i aint no tax expert but i doubt there is a loophole like the one you describe. but i believe there are cases that tuition help can be treated as non-taxable income above $5,250.
see this irs pub
"
Benefits over
$5,250. If your employer pays more than $5,250 for educational
benefits
for you during the year, you must generally pay tax on the amount over $5,250.
Your employer should include in your wages (Form W-2, box 1) the amount that you
must include in income.
Working
condition fringe benefit. However, if the
benefits over $5,250 also
qualify as a working condition fringe benefit, your employer does not have to
include them in your wages. A working condition fringe benefit is a benefit
which, had you paid for it, you could deduct as an employee business expense.
For more information on working condition fringe benefits, see
Working Condition Benefits in chapter 2 of
Publication 15-B, Employer's Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.
"