These Americans fled the country to escape their giant student debt

[burbuja0512]

What i got out of this article is that if I were working at Pizza Hut or Walmart, my employer would help me pay for classes. But since I work at a smaller business with no upward growth or mobility, my employers tell me i can only take classes that 'relate to the job i have now', not a more advanced job i may have in the future (because they don't plan on any new positions being created, and expect everyone in their roles now to stay until they retire in 20 more years). Moral of the story... I need to apply at some larger companies!

Yes.  Just be careful.  In some places, there are strings attached, so if you accept the $$$ from the employer, you are likely obligated to continue working there for several more years.    Sometimes that is great, but what I've seen is that my past employers have offered a maximum of 5k per year reimbursed after grades were received.   

So it's still free money, but has to be chosen wisely or you could end up stuck in a dead-end job for even longer just because they paid part of your tuition and no guarantee that getting a bachelor's will suddenly get you a promotion.

Wow, did your post just catch me off guard and give me reason to do some quick research.

My company just paid for my TESU LIB-495 class. Apparently, I did not read the Tuition Reimbursement form closely, and your post motivated me to go read the paperwork. 

Mine does say that I have to work at my employer for three years after reimbursement, if not there is a pro-rated amount that I must refund them.  The amount must be paid at day of termination of employment or will be refunded from final pay.   Hmmmm.

Glad to hear that you found out some new info and sorry to hear about the strings attached.   I think that it's really nice when employers offer tuition reimbursement, but they really are only good for a handful of people.   I would say an ideal candidate is someone who is happy at his or her company and needs to get a degree in order to get a promotion.   Like I mean if the degree is truly the ONLY thing stopping the promotion or pay increase like in some government jobs.   Otherwise, for the measly amount of money the employer will give you, it's not likely worth it to keep you in a job with zero guarantee of promotion.  You really could end up a lot worse off and stuck for a few years.

I do get why the employers offer the tuition with strings attached, but buyer beware.    I do really wish that more people knew about the Big 3.