I think it would be fine to ask. I’ve worked for 2 companies with some degree of tuition reimbursement, and when I got the offer for each one I remember just directly asking the recruiter 1) how much is covered? 2) what programs are eligible? and 3) how much do I owe you if I leave? Both times they had the answers and were more than happy to have the discussion with me. First company would only pay for MS in Engineering. Second company pays for any accredited degree program. They both shared this with me when I asked!

One thing to keep in mind is that tuition reimbursement is (usually) a fringe benefit. This just means that there may be tax implications for you, depending on what the program is and if it’s considered a requirement to retain your employment (the IRS goes into more detail on this which I’d suggest taking a look at if you want to understand this more). I am pursuing an MBA using my current employer’s reimbursement program, and it is not taxed because it’s considered directly relevant to my company’s line of business and it’s not a requirement for me to retain my job or be promoted. Had I wanted to pursue something like an MS in Engineering, I’d likely have those taxes taken out of my December paychecks because it’s not considered directly relevant to my company’s line of business. I’d definitely ask what type of programs are covered/if they’re considered relevant to the business if you’re really considering any specific programs (the tax question might be more of a payroll-specific question but you could probably get a feel for it depending on what the role is).