Tuition Advancement: Continue Your Education and Advance Your Career

Want to continue your education and advance your career at Carilion?  
Our tuition advancement program is an opportunity that offers tuition support to eligible employees seeking a pre-approved degree at Radford University. Our program prepares you to continue serving our community through a Carilion Clinic-designated position.  

What degrees are available? 
We offer 6 approved programs including nursing, respiratory therapy and IT opportunities! It's important to note that each program comes with a commitment to work for Carilion upon the completion of your degree. Eligible degrees under Tuition Advancement include:

• Bachelor in Science in Nursing (Traditional 4-year program)
• R.N. to Bachelor in Science in Nursing (2 plus 2 completion programs)
• Bachelor in Science in Nursing (Accelerated)
• Bachelor in Science in Respiratory Therapy (Traditional 4-year program)
• ASRT to Bachelor in Science in Respiratory Therapy (ASRT to BSRT)
• IT programs

You can also find eligible degrees listed on the Tuition Advancement page on the Benefits, Pay and Well-being hub. 

How will I balance earning a degree with my career at Carilion? 
Through this program, you can complete your degree while you work for Carilion. With only 6 required credit hours per semester (excluding summer) and 16 required work hours per pay period, we make it easy for you to earn your degree while keeping up with your career.   

When will I apply?  
You can apply to begin in the fall, spring or summer with the following application deadlines. Note, the new deadline to apply for the spring semester is Sept. 15.   

• Fall semester – June 15
• Spring semester – Sept. 15
• Summer semester – March 1

Real Stories, Real Impact 

Christina Lafon received her bachelor's in nursing from Radford University Carilion in 2023 with the help of our tuition advancement program. She began her career at Carilion as an LPN on the Medical/Surgical and ICU floor but after earning her degree, she became the Infection Preventionist at CGCH in February of this year.  

From the beginning, Lafon knew she wanted to further her education to advance her career. “I knew at that time that I wanted to go into leadership, and I was able to do some of my hours with my manager. Seeing what she did, I knew that's the path I wanted to go down,” says Lafon. Her program gave her the technical skills needed to succeed along with the experience to know how her future could look.
 
She worked full-time and took two classes at a time to earn her degree. She wants others who are thinking about applying to just do it. “Don’t put it off. If this is what you want to do, start now. You don’t have to do it at a fast pace. You can go your own speed,” says Lafon.   
 

Lindsay Howell is an RN and clinical team leader on Labor and Delivery at CRMH. She graduated in 2023 with her bachelor’s in nursing from Radford University Carilion with the tuition advancement program.

Howell feels it was the best decision she made for her professional and education career. “100% do it! You have the support of your peers, the school and your directors. Everybody is always encouraging you. Also, you’re doing it within a company you’re invested in and now they are investing in you as well,” says Howell. 
 
She was able to complete her capstone project on her unit, which meant working for a cause she knew personally. She created special discharge instructions for Spanish speaking patients. "It was nice being able to give back to my community and my unit," says Howell.  

Ready to get started? 
Check out the Tuition Advancement page on the Benefits, Pay and Well-being hub for more information on program eligibility and the application process. Get ready to earn your degree and come out ready to lead with confidence, skill and purpose.