For many working adults, the decision to return to college begins with practical questions. Can tuition fit within the household budget? Can coursework be completed around a full-time job, family responsibilities and an already busy schedule? Tiffin University’s community and corporate partnerships help address those concerns by connecting eligible employees and members with reduced tuition rates. Some agreements also extend benefits to spouses and children, allowing more families to consider an education that may have once felt out of reach.
TU partners with businesses, colleges, public agencies, professional associations and community organizations across a variety of fields. Participating organizations include AVI Foodsystems, Avita Health System, First Solar, Huntington National Bank, Speedway, Volunteers of America, Whirlpool Corporation’s Clyde location, Wyandot Memorial Hospital and more. The University also works with Seneca Regional Chamber and Development and the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce, extending tuition benefits to employees of eligible member businesses.
Depending on the agreement and program, eligible students may receive tuition reductions ranging from $100 to $250 per credit hour, while some partnerships offer a percentage discount. For Stephanie Tolman, who is pursuing her Master of Business Administration while working full-time at Marathon Petroleum, that support has helped make graduate school more manageable.
“Marathon Petroleum’s tuition assistance program has made it possible for me to pursue my Master of Business Administration while continuing to work full-time,” Tolman said.
“The tuition discount has significantly reduced the financial burden of graduate school, allowing me to focus on developing the leadership, strategic thinking and decision-making skills that will help me grow professionally. As a working student, I’m grateful that Marathon Petroleum invests in its employees’ education and development, making it possible for me to continue advancing my career while achieving my academic goals.”
For working adults, affordability is only part of the equation. Time and location can also prevent someone from taking the next step. Many TU programs are available 100% online, allowing students to continue working while completing coursework from home. Online options are available in areas including business, criminal justice, cybersecurity, education, psychology and the humanities. Classes begin six times each year, giving students more flexibility to start when the timing is right.
Kyle Plussa, a Doctor of Criminal Justice in leadership and administration student expected to graduate in 2028, has experienced the impact of those benefits firsthand. A 15-year law enforcement professional and five-year adjunct professor, Plussa is pursuing his doctorate while balancing his career and responsibilities as a husband and father.
“As a working adult student pursuing a second career teaching higher education in Ohio, tuition discounts Tiffin University offers can never be understated,” Plussa said. “Offering one to Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) members, which requires law enforcement service, is unmatched. Then also offering me tuition discounts to work as doctoral candidate teaching assistant or an online adjunct for online undergraduate courses here, make pursuing my Doctor of Criminal Justice degree in Leadership Administration not only accessible by fully online, but foremost financially possible for me, my life career goals and my family’s future.”
Experiences like Stephanie and Kyle’s demonstrate the broader value of these partnerships. By sharing the investment in education, TU and its partners help individuals pursue their goals while supporting workforce development and bringing new knowledge and leadership into the communities they serve.
To learn more about corporate and community partnerships at Tiffin University and to view a full list, visit go.tiffin.edu/about-tu/partnerships.