<p>A lot of companies, not just defense contractors, have what mom2college was describing, typically implemented as a tuition reimbursement program. They will vary - some offer for part-time, others for full-time employees only, and most have some obligation to the company to be met after the final tuition check has been paid (commonly a year of service past the last check/degree completion, some have different requirements or a portion of the money has to be paid back). </p>
<p>Unfortunately, a lot of the companies that offer this benefit have had to reduce or eliminate it with the economy. All of my employers in the last 10 years have offered it in some form or fashion, and it has been great. Some schools also allow a student to defer payment of courses until the end of the semester if a student is utilizing an employer’s tuition program). If a dependency override turns out not to be an option, finding a job with similar tuition benefits could be her ticket until she’s able to establish independent status.</p>