FSW’s Money-Back Guarantee Program
Due to industry demand and strong confidence in our students, Florida SouthWestern State College offers a refund for tuition paid to students who complete eligible high-demand workforce programs and professional requirements and are unable to find employment within six months after graduation.
Exceptional instructors, wide-ranging support in and outside the classroom and partnerships with local employers lend confidence to our money-back guarantee.
What is the Money-Back Guarantee Program?
The Money-Back Guarantee Program is an employment initiative program that helps students who complete any of the eligible workforce education programs and professional requirements and are not employed within six months after graduation. To be eligible for a tuition refund, students must meet all program requirements as outlined below.
Students eligible for the guarantee may receive a reimbursement of tuition based on the following formula: tuition assessed minus federal, State, and institutional scholarships or grants received. Please note, only tuition is included in this guarantee, any student activity fees, financial aid fees, other fees and other expenses and/or charges are excluded. Only courses that are required for the degree will be considered for reimbursement. For the BS Elementary Education degree, only tuition paid once the student is accepted to the BS degree is considered.
Students who receive a job offer in their respective industry within the six-month window after graduation will be considered to have successfully found employment and will no longer be eligible to participate in the Money-Back Guarantee Program or to request a refund of their tuition.
What programs are eligible?
Who qualifies?
Money-Back Guarantee Program Student Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the program, a student must meet all of the following criteria:
- A student who does not receive a job offer in their respective industry within six-months after graduation will be considered eligible to participate in the Money-Back Guarantee Program and may request a refund for out-of-pocket tuition not to include: non-resident fees, lab fees, uniform fees, student activity fees, financial aid fees, testing and examinations fees, insurance fees, or other fees or expenses (such as books). For the BS Elementary Education degree, only tuition paid once the student is accepted to the BS degree is considered.
- Student must apply for this program no later than 240 days (6 months of job searching plus 60 days to apply for the program) after the date the degree is conferred on the student’s transcript.
- Student cannot be enrolled in an upper-level stackable program or continuing coursework in an advanced degree.
1. Student attendance
Student must be continuously enrolled full-time (as defined by the program) through the duration of the program and meet the program’s enrollment verification standards each term. Students must meet minimum attendance requirements as specified by the program of study.
2. Student program performance
- Student must successfully complete all required courses, earning a grade of C or better in all coursework.
- Student must remain in good academic standing throughout the duration of the program.
- Student must pass all credential and licensure exams associated with their program/required for employment in the field of study.
- Student must be in good financial standing with FSW.
3. Career Service or Career Day attendance
- Student must provide verifiable documentation as evidence of career service or career fair participation to include completion of at least 4 career development workshops while enrolled at the College or during the 6 months after graduation.
4. Participation in internship or work-study program
- As applicable, student must provide verifiable documentation of satisfactory participation in an internship or work-study program related to the degree for which the guarantee is being considered.
5. Job Search Documentation
- Student must be legally eligible for employment within the U.S.
- Student must not have a criminal background that prevents employment within the career field.
- Student must successfully pass background checks and drug screenings as required by prospective employers.
- Student must provide verifiable documentation that they have worked with their local Career Source office to search for employment in the field of interest. Student must demonstrate through verifiable documentation they have been actively searching for in-field employment for at least 6 months from the date of program completion. This search must include the verifiable submission of at least 60 applications that are related to the field of study. Student must provide documented evidence such as an email or letter of invitation to interview, documentation of application submission, confirmation of non-selection, etc.
6. Development of a student career plan with the institution’s career services department.
- Student must provide verifiable documentation as evidence of the creation of, and adherence to, a career plan in conjunction with an FSW Career Coordinator.
Questions? Please email workforce@fsw.edu.
The Money-Back Guarantee Program was created by the Florida Legislature in 2021 with the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act.