I really don’t know how long he saved up, before starting. Once he started, it only took 4 years. His first two years going part time were elongated such that he went to class all year long (no summer break)....but he got them done in time. And his last two years were as a full time student...and you can get all your classes scheduled in the right time frame, if you go to morning classes, since fewer of the traditional 19 y/o students sign up for these. So, it took 4 years. (I think there are some flat rate semester fees, paid in full even if taking only one course...and since this was his own money, he made sure not to let any classes slip by, lest he be forced to pay another fee for an entire semester).
....but what I don’t know is how long prior to this he was saving money. He worked at our company for around 5 years before starting, so he potentially could have been saving up that entire time. I’m sure it was very tempting for him to just quit his job and live off student loans...but one can dig a large hole very quickly doing that. So, it may have taken him nearly a decade...and I don’t see anything wrong with that. Some might think that takes too long...but what other choice is there, if you don’t come from a wealthy family? Taking full scale loans on is a trap, so the long haul is the only option. It might not be fair, if you compare yourself to classmates who have their parents pay for it...but sometimes life isn’t fair.
I see you keyed off of the fact that he had tuition assistance from work...I don’t think that’s a bad thing. For all the people who say its impossible to work through school, the existence of employer tuition assistance is a good counter-argument. We had another lady (in her ‘50s) go to the community college part time on this and get an associates degree in business administration. Her kids were grown, she didn’t have alot of expenses, etc...but she made it happen. Another co-worker’s girlfriend went to the exact same school and got the same degree...and is over $50k in debt. IMHO, she took the wrong approach....literally living off of student loans. I don’t see anything wrong with getting a full time job first (and possibly getting tuition assistance), and going to night school. This is contrary to the notion some have that the job must be part time and in the evenings, while school is full time. I don’t think that is always possible...just my opinion.
I just had the realization that my school took 9 years, in a way. I went to a service academy for 4 years, and owed 5 years service in the army after that.
My brother got a sports scholarship and lived at home...and did part time jobs. I think it took him 6 years.
My sister took 13 years, again living at home and working.
None of these were the standard 4 year plan that we would love for our own kids to have...but we all found ways to do it, without mortgaging our future. And I really mean that - a liberal co-worker is over $220k in debt for his wife’s stupid PHD in Spanish. He constantly moans that the world isn’t fair; and, his son will never go to college. Well, he certainly won’t be able to help his own child for the next 30 years...so he has literally mortgaged his future.
If his wife’s PhD in Spanish comes with any facility in the language, she could get a teaching job at a University. Often those jobs come with tuition forgiveness for the children, so that is how she could get her son through college.