Considering the fact that about 90% of distance learners are people who are employed, making the boss pay for online education is the best way to go about acquiring your degree. Now the question arises – why should your boss or company pay for your education? Well, in plain words, because YOUR education would be directly beneficial for THEM.

Even though most of the companies are now happy to pay for their employees’ education, some organizations are still a bit hesitant. But this in no way means you should not approach your boss with this subject. All that is needed is a good strategy where you make the company realize that you are actually doing THEM a favor by studying! The basic thing here is to make your organization recognize your worth and how acquiring higher education would help them.

Here are certain tips on how you should go about convincing your boss to pay for your online education:

1. Make Commitments and Oblige To Serve the Company
Organizations do not usually ask employee’s to return the money spent on their education. BUT what they ask is commitment to work for a fixed period of time after the acquisition of online degree. Also, what you need to know is that your organization will NEVER pay for a degree which is not related to your current job or the promotion you expect to acquire.
If you are working in an IT based organization, DO NOT expect that they will pay for a degree in art history!!

2. Make Your Company Realize That YOUR Education Will Give Them A Competitive-Edge
An educated work-force is the competitive edge organizations need over each other. Good business is only achievable through well-educated employees, which is the main point you should raise while talking to your boss about tuition reimbursement.

More than anything, the acquisition of a degree would be valuable for the growth of your organization (though it would help you in the long run even after you switch your workplace…but hush… don’t mention that!!).

3. Sell Yourself and Your Expertise
 This might be hard, but not impossible. You need to make the organization realize your capabilities and requirement in the workforce. Discuss all the contributions you have made to the company, and how acquiring further education would enable you to contribute even more. You can always explain how the acquisition of information about latest trends and new skills can bring in more profit for the company.

4. Tell Them Why You Chose Online Education
You need to assure your boss that fitting online education into your professional life would not affect your output at work. Convince your boss by telling him that online degree programs at all online degree levels are flexible so you will not be taking time off from work to study!

5. Show Dedication – Sign a Contract!
Your organization might ask you to sign a tuition reimbursement contract before they allot a loan or grant for acquiring an online degree. Though this seems like a fair deal, you should steer clear from making nearly impossible deals. You also need to be clear about how the organization would pay for your education as some organizations pay in whole while others deduct it from your paycheck and then pay you back later on.

All in all, what you need to do is make your boss realize your value in the company and how you can put in more at work with higher education…it might be easier to get your boss pay for an online degree than you realize.