4 year)- $32,410
The cost of an online college degree and program can vary wildly as well. Online degrees aren’t
necessarily cheaper than traditional on-campus degree programs, but choosing an online degree
program can save you money in commuting costs and materials, and most importantly, give you the
flexibility to work while you earn your degree more easily than if you were to take classes in-person.
Many students enroll at public colleges in their own state to qualify for lower in-state tuition rates.
However, several public colleges now offer in-state tuition rates to all online students, even if you don’t
live in the same state as the school. This can mean savings of thousands of dollars a year, which means
you pay less out-of-pocket and take out fewer loans.
* College Board
What is competency based learning and what are the advantages of this
learning model?
Competency-based learning refers to systems of instruction, assessment, grading, and academic
reporting that are based on students demonstrating that they have learned the knowledge and skills they
are expected to learn as they progress through their education. The general goal of competency-based
learning is to ensure that students are acquiring the knowledge and skills that are deemed to be essential
to success in school, their career, and adult life. If students fail to meet expected learning standards, they
typically receive additional instruction, practice time, and academic support to help them achieve
competency or meet the expected standards.
“The Glossary of Education Reform”, Great Schools Partnership, May, 2014

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A number of EdAssist’s Education Network Schools offer competency based learning including
Brandman University, Capella University, Excelsior College, Kaplan University, Peirce College
and WGU
How can I stretch my tuition assistance dollars or
lessen the financial burden?
1. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)* – Many schools accept
prior learning and proven experience as college credit through a
prior learning assessment (PLA), which evaluates skills and
knowledge gained in the workplace. This is a great way for
working professionals to save on the time and cost to complete
their degree.
 LearningCounts offers support in creating a prior learning
portfolio that can be submitted to colleges and evaluated
for credit.
 Many EdAssist Education Network schools accept prior
learning for credit. For example, Excelsior College will
accept up to 114 credits. Check out a list of EdAssist
Education Network schools offering PLA here.
2. Credit by Exam (CBE)* – There is also the opportunity to
use your knowledge gained through independent study and prior
experiences to earn college-level credit in select subject areas by
passing an exam that costs around $80 to $100. You can use
these courses as a first step towards a degree program or you
can fill in the gaps of your degree path to accelerate your
completion. Check out some options below:

StraighterLine offers low-cost, self-paced courses as well as
a $50 discount through the EdAssist Education Network.
StraighterLine has partnerships with more than 100
colleges that guarantee transfer credit.

Sophia helps you get to and through college degree
programs with affordable, self-paced, online college
courses. And Sophia offers EdAssist client employees an
$80 discount making each course only $249.
 CLEP and DSST – CLEP is a well-known credit by exam
program, offering 33 exams, and is available at more than
2,900 colleges and universities. DSST is another credit by
exam provider offering 30 tests. Both exam options are
offered at conveniently located testing centers across the
U.S., and each exam only costs $80.
3. Take advantage of Deferred Billing Options - Deferred
billing allows you to delay your tuition payment* for a given
amount of time after your course is completed (typically 30-45
days). This lets you submit the required information/documents
to get reimbursed from your employer’s tuition assistance
program so you can then pay your tuition with your tuition
assistance funds.
Click Here for a list of schools that offer deferred billing
* It may be necessary to complete a deferment/payment plan form and there
may be a small fee to take advantage of deferred billing. Details vary based
on the school.
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RECENT & UPCOMING
WEBINARS
Visit your EdAssist Academic Resources landing
page to catch up with our latest Hot Topics in
Higher Education webinars. We share expert advice
from our advisors and university partners on
topics important to adult learners.
Financing your Education – Navigating
Past, Present & Future Expenses
Hosted by EdAssist and College Coach
Do you seem to come up short each term when
using your school’s payment plan? Is the school
demanding payment before your employer provider
tuition assistance pays you? What’s the cost of
floating tuition expenses on a credit card or better
yet taking out a student loan? What should you do
with existing student loans while pursing your new
degree? This workshop is a general overview to
explore options and offer guidance when financing
the balance of your degree.
Access Recording Here
Planning for the New Year- How to
maximize your tuition assistance
dollars through alternative credits
Tuesday, November 15, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Many adult learners struggle to find the time and
money needed to obtain a degree. There are many
options available including lower cost, self-paced,
individual courses- what we like to refer to as
“alternative credits” since they’re not necessarily
completed with a college or university.
What are alternative credits and might they work
for you? This webinar will provide an overview of
alternative credit options including providers, cost,
modality and the option to transfer credits.
Additionally we will discuss various scenarios when
alternative credits may make sense.
Register Here
DID YOU KNOW?
4. Flat Rate Fee Programs – Some schools also offer flat-rate fee
models; you pay a flat rate for a set amount of time (quarter,
semester, etc.) and are able to complete as many courses as
possible, including:
Western Governors University
Capella University’s FlexPath
5. Accelerated Degree Programs - In these programs, classes
are condensed and shorter. If you have some experience and/or
prior credits and you are a motivated student, you may complete
the program faster. At Rasmussen College a transfer specialist
will help analyze your transcripts so you can maximize any credits
you have already earned. You may be eligible to transfer up to
67% of credits required to earn your degree. Charter Oak was
designed for the adult student, and they work to provide as much
credit for prior learning as possible. Kaplan University offers
LRC 100, a no-cost, self-paced, noncredit course. Students submit
a portfolio and earn an average of 35 quarter credit hours, a
savings of 3.5 terms and nearly $13,000 on their undergraduate
degrees.
How much time should I expect to dedicate to
studying each week?
The exact amount will vary by individual but many undergrad and
graduate courses are often structured as eight week sessions,
rather than 14-week semesters. For each hour you are in class
you can generally expect to spend a minimum of two to four
hours studying outside of class.
EdAssist has a network of over 200
colleges and universities offering a
breadth of programs and benefits to
support you in your education
pathway. You can access the full list
from your EdAssist Academic
Resources landing page.
New School Partners:
Bellevue University
10% tuition discount, waived
application fee
Olivet Nazarene University
20% discount on Bachelors and
Master level programs, 10%
discount on EdD programs,
waived application and
graduation fees
Case Western Reserve
University
Weatherhead School of
Management
Scholarships for on-campus MSMHealthcare, Part-time MBA and
Executive MBA programs
Blog Resources:
What do Adult Learners Need from a College? You Might
be Surprised
Program updates:
Pfeiffer University
The trend of adults returning to school is
on the rise. Between 2000 and 2011, the
number of nontraditional students enrolled in
undergraduate programs rose 41%; they
comprised 38% of all undergrads in 2011.
BestColleges.com 2016 Report
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20% tuition discount toward
undergrad completion and
graduate degree programs
EDUCATION SPOTLIGHTS: Transfer Credit & Special Offers
Transfer Credits:
Want to complete your degree?
We’re here to help.
Your education and accomplishments mean
something. Let us help you identify the resources
needed for you to reach your next
milestone. Transfer up to 94 qualifying transfer
credits for a faster path to your degree.
If you want to finish what you started, DeVry
University wants to help you make it happen.
Learn more about the full benefits available to you
as an EdAssist partner at
http://partner.devry.edu/EdAssist.
We want you to save time and money
as you pursue your degree.
Whether you’ve taken classes at a community
college, gained know-how on the job, or been
trained in the military, we’ll help you transfer
your credits to University of Maryland University
College. You can receive up to 70 credits for
approved two-year college coursework, up to 90
credits for approved four-year coursework, and
credit for studies abroad, military service,
professional or volunteer experience, or exams.
Click Here for more information and to receive a
free unofficial evaluation of your transcripts and
transfer credits.
Special Offers:
Thanks to a partnership between Capella
University and EdAssist, you may be eligible for
exclusive savings on career-building degree
programs, including a 10% tuition discount, grants,
and more.
FlexPath: Complimentary first session - Start
a new FlexPath option from July to December 2016
and pay no tuition on your first session. FlexPath is
Capella’s assessment-based learning format.
Your education should be affordable. That’s why
Kaplan University offers the Tuition Cap program
for new enrollees. It sets a limit on the maximum
amount you’ll pay for select undergraduate degree
programs. Once you meet the cap, the rest of your
degree is FREE! That’s right, FREE. You’ll no longer
have to make payments for the rest of your
education at Kaplan University, as long as you meet
and maintain all enrollment requirements.
$4,000 grant on standard degree programs EdAssist Client Employees and their immediate
family members who enroll as a new student in an
eligible program between July and December 2016
can save with a $4,000 grant.
For programs not eligible for the Tuition Cap,
Kaplan University offers employees of EdAssist
clients and immediate family members a 15%
tuition grant.*
Click Here to learn more
Click Here to learn more
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