Best education benefits in the DC area?
March 2, 2011 6:39 AM Subscribe
What DC and Metro area companies offer the best education benefits for the software engineer/physicist?
Currently, I live and work in the DC area as a software engineer and am in the process of pursuing my MS in Applied Physics. The problem is that this will take me much longer than I'd like using my employer's education program (two classes per year at current tuition rates). I'd like to start investigating other companies in the area that would fully fund my education (without restricting the number of classes per year, ideally) while I work.
The problem: I have no idea how to find these companies. The default answer is usually "federal government" but with the budget issues they really aren't hiring currently. NIST, DoE, NSWC, etc. all seem to be on a hiring freeze that even nepotism can't break. So, I appeal to you, can I find these companies in the DC area?
Currently, I live and work in the DC area as a software engineer and am in the process of pursuing my MS in Applied Physics. The problem is that this will take me much longer than I'd like using my employer's education program (two classes per year at current tuition rates). I'd like to start investigating other companies in the area that would fully fund my education (without restricting the number of classes per year, ideally) while I work.
The problem: I have no idea how to find these companies. The default answer is usually "federal government" but with the budget issues they really aren't hiring currently. NIST, DoE, NSWC, etc. all seem to be on a hiring freeze that even nepotism can't break. So, I appeal to you, can I find these companies in the DC area?
CSC has an annual graduate degree cap of $15,000 with no restriction on the number of classes you take. You would of course have to apply for the tuition benefit, with proof from your supervisor that the degree is relevant to your job. CSC will also work with various payment plans that IHEs might have for such benefits, so that you are not coughing up a huge amount at the beginning of the semester. Fees are included, books are not. You are tied to them for one year after you receive your degree, unless you pay them back on a pro-rated basis when you bail.
Keep in mind that the benefit is taxed after the first $5250 or so. When you get a several-thousand dollar tuition reimbursement added on to your regular paycheck, you are taxed at a much higher amount than usual. So, if you are paying using deferrred billing or another IHE plan and send the reimbursement in as payment, your actual take-home that is left is far lower than usual. Not pretty.
posted by jgirl at 7:03 AM on March 2, 2011
Keep in mind that the benefit is taxed after the first $5250 or so. When you get a several-thousand dollar tuition reimbursement added on to your regular paycheck, you are taxed at a much higher amount than usual. So, if you are paying using deferrred billing or another IHE plan and send the reimbursement in as payment, your actual take-home that is left is far lower than usual. Not pretty.
posted by jgirl at 7:03 AM on March 2, 2011
Johns Hopkins University - specifically the Applied Physics Lab might be a possibility.
posted by maxg94 at 9:02 AM on March 2, 2011
posted by maxg94 at 9:02 AM on March 2, 2011
I work in a patent law firm that *may* be able to help you with this, should they decide to hire you to work on patent applications in a non-legal aspect. Typically, they will not hire without an M.S. or Ph.d, but we are in the midst of some major growth, so it may be worth a shot. I can send you the link if you mefi mail me.
posted by invisible ink at 6:06 PM on March 3, 2011
posted by invisible ink at 6:06 PM on March 3, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Also, have you tried talking to your employer? It sounds like their reimbursement program is geared more towards somebody taking one-off classes and not somebody working on a degree.
posted by COD at 6:59 AM on March 2, 2011