New Return To Office Policy. If I Quit I Owe 50k?

I have been working for this company for about 3 years. They paid for my grad school from spring 2023 - fall 2024. Each semester cost about 8k and takes two years to pay off. Last week, the company announced a return to office policy and will require I am in the office every day.

I currently live 72 miles from the office. I would quit because a 72 mile commute is going to make me miserable, but I can’t because of the money or time I owe for school.

We were completely virtual when I started school, and historically the job has only required 3 days in office, pre-covid. I would never have bound myself to this company for two years if I knew the hybrid policy would change.

My question is if I quit, will they really make me pay $50,000?

If I am unable to make it into the office every day, become “not compliant”, and I am fired, will I have to pay $50,000?

I am just trying to figure out what my options are because I don’t see how this commute is feasible.

I’m located in Virginia, but the company has offices in New York and California.