Novant Health Tuition Reimbursement: 2026 Guide
Published on:
June 24, 2026
Learn how Novant Health tuition assistance works, including Future Forward prepaid tuition, reimbursement benefits, RN educational assistance, and eligibility requirements.
Many health care employers offer tuition assistance programs, but Novant Health has built multiple pathways to help employees continue their education. Whether you're pursuing a college degree, professional certification, nursing license, or career training program, Novant Health offers several benefits that can help reduce or eliminate your educational costs.
From traditional tuition reimbursement to prepaid tuition and specialized nursing support, employees can choose the option that best aligns with their career goals. Below, we'll go over how each program works and what you need to know before applying.
Does Novant Health Pay for College?
Novant Health is one of several companies offering tuition assistance in North Carolina. In fact, it offers three separate education benefits that can help eligible employees pay for college, certifications, and career development programs. Depending on your goals, you may qualify for traditional tuition reimbursement, prepaid tuition through the Future Forward program, or specialized nursing school support through the Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund.
Future Forward (Prepaid Tuition)
Future Forward is Novant Health's newest education benefit and is available to eligible employees starting on their first day of employment. The program provides prepaid tuition for approved programs through a network of more than 1,000 online learning opportunities.
Employees can use Future Forward for:
- Associate degrees
- Bachelor's degrees
- Graduate degrees
- Professional certifications
- High school completion programs
- English language learning
Eligible full-time employees may receive up to $5,250 per year in prepaid tuition, while eligible part-time employees may receive up to $2,625 per year. Unlike traditional tuition reimbursement, funds are paid directly to the school, helping employees avoid upfront tuition costs.
Traditional Tuition Reimbursement
Employees who want to attend a school or program outside the Future Forward network may qualify for Novant Health's tuition reimbursement program.
The program reimburses approved degree programs and certain professional certifications that are related to your current role or support future advancement within the organization.
Key benefits include:
- Up to $5,250 annually for eligible full-time employees
- Up to $2,625 annually for eligible part-time employees
- Available year-round
- Reimbursement paid directly to the employee after course completion
To receive reimbursement, employees must complete approved coursework and earn a grade of at least C in undergraduate courses or B in graduate courses.
Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund
For employees who want to become registered nurses, Novant Health offers the Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund.
This program is designed to support employees enrolled in accredited community college nursing programs and provides significantly more support than a traditional tuition reimbursement benefit.
Approved participants may receive:
- Direct payment of nursing school tuition
- Coverage of approved nursing school expenses
- A weekly administrative day of pay to help balance work and school
- Mentorship and career coaching
- Professional development opportunities
- A pathway into the Novant Health nurse residency program
The program is intended for employees pursuing RN licensure and is funded through philanthropic donations that support workforce development and career advancement.
What Is InStride?
InStride is the education platform that powers Novant Health's Future Forward program. Similar to how some employers partner with Guild Education or Bright Horizons EdAssist, Novant Health works with InStride to connect employees with degree programs, certifications, career training, and other educational opportunities.
Through InStride, eligible employees can explore programs from colleges, universities, and training providers, compare options, receive personalized recommendations, and access prepaid tuition benefits through the Future Forward program. The platform is designed to make it easier for working adults to build new skills and earn credentials while continuing their careers at Novant Health.
Future Forward is Novant Health's prepaid tuition program, which means eligible employees can receive education funding before classes begin rather than paying out of pocket and waiting for reimbursement. The program is designed to help employees earn degrees, certifications, and other credentials while continuing to work.
Because tuition is paid directly to participating schools, Future Forward can make education more affordable and predictable for employees who want to advance their careers without taking on significant student debt.
How Do You Qualify for Future Forward?
Future Forward is available to eligible employees from their first day of employment with Novant Health.
To qualify, you generally must be:
- A full-time or part-time Novant Health team member
- Benefits-eligible
- In good standing with the organization
- Enrolled in an approved program available through the Future Forward platform
The program includes more than 1,000 learning opportunities, including degree programs, certifications, high school completion programs, and English language learning.
Eligible full-time employees may receive up to $5,250 per year in prepaid tuition, while eligible part-time employees may receive up to $2,625 per year.
How To Apply for Future Forward
You can generally expect to follow these steps:
- Create a Future Forward account through Novant Health.
- Verify your eligibility.
- Complete the career and education interest questionnaire.
- Review personalized program recommendations.
- Select an approved degree, certification, or training program.
- Connect with admissions representatives as needed.
- Enroll in your chosen program.
- Begin classes with tuition paid directly to the school.
Because funding is provided upfront, employees can often start learning without paying tuition costs themselves.
How To Get Tuition Reimbursement From Novant Health
If the school or program you want to attend is not available through Future Forward, Novant Health's traditional tuition reimbursement program may be a good alternative. This benefit helps eligible employees recover a portion of their educational expenses after successfully completing approved coursework.
Unlike Future Forward, which pays tuition directly to participating schools, tuition reimbursement requires employees to pay for courses upfront and submit documentation after completing them.
How Do You Qualify for the Tuition Reimbursement Program?
To qualify for tuition reimbursement, you generally must be:
- A full-time or part-time Novant Health team member
- Benefits-eligible
- Employed with Novant Health for at least 90 days
- Enrolled in an accredited college or university program for academic credit, or an approved professional certification program related to your role
The coursework should support your current position or help prepare you for advancement within the organization.
The program does not cover:
- Books
- Fees
- Supplies
- Continuing education units (CEUs)
- Contact-hour programs
Eligible employees may receive up to $5,250 per calendar year for full-time team members and up to $2,625 per calendar year for part-time team members. To receive reimbursement, you must earn at least a C in undergraduate coursework or a B in graduate coursework.
How To Apply for Novant Health Tuition Assistance
You can generally expect to follow these steps:
- Review the tuition reimbursement requirements through IConnect.
- Submit your tuition reimbursement application before your coursework begins.
- Receive any required approvals.
- Pay for your courses.
- Successfully complete your coursework with the required grades.
- Submit transcripts, receipts, and other required documentation through ServiceNow.
- Receive reimbursement directly from Novant Health.
Because applications must be submitted before classes begin, it's important to start the approval process several weeks before your course start date.
How To Get RN Educational Assistance From Novant Health
The Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund is one of Novant Health's most generous education benefits. Rather than simply reimbursing tuition, the program is designed to help employees become registered nurses by covering approved nursing school expenses and providing additional support throughout the educational journey. It’s one of many tuition assistance programs for nurses.
The program was created to support internal career advancement while helping address nursing workforce needs across the health system.
How Do You Qualify for the RN Educational Assistance Fund?
The program is intended for Novant Health employees who are pursuing RN licensure through an accredited community college nursing program.
To qualify, you generally must:
- Be employed continuously by Novant Health for at least one year
- Be fully accepted into or currently enrolled in an accredited nursing program within a Novant Health service region
- Have completed all required nursing program prerequisites
- Be experiencing financial hardship
- Be free of disciplinary action at the time of application
Unlike traditional tuition reimbursement programs, eligibility is based not only on employment status but also on financial need and nursing program enrollment.
How To Apply for RN Educational Assistance
Applications for the Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund typically open during the spring each year.
You can generally expect to follow these steps:
- Complete all required nursing program prerequisites.
- Apply to and gain acceptance into an accredited nursing program.
- Review eligibility requirements through IConnect.
- Complete the RN Educational Assistance application when the application cycle opens.
- Submit any required documentation regarding enrollment and financial circumstances.
- Participate in any additional review or selection process required by Novant Health.
Approved participants may receive direct tuition payments, coverage for approved nursing school expenses, mentorship opportunities, career coaching, professional development support, and a pathway into the Novant Health nurse residency program after graduation.
For employees who want to become registered nurses, this program may provide substantially more support than a traditional tuition reimbursement benefit.
How Novant Health Compares to Other Employer Tuition Programs
Novant Health offers one of the more comprehensive education benefits packages among major health care employers. Rather than relying on a single tuition reimbursement program, the organization provides multiple pathways for career development, including prepaid tuition, traditional reimbursement, and specialized nursing school assistance. Here’s how Novant Health stacks up against other hospitals with tuition assistance:
Novant Health vs. Baptist Health
Both Novant Health and Baptist Health have moved beyond traditional tuition reimbursement by offering employees access to prepaid education benefits through third-party education platforms.
Baptist Health partners with Guild Education and offers fully funded programs, annual tuition assistance, and tuition reimbursement for approved programs outside the Guild network. Novant Health's Future Forward program offers a similar experience through InStride, allowing eligible employees to access degree programs, certifications, and career training with tuition paid directly to participating schools.
One advantage for Novant employees is that Future Forward is available from the first day of employment for eligible team members, while many employer tuition assistance programs require a waiting period.
Novant Health vs. AdventHealth
AdventHealth also partners with Guild Education and provides employees with access to tuition-covered degree programs, certificates, bootcamps, and career coaching.
Both organizations offer education benefits that go beyond simple reimbursement. However, Novant Health's Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund provides a unique pathway for employees who want to become registered nurses. The combination of direct tuition payments, mentorship, career coaching, and a weekly administrative day of pay makes it one of the more specialized nursing workforce programs we've seen.
Novant Health vs. Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente offers eligible employees up to $3,000 annually in tuition reimbursement for approved educational programs.
Novant Health's reimbursement benefit is larger, with eligible full-time employees able to receive up to $5,250 per year. In addition, Novant employees may have access to Future Forward's prepaid tuition model, which can eliminate the need to pay tuition costs upfront for participating programs.
Key Differences To Consider
When comparing Novant Health to other employer tuition programs, consider:
- Prepaid tuition versus reimbursement-based benefits
- First-day eligibility versus waiting periods
- Annual funding limits
- Degree and certification options
- Availability of online programs
- Nursing-specific education pathways
- Academic coaching and career support
- Whether tuition is paid directly to the school
For employees who want flexibility, Novant Health's combination of Future Forward, tuition reimbursement, and RN Educational Assistance provides multiple ways to earn a degree or credential while continuing to work. The variety of options makes it one of the more versatile education benefit programs offered by a major health system.
FAQs About Novant Health Education Benefits
Novant Health offers several education benefits that can help employees earn degrees, certifications, and nursing credentials while reducing out-of-pocket costs. Below are answers to some common questions about Future Forward, tuition reimbursement, and the RN Educational Assistance Fund.
Does Novant Health Pay for College?
Novant Health offers multiple education benefits, including Future Forward prepaid tuition, traditional tuition reimbursement, and the Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund.
Depending on your employment status and educational goals, you may qualify for direct tuition payments, tuition reimbursement, or specialized nursing school support.
Can New Employees Use Novant Health's Education Benefits?
It depends on the program. Future Forward is available to eligible full-time and part-time employees starting on their first day of employment.
Traditional tuition reimbursement has a 90-day service requirement, while the RN Educational Assistance Fund requires at least one year of continuous employment and additional eligibility criteria.
Can I Earn an Online Degree Through Novant Health?
Future Forward includes access to more than 1,000 online programs from colleges, universities, and training providers.
Employees may pursue associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, as well as certifications, high school completion programs, and English language learning opportunities through participating schools.
What Is the Difference Between Future Forward and Tuition Reimbursement?
Future Forward provides prepaid tuition, meaning Novant Health pays participating schools directly before classes begin.
Traditional tuition reimbursement works differently. Employees pay for approved coursework themselves, complete the course successfully, submit documentation, and then receive reimbursement after the course ends.
Does Novant Health Help Employees Become Registered Nurses?
The Upward Mobility RN Educational Assistance Fund was created specifically to help employees pursue RN licensure through accredited community college nursing programs.
Approved participants may receive direct tuition payments, coverage for approved nursing school expenses, mentorship, career coaching, professional development support, and assistance balancing work and school responsibilities.
What Grades Do I Need To Receive Tuition Reimbursement?
Employees using the traditional tuition reimbursement program must successfully complete their coursework to qualify for reimbursement.
Generally, undergraduate courses require a grade of C or better, while graduate courses require a grade of B or better. Failing to meet these academic requirements may make you ineligible for reimbursement.
Does Novant Health Cover Books and Fees?
Most Novant Health education programs focus on tuition rather than educational supplies.
Traditional tuition reimbursement does not cover books, fees, or supplies. Employees should review the details of their specific education benefit to understand which expenses may or may not be covered before enrolling in a program.
Earn Your College Degree
Find out more about tuition assistance for college degrees by exploring the resources available on Learn.org. Reach out to Novant Health directly to find out more about its employee benefits.
