Re:The Boring Part of Bell Labs
by rectalogic on Sunday November 23, 2025 @08:50AM
(#46023567)
> I'd be surprised if the Bells lab offer didn't have similar clawbacks.
Bellcore inherited the year on campus program from Bell Labs. There were no clawbacks and no requirement to even return to work for Bellcore after graduation.
Masters programs in engineering certainly have costs for full-time residential programs. But actual tuition isn't necessarily that much.
As you say, executive MBA programs are costly and the assumption is almost certainly that a company is paying for it for select senior people being groomed for executive roles. They're often full-time but of relatively limited duration.
1. Companies have tuition reimbursement for general employees, but it's usually nominal at $5k/year and part-time education is implied.
2. Executive MBAs and more selective executive seminars are covered by companies so the focus will be better. These aren't cheap (easily $125k/year) and might come with early exit penalties. I'd be surprised if the Bells lab offer didn't have similar clawbacks.
3. Tuition in 1970 isn't what it is now! Wayyyy cheaper!