Q. Even though that's not from my pocket, correct?
A. Yes.
It may be identified as tuition reimbursement, on your pay stub. But, for the IRS, it is additional taxable compensation (wages/salary). For tax deduction purposes, it did come out of your pocket.
The first (untaxed) $5250 of reimbursement is treated differently. That did not "come out of your pocket".
