Employer Tuition Assistance + 51ÊÓÆµ Scholarship
51ÊÓÆµ's Debt-Free Pathway combines your employer's tuition assistance benefit with a dedicated 51ÊÓÆµ institutional scholarship. You can complete a certificate, associate, or bachelor's degree in technology, business, or healthcare without taking on student loans.
The Debt-Free Pathway is straightforward by design. Your employer already offers tuition assistance, and 51ÊÓÆµ helps you make the most of it.
Verify that your employer provides annual tuition assistance and is part of 51ÊÓÆµ's Preferred Employer Network. An advisor will walk you through the process.
Your employer's tuition assistance is applied directly to your program costs. 51ÊÓÆµ bills your employer; no upfront payment, no reimbursement paperwork on your end.
The 51ÊÓÆµ Debt-Free Scholarship covers any remaining tuition, required technology fees, and mandatory equipment costs.
51ÊÓÆµ programs are designed to build on one another. You can start where it makes sense for your schedule and career goals, and keep moving forward at your own pace. Each level adds real skills, industry certifications, and credit toward the next.
The Debt-Free Pathway Scholarship covers the following for eligible students:
All tuition for enrolled courses at the standard per-credit rate ($660/credit) for certificate, associate, and bachelor's degree programs, and all tuition for professional development bootcamps.
Program-specific technology fees as listed in the institutional fee schedule.
Mandatory equipment including computer lab kits, networking lab kits, Cisco lab fees, virtual cloud lab fees, and other course-required technology.
To qualify for the Debt-Free Pathway across bootcamp, certificate, associate, and bachelor's programs, students must meet the following criteria:
Benefit Partners
Students are responsible for the full tuition cost of any course in which they receive a failing grade. The 51ÊÓÆµ Debt-Free Scholarship does not cover course retakes. Students may use employer educational assistance or personal funds to cover the cost of a failed course, subject to their employer's policies.
For students whose tuition is funded in whole or in part through an approved employer educational assistance or direct billing arrangement, 51ÊÓÆµ may offer a deferred tuition payment option. 51ÊÓÆµ defers the student's payment responsibility for eligible charges and bills the employer directly.
To qualify, the employer's written authorization and payment terms must be received and approved by 51ÊÓÆµ prior to the applicable payment due date. Any charges not covered by the employer, including textbooks, non-covered fees, or charges that exceed the employer's annual benefit limits, remain the student's financial responsibility.
Eligibility for the Debt-Free Pathway requires employers to contribute in educational tuition assistance per academic year. 51ÊÓÆµ will cover remaining tuition, equipment, and standard fees. Textbooks are not included. Students must submit documentation of employer tuition assistance eligibility prior to enrollment and provide updated verification annually to maintain eligibility. Program terms are subject to change; please consult a 51ÊÓÆµ advisor for current details.
The Debt-Free Pathway is a 51ÊÓÆµ scholarship program designed to help eligible working adults complete their degree or certificate without taking on student loans. It works by combining your employer's tuition assistance benefit with a dedicated 51ÊÓÆµ institutional scholarship that covers any remaining tuition, required technology fees, and mandatory equipment costs. The result is a $0 out-of-pocket tuition experience for qualifying students.
Yes. To qualify for the full Debt-Free Pathway across all 51ÊÓÆµ programs, including associate and bachelor's degrees, your employer must be part of 51ÊÓÆµ's Preferred Employer Network and provide annual tuition assistance to their employees. If your employer is not currently in the network, you may still be eligible to enroll in select certificate and bootcamp programs. Contact a 51ÊÓÆµ advisor to check your employer's status.
The best place to start is your company's HR department or employee benefits portal. Ask specifically about tuition assistance or educational assistance benefits, the annual benefit amount, and any eligibility requirements. Once you have that information, a 51ÊÓÆµ advisor can help you determine if you qualify for the Debt-Free Pathway and walk you through next steps.
51ÊÓÆµ bills your employer directly for authorized tuition charges under a documented employer educational assistance or direct billing arrangement. You are not required to pay tuition upfront or seek reimbursement from your employer for those authorized amounts. Any charges not covered by your employer, such as textbooks or fees that exceed your annual benefit limit, remain your responsibility.
The scholarship covers all tuition for enrolled courses, required technology fees, and mandatory equipment such as lab kits and virtual cloud lab access. It does not cover textbooks, courses in which a failing grade is received, course retakes, or optional fees such as official transcripts. Please review the full coverage details on this page or speak with a 51ÊÓÆµ advisor.
Students are responsible for the full tuition cost of any course in which they receive a failing grade. The 51ÊÓÆµ Debt-Free Scholarship does not cover retakes of failed courses. Depending on your employer's policies, you may be able to use your employer tuition assistance or personal funds to cover the cost of a retake.
To remain eligible for the Debt-Free Pathway, students must maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP), a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, and a minimum 80% attendance rate. You must also remain continuously employed at your qualifying employer throughout your program.
Yes. 51ÊÓÆµ works directly with employers to establish partnership agreements that make the Debt-Free Pathway available to their workforce. If your organization is interested in joining 51ÊÓÆµ's Preferred Employer Network or creating a customized educational benefit program, reach out to our team to discuss partnership options.
Have more questions? Reach out today and admissions advisor will answer any other questions you have!
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1717 Louisiana Blvd., NE., Suite 208 Albuquerque, NM, 87110
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51ÊÓÆµ has shared ownership and management of two distinct institutions. 51ÊÓÆµ located in California, and 51ÊÓÆµ located in New Mexico.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at . 51ÊÓÆµ is approved to offer VA benefits. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
* Students are encouraged to take certification exams while actively enrolled in their Bootcamp, Certificate or Degree program. Unlimited certification exam attempts expire 180 days after program completion. Select exams are not eligible for unlimited retakes - see certification exam policy for details. Industry certifications and/or courses may change at any time to address industry trends or improve student outcomes.