My question involves employment and labor law for the state of: South Carolina.

Good Morning.

Recently I have decided I will be leaving my company. I have not left yet, but they are aware of my decision.
My question is around the area of Tuition Assistance Payback. When I accepted my most recent postion with the company, I signed the offer letter and in the letter that was a mandatory requirement that I go back to school and get my bachelors degree. Each time I had to submit a request form to get approval to take the class and get reimbursement. With the form I attached a letter describing how i would balance school and work and i also described that i was taking the classes because it was mandatory.

In the tuition assistance policy, it states that I am liable for up to 2 years of repayment if I leave the company.
"I understand that if I resign my employment, I am liable to repay all financial assistance provided to me
through the Undergraduate Education Assistance Program (for the past 24 months for Bachelor degree
programs and past 12 months for Associates degree programs). Furthermore, I understand such repayment
will be withheld from my final payment of wages by the Company."

I appreciate the benefit the company has provided me, but should i have to repay something that was mandatory?

Justin