Children’s Hospital Colorado reversed course Tuesday and said it would continue paying full tuition for employees who received the benefit this year.

The Aurora hospital had announced earlier this month that all employees pursuing eligible degrees would receive only $5,250 in tuition assistance next year.

Some staff members who’d previously had their full tuition paid by the hospital told The Denver Post and other news outlets that they didn’t think they could pay the balance of their tuition and were scrambling for solutions.

Children’s stated earlier this week that it decided to stop paying full tuition because too many employees had enrolled. The hospital estimated it has spent about $11 million on education benefits since May 2022.

Hospital spokeswoman Leila Roche said Tuesday that employees already enrolled in the full tuition program would continue to receive that assistance.

“Over the past few days, after announcing our changes to our education benefits, hospital leaders have had the opportunity to have several additional conversations with team members who would be impacted by these changes,” she said in a statement. “While we did our best to make our original decision thoughtfully and with care and consideration, it is based on those conversations and relationships with our team members that we have decided to maintain the original benefits offered to those who are currently enrolled.”

Children’s contracts with a third party to pay full or partial tuition for certain health-related programs. Next year, any employees who didn’t already take part in the program can receive a maximum of $5,250.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.