Support

Find answers to commonly asked questions or use the contact form at the bottom of this page to contact InStride Support for assistance.

Most Frequently Asked Questions

Magna EPIC provides the opportunity for eligible employees to receive 100% upfront tuition coverage toward Magna-selected associate and bachelor’s degree programs, professional skills courses and certificates, industry certifications, and high school diplomas.

  • Through Magna EPIC, Magna will provide 100% upfront tuition coverage for eligible employees to advance their education online from top-tier academic partners.
  • Participating students are responsible for any additional expenses, such as application fees, books and supplies.
  • If you are not admitted to an undergraduate degree program, there may be other paths for you to earn admission to a university. Magna EPIC covers the cost of those programs, if available.

While students are typically able to apply throughout the year for most degree programs, it is important to note that some programs do have application deadlines and the application process can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks. Visit the Explore Programs page to see details specific to your programs of interest or view this article in the Resource Center.

Magna has partnered with Arizona State University, Central State University, City University of New York, Franklin University, Indiana Tech, Kingsborough Community College, Palm Beach State College, The University of Memphis Global, The University of Virginia, Universidad Tecmilenio and University of Wisconsin-Madison to provide associate and bachelor’s degrees offered online.

Eligibility

You are eligible if you are:

  • A full-time, regular Magna employee who works 37.5 hours or more per week
  • Employed with Magna for 6 months
  • A U.S. citizen based in the United States
  • In good standing with the company, defined as a “Consistently Meets Performance Expectations” rating or equivalent/ higher 
  • In an active status (not on a leave of absence)

If you are enrolled in courses at the time you leave, you will be able to finish the current session but you will not be able to continue participation in Magna EPIC nor receive upfront tuition coverage the following session. You will be able to continue your education with the academic institution, but you will be responsible for all future tuition costs if you are no longer employed by Magna.

It can take up to a week after your eligibility date to process your updated status. After seven (7) days, if you are still receiving an ineligible message, reach out to InStride Support.

Cost and Financial Aid

Undergraduate degree applicants must complete and submit a FAFSA®. Submitting the FAFSA is free and easier than ever, and it gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for your studies. Please be aware that federal grant money is automatically applied to the cost of tuition first. You may have additional options to cover the cost of books, fees and supplies, such as scholarships and low-interest loans if you choose to apply or qualify. Your admissions representative will be able to answer any questions you have about the FAFSA.

Your organization can provide up to $5,250 in education assistance tax-free per calendar year. Per the IRS, any amount of educational assistance provided to you by your employer over $5,250 will be included on your Form W-2 for the year as taxable income and will be subject to employment tax withholding (IRC Section 127). This means you may see taxes withheld from your paycheck if you go above $5,250 in tuition coverage.

Read here for more information on taxes and tuition coverage.

For questions about the taxable benefit reporting on your W-2, reach out to magna.training@magna.com.

Please note that the programs or courses you take between fall and the end of the year may count toward the allotted education coverage amount for that year, but may be included on your Form W-2 the following year depending upon how your organization is invoiced for that coverage.

The above is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should contact your own tax, legal and accounting advisors for additional information on how this may impact your specific situation.

Technical Guidance

  1. Submit your information to confirm your eligibility.
  2. Once you receive a confirmation email that your eligibility has been approved, follow the link provided or click on the "Get Started" button in the top right hand corner to complete your account registration. 
  3. Please enter the appropriate information as directed. 
  4. You will then be asked a series of questions to help customize your experience. 
  5. After that, your account will be successfully registered and you can begin exploring eligible programs.

There are limited spots to participate. At this time, you can select any/all programs that interest you and request information for those programs. Requesting information will place you on a waitlist; you will be able to enroll when additional spots open up.

Please check your spam folder to see if you have received the password reset link. If you have not received it, please contact InStride Support for assistance.

Try resetting your password. Your password must be more than eight characters and include the following: 1 upper, 1 lower, 1 number, 1 special character. Once you have successfully reset, try to login again.

Check your internet connection and make sure you are using a strong internet browser (Google Chrome is preferred). If you are still experiencing errors, please contact InStride Support, and our team will look into this.

Enrollment

For Magna employees who are deemed not admissible, you can pursue alternate paths to admission or apply to another university. You can get started by selecting a program and requesting information to be connected with an admissions representative.

Magna EPIC covers the cost of these alternative paths.

Only your current enrollment status, the name of the program or class you are enrolled in, and relevant financial information for billing purposes will be shared with your organization.

Your academic performance will not be shared with your organization.

  • ASU Online
    • For students enrolled in an in-person program at ASU, you will need to transition to an ASU Online program if you wish to receive upfront tuition coverage through Magna EPIC. If you are one of the 100 employees randomly selected to participate in the Magna EPIC pilot, you can work with your academic advisor to transition to one of the eligible ASU programs offered online.
  • All other institutions: For students enrolled at any of the other available institutions, select the program or course that you're currently enrolled in using the Explore Programs page and click Request Information for that course or program. Submit your information to begin receiving coverage. To receive upfront tuition coverage through Magna EPIC, you must be enrolled in one of the programs and courses covered by the program.

If you have any questions about Magna EPIC or your eligibility, please contact magna.training@magna.com. If you would like to speak with a live, trained education program specialist, you can find the contact number on your Magna EPIC dashboard.

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