What Tuition.io does

Tuition.io, Inc. is a privately held B2B SaaS company founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, that operates a modular, configurable education assistance benefits platform for U.S. employers, government agencies, and nonprofits. The platform combines Student Loan Repayment Assistance (tax-exempt employer contributions under Section 127), Tuition Assistance Administration (Sections 127 and 132), PSLF navigation and automated certification, SECURE 2.0 Retirement Match (employer 401(k) matching tied to qualified student loan payments), Employment Loan Forgiveness (ELF), unlimited 1:1 loan coaching, and a Learning Partner Network of 100+ accredited institutions offering tuition reductions of approximately 10-30% on 1,000+ programs. In April 2026 the company launched CourseCa$h, a direct-pay tuition assistance model using a Visa virtual card powered by Stripe Issuing and issued by Celtic Bank, enabling zero out-of-pocket tuition payments by paying education providers directly.

The platform serves 300+ employer clients ranging from under 1,000 to over 400,000 employees, covering 2.5M+ eligible employees, facilitating more than $200M in tuition reimbursements and $360M+ in employer repayment contributions, with $6.2B+ in student loans managed and 40,000+ loan coaching sessions delivered. Notable customers include Banner Health, AtlantiCare, Emory Healthcare, Ford, ADP, Fannie Mae, FHL Bank, Carhartt, Flex, Hulu, LiveNation, National Grid, Estée Lauder, Universal Music Group, VSP Vision, and Horace Mann (which has helped over 7,200 educators pursue $355M in potential PSLF and federal loan forgiveness over 10 years through the partnership).

Revenue is generated through annual subscription / administration fees paid by employer clients, with modular plans priced by employer size and selected benefit modules; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The Learning Partner Network explicitly passes 100% of tuition savings to employer clients without accepting financial incentives from learning partners, reinforcing that the platform's subscription is the primary revenue driver rather than referral economics. Go-to-market combines a direct enterprise field sales force organized into Western, Southern, and Eastern U.S. regions, with channel partnerships through benefit brokers/advisors and 401(k) plan sponsors/record keepers. Marketing emphasizes thought leadership through CHRO briefings, a Borrower Blog, Data Lab analytics, webinars, and earned media in HR Executive, Employee Benefit News, and Forbes. The company has raised approximately $15.15M in equity across six rounds from 2013 to 2017 (notably Mohr Davidow Ventures, MassMutual Ventures, Wildcat Venture Partners, and Fenway Summer Ventures), and received a debt facility from ORIX Corporation USA's Growth Capital business in April 2025. Leadership is led by CEO Scott Thompson, with founder Brendon McQueen also identified, and a management team including VPs of Marketing, Partner Success, and Engineering.

Name

Tuition.io

Legal name

Tuition.io, Inc.

Website

https://tuition.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tuition.io is a B2B SaaS platform that helps U.S. employers administer tax-exempt student loan repayment, tuition assistance, PSLF, SECURE 2.0 retirement match, and a Learning Partner Network of 100+ accredited institutions for their workforce, serving 300+ clients across healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Employee Benefits Administration Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship, Financial Aid & FAFSA Support Platforms (EDAFAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Scholarships, Grants & Education Benefits Administration (Financing-adjacent) (FSAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Student loan benefits
• Tuition assistance administration
• Employer education benefits
• Benefits administration SaaS
• SECURE 2.0 retirement match

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscription / Administration Fees: Tuition.io charges employers (companies) for access to its education assistance benefits platform, which includes student loan repayment administration, tuition assistance administration, loan wellness tools, and coaching services. The platform is modular and configurable, with employers selecting which benefit modules to offer their workforce.
2. Learning Partner Network Access: Tuition.io provides employer clients access to its network of accredited learning institutions that offer tuition reductions and fee waivers. Tuition.io passes 100% of tuition savings to employer clients and does not accept financial incentives from learning partners, suggesting the platform value drives the subscription rather than referral economics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tuition.io delivers a modular, configurable employer-sponsored Education Assistance Benefits SaaS platform that combines student loan repayment administration, tuition assistance administration (Section 127 and Section 132), PSLF navigation, Secure 2.0 retirement matching, 1:1 loan coaching, and a Learning Partner Network of 100+ accredited institutions. The platform enables employers to make tax-exempt contributions to employees' student loans, administer tuition reimbursement, and access direct-pay tuition via the CourseCa$h Visa virtual card powered by Stripe Issuing and issued by Celtic Bank.

Product overview

Tuition.io is an employer-sponsored Education Assistance Benefits platform with a modular, configurable architecture. The core platform combines Student Loan Repayment Assistance (tax-exempt employer contributions to employee student loans) with Tuition Assistance Administration (Section 127 and Section 132 programs). These are complemented by add-on modules including Financial Wellness (1:1 loan coaching, decision tools), Secure 2.0 Retirement Match (student loan payment matching to 401k), Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) support, Employment Loan Forgiveness (ELF), CourseCa$h (direct-pay Visa card via Stripe), Education Mentorship, and the Learning Partner Network (100+ accredited institutions with tuition reductions). Vertical solutions serve Healthcare, Education, Government/Non-Profit, and Retail sectors. The platform integrates Stripe Issuing for payment processing and serves 300+ employer clients with 2.5M+ eligible employees, facilitating over $200M in tuition reimbursements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CourseCa$h: A direct-pay tuition assistance model using virtual card technology that enables zero out-of-pocket tuition payments for employees.
• ELF (Employment Loan Forgiveness)
• Secure 2.0 Retirement Match
• Quick Start

Products and services

• Student Loan Repayment Assistance Enables employers to make tax-exempt contributions to employees' student loan debt, helping borrowers pay down debt faster under Section 127 employer educational assistance programs.
• Tuition Assistance Administration Streamlines administration of tuition assistance benefits including Section 127 employer educational assistance and Section 132 job-related education programs.
• Secure 2.0 Retirement Match Enables employer 401(k) matching contributions for qualified student loan payments under the SECURE 2.0 Act. Offered as a turnkey solution for plan sponsors and record keepers.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Automated PSLF tracking and certification support to help non-profit employees in healthcare, education, and government lower monthly payments and achieve loan forgiveness.
• Employment Loan Forgiveness (ELF) Employer-sponsored loan forgiveness program allowing organizations to offer loan forgiveness benefits to employees as part of their education assistance package.
• CourseCa$h First direct-pay tuition assistance model featuring a Visa Commercial card that enables employers to pay education providers directly, eliminating employee out-of-pocket costs. Powered by Stripe Issuing and issued by Celtic Bank.
• Student Loan Financial Wellness Provides decision tools, instructions, and 1:1 loan coaching on federal debt relief programs, college funding, and refinance options to reduce employee financial stress from student loans.
• Learning Partner Network Network of 100+ accredited learning institutions providing tuition reductions (10-30%) and fee waivers to employees of Tuition.io employer clients across degree programs, credentials, and skills training.
• Quick Start Student Loan Wellness Seven-day rapid implementation student loan wellness program with zero IT integration, garnishment prevention education, unlimited 1:1 loan coaching, and branded employee microsite.
• Education Mentorship Mentorship services guiding employees through educational pathways and helping them select appropriate programs for career development.
• Student Loan Census Complimentary anonymized analysis of student loan debt levels and debt-to-salary ratios across an employer's workforce, without requiring credit inquiries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,200 educators achieved relief through Horace Mann partnership; $355M projected relief over 10 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers29 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• BiskmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Tuition.io and Bisk partnered to close the gap between employer-sponsored education benefits and degrees from top-tier universities, connecting to 60+ online degree programs from Michigan State, Emory, SMU, and the Kelley School of Business.
• edXmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026Tuition.io and edX partnered to unlock exclusive tuition savings on degrees from 25 nationally ranked universities, giving employers turnkey access to career-advancing degrees at reduced costs through the Learning Partner Network.
• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 March 2026Southern New Hampshire University partnered with Tuition.io to accelerate degree completion for working learners. The partnership gives Tuition.io member employees turnkey access to SNHU's online degree programs through employer tuition assistance benefits.
• Boise State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Boise State University partnered with Tuition.io to make its 100+ fully online degree and certificate programs accessible to employees of Tuition.io's employer network. Programs cover health, business, and technology areas, helping working professionals advance their education while continuing full-time employment.
• U.S. Career InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025U.S. Career Institute (DEAC-accredited online institution) partnered with Tuition.io to expand the Learning Partner Network with over 30 career certificate programs, including Medical Assistant, Medical Billing Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, and Patient Care Technicians. Tuition.io employer partners receive 15% off USCI tuition rates with waived application fees, addressing healthcare workforce shortages.
• Herzing UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 August 2025Herzing University (private nonprofit, HLC-accredited, 11 campuses across 8 states with robust online offerings) partnered with Tuition.io to provide member employees access to career-focused degree programs including nursing pre-licensure, nurse practitioner, MSW, RN to BSN, and programs in healthcare, behavioral health, business, public safety, technology, and legal studies.
• Aspen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025Aspen University, an accredited institution offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees and certificate programs, partnered with Tuition.io to bring affordable education access to millions of Tuition.io account holders. Programs span nursing, health sciences, education, business, and technology fields. The partnership features an affordable monthly payment plan option combined with employer tuition assistance.
• SkillUp (SkillUp.Online)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2025SkillUp, an industry-focused learning platform specializing in AI, data analytics, machine learning, and workforce topics, partnered with Tuition.io to make high-impact certifications and continuing education more affordable and accessible. The partnership addresses the widening skills gap in emerging technologies and supports nearly 60% of the global workforce projected to need new skills by 2030.
• NUC UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025NUC University partnered with Tuition.io to enhance access to flexible, affordable degree programs for employees nationwide through NUC's ElevatEd program. Programs are available in both English and Spanish, leveraging institutional scholarships alongside employer tuition assistance for accessible dual-language education.
• Chamberlain UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Chamberlain University, one of the largest nursing programs in the U.S., is part of the Learning Partner Network launched by Tuition.io to address nursing shortages. The network integrates with Tuition.io's tuition assistance platform to build talent pipelines at lower costs.
• Walden UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Walden University, among the largest nursing programs in the U.S., is part of the Tuition.io Learning Partner Network addressing healthcare workforce shortages through employer-sponsored education benefits.
• University of PhoenixmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025University of Phoenix participates in Tuition.io's Learning Partner Network, showcasing skills-aligned and career-focused nursing and healthcare degree programs. The partnership supports employer-sponsored education as a tool for career resilience.
• Colorado Technical UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2025Colorado Technical University partners with Tuition.io offering alliance grants that, combined with tuition assistance, can fully cover tuition costs for programs such as RN-BSN and MSN. Partnership aims to remove financial barriers for nursing education.
• Estée LaudermajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 April 2025Tuition.io powers student loan repayment benefits for Estée Lauder employees as part of the company's employee benefits package.
• Horace Mann Educators CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Horace Mann's Student Loan Solutions program is powered by Tuition.io. The program helps educators achieve student loan forgiveness through PSLF and other federal programs. Horace Mann projects $355M in potential relief over 10 years for educators, with over 7,200 educators having applied since 2020.
• Stripe / Celtic BankcoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe Issuing (powered by Stripe, Inc.) and Celtic Bank, Member FDIC, provide the CourseCa$h Visa virtual card infrastructure for Tuition.io's direct-pay tuition assistance model. Cards are issued by Celtic Bank and the program is subject to Stripe and Celtic Bank authorized user terms.
• Record Keepers / Plan Sponsors (401k)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTuition.io partners with 401(k) plan sponsors and record keepers to offer the Secure 2.0 Retirement Match benefit as a turnkey module. The Secure Your Future solution is configurable to each employer's plan design and digitizes administration and certifications for plan sponsors and record keepers serving employer clients.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wellable: Wellable is an employee wellbeing and benefits platform that aggregates wellness, financial wellness, and education benefits for employers. It overlaps with Tuition.io as a complementary or competing benefits-vendor in the same HR buyer conversations.
• Empower Retirement: Empower is a large 401(k) record keeper and wealth platform that has built student loan retirement match and financial wellness capabilities. As an incumbent, it competes with Tuition.io's Secure 2.0 retirement match module through embedded distribution to employer plans.
• Businessolver: Businessolver is a benefits administration and employee experience platform serving large employers. As an incumbent in the HR benefits stack, it can either partner with or compete against Tuition.io in delivering education and student loan benefits through its marketplace.
• Fidelity Investments: Fidelity is a major 401(k) record keeper that has added student debt and student loan match tools to its workplace benefits suite. It competes with Tuition.io at the plan-sponsor/record-keeper layer and can bundle similar capabilities into its existing relationships with thousands of employers.

Direct peers

• FutureFuel.io: FutureFuel offers a student loan repayment and 529 savings benefit platform for employers, competing head-to-head with Tuition.io's student loan repayment administration and tax-advantaged education benefits modules.
• LearnLux: LearnLux delivers financial wellness and education benefits (including student loans) to employer workforces through a coaching-led platform, overlapping with Tuition.io's financial wellness dashboard and 1:1 loan coaching offerings.
• SoFi: SoFi offers student loan refinancing and an employer-sponsored student loan repayment benefit. It competes directly with Tuition.io's student loan repayment module and wellness tools for the same HR/benefits buyer, especially at large employers.
• Brightside Financial: Brightside provides employer-delivered financial wellness, including student debt and retirement guidance, to HR buyers. Like Tuition.io, it sells to enterprise employers as an employee benefit and bundles coaching, decision tools, and 401(k) integrations.
• Vault (by Betterment): Vault (acquired by Betterment) focuses on student loan 401(k) match and repayment benefits for employers, directly overlapping Tuition.io's Secure 2.0 retirement match module and competing for the same record-keeper/plan-sponsor buyers.

Others

• ADP (Lyric/Life & Disability and benefit services): ADP is both a Tuition.io customer and a massive HR/payroll/benefits platform that touches virtually every employer. It is comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant and channel that could expand or internalize education-assistance benefits offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Tuition.io
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tuition-io
• Xx.com/TuitionIO

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tuition.io