In a previous position, my secretary had just left a higher paying job to work for our college because she had four kids graduating from high school over the next four years, and she wanted to put them through college. Her employee benefit covered their private college tuition (although financial aid and self-pay had to cover dorm, meal plan, books). Worth about $13k per year per kid.

My sister started working for a college to get health insurance coverage for her family–they’re farmers–and had been out of the paid workforce for 20 years! She is an executive assistant to the academic VP and her oldest son just graduated high school last year and is attending college there “free” on tuition remission.

It’s a good time for Mom to go back to work–the kids are older anyway, and the tuition remission can really set up the parents and the kids for prosperity without huge debts and strain.

You don’t have to be a college professor or professionally trained staff member or administrator–these bennies are open to all employees, so get a maintenance staff job if that’s what your qualified for.

BTW the tuition remission benefit is not just for the college where you work–they usually participate in a consortium of participating colleges so check the list for all your options.