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Companies that Pay for College

Taylor Nichols

Written By: Taylor Nichols

Published: 9/27/2022

In the Great Resignation era, debt-free degrees have become an increasingly popular way to attract and retain employees. Companies like Chipotle, Lowe's, and Target have upped their game in recent years to offer fully-funded degree programs through education partners like Guild Education. Many other companies offer tuition reimbursement or other funding options to help employees advance their education.

Data shows employees are leaving jobs in search of companies that offer them a path forward. The Pew Research Center reported that two-thirds of employees who quit jobs in 2021 left because there were no opportunities for advancement.

Data also shows that when employers invest in their employees' education, it pays off. A study done by the Lumina Foundation showed that when Discover Financial Services invested more than $7 million in tuition reimbursement, they saw a 144% return on investment. The company saved nearly $11 million on talent management thanks to higher promotion, transfer, and retention rates.

What Education Benefits Are Available to Employees?

Tuition reimbursement is the most popular kind of employer funding for college. Eligible employees pay for their education up front and can apply for a refund from their employer. Some policies also allow students to be reimbursed for fees, books, and other costs associated with their program. Family tuition reimbursement or discounts are also sometimes available.

Instead of tuition reimbursement, employers may pay schools up front for the cost of an employee's classes. This makes college more accessible, as employees don't have to come up with a large sum of money beforehand to enroll.

School partnerships are also common for employers who offer education funding. Companies may work with specific colleges to offer fully-funded degrees or tuition discounts to employees. Your employer also may partner with education networks such as Guild Education or Bright Horizons, which work with colleges across the country to offer degree programs for employees.

What to Look for When Choosing a Job for Education Benefits

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a job that will pay for college. Depending on your personal situation and education goals, some benefits may not fit your needs.

One of the most common caveats is limiting tuition reimbursement to specific employee groups. Some companies may only provide the benefit to full-time or salaried workers, which can be limiting for college students who are working hourly or part-time jobs.

Most education benefit programs cover bachelor's degrees, but certificates, associate degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees are not always eligible. Employers may also only cover approved programs at accredited colleges or work with specific partner schools.

Many programs limit tuition funding to $5,250 per year, which is the maximum amount employees can receive without paying taxes on it. Any funding over that limit will count as taxable income.

Interested in companies that can help you pay for grad school? We’ve compiled a list of employers that pay for a master’s degree.

What Education Benefits Are Available to Employees?

Tuition reimbursement is the most popular kind of employer funding for college. Eligible employees pay for their education up front and can apply for a refund from their employer. Some policies also allow students to be reimbursed for fees, books, and other costs associated with their program. Family tuition reimbursement or discounts are also sometimes available.

Instead of tuition reimbursement, employers may pay schools up front for the cost of an employee's classes. This makes college more accessible, as employees don't have to come up with a large sum of money beforehand to enroll.

School partnerships are also common for employers who offer education funding. Companies may work with specific colleges to offer fully-funded degrees or tuition discounts to employees. Your employer also may partner with education networks such as Guild Education or Bright Horizons, which work with colleges across the country to offer degree programs for employees.

What to Look for When Choosing a Job for Education Benefits

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a job that will pay for college. Depending on your personal situation and education goals, some benefits may not fit your needs.

One of the most common caveats is limiting tuition reimbursement to specific employee groups. Some companies may only provide the benefit to full-time or salaried workers, which can be limiting for college students who are working hourly or part-time jobs.

Most education benefit programs cover bachelor's degrees, but certificates, associate degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees are not always eligible. Employers may also only cover approved programs at accredited colleges or work with specific partner schools.

Many programs limit tuition funding to $5,250 per year, which is the maximum amount employees can receive without paying taxes on it. Any funding over that limit will count as taxable income.

Interested in companies that can help you pay for grad school? We’ve compiled a list of employers that pay for a master’s degree.

Companies that Will Pay for a College Degree

Company Funding limit Who is it available to? School or program restrictions Degree levels
Dish

$10,000 per year for salaried employees

$5,250 per year for hourly employees

Salaried and hourly employees who have been with Dish for 90 days Limited to approved programs at Bellevue University Bachelor's and master's degrees
Discover

Full funding at some online schools

$2,500 per year for associate degrees

$5,250 per year for bachelor’s degrees

$10,000 per year for master’s degrees

Employees who work at least 30 hours a week

Limited to in-network schools

Fully-funded programs available at Wilmington University, Brandman University, and University of Florida Online

Associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees and certificates
Marco’s Pizza

$5,250 in tuition assistance per year

Immediate family members qualify for up to $2,625 per year

Full and part-time employees and immediate family members Bellevue University Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees
JetBlue

Majority of cost for a bachelor's degree

Tuition discounts for a master's degree

Active employees in good standing with two years of service with JetBlue

For the bachelor's program, students must be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree

Bachelor's students finish their degree at Thomas Edison State University

Master's students receive discounts at partner schools

Bachelor's and master's degrees
UCHealth $5,250 per year with full funding for specific programs UCHealth employees

Fully-funded programs include nursing, social work, and behavioral health degrees through Guild Education partner schools

Partial funding available for other programs and colleges

High school and college prep classes, clinical certificates, bachelor's and master's degrees
Stanford University $5,250 per year Regular or fixed-term staff members in benefits-eligible positions for at least one year who work at least half-time Regionally-accredited schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education Associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees
University of Pennsylvania 100% of tuition, and general and technology fees at UPenn for up to two course units each term

Regular, full-time faculty and staff and limited service staff after 6 months in their eligible role

Retired faculty and staff are also eligible

Limited to programs at UPenn Certificates, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees
GEICO $5,250 per year Associates are eligible on their first day of employment Available at 220 partner schools and education providers Individual courses, certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees
Qualcomm Up to 100% of tuition Unknown Accredited schools and some massive open online course providers such as Coursera or Udacity Undergraduate and graduate programs
Baylor Scott & White Health

Up to $5,250 for clinical degrees and leadership programs

Up to $4,250 for non-clinical programs

Regular full-time employees

Regular benefits-eligible part-time employee with at least 40 regularly scheduled hours per pay period

Limited to specific schools for Family Nurse Practitioner degrees Undergraduate and graduate programs
Fidelity

90% of qualified tuition expenses up to a maximum limit of $10,000 per calendar year*

*In January 2023, this benefit will change to 100% of the cost up to $5,250 per year

Covers 100% of the cost for certain certificates

Employees who work at least 30 hours per week, after six months of employment*

*Starting in January 2023, employees will qualify after 90 days of employment

Courses must be taken at an accredited college or university and must be approved by management Certificates, undergraduate, and master's programs
Whirlpool Unknown Unknown Programs must be accredited Undergraduate and graduate degrees
Chipotle

$5,250 per year

100% of tuition funded at specific schools through Guild Education

Full and part-time employees

An employee must work for at least 15 hours per week for four months to become

May be limited to programs offered through Guild Education High school and college prep classes, certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees
Elevance Health

$5,000 per year for full-time employees

$2,500 for part-time employees

Tuition discounts and scholarships for graduate programs available at partner school

Any full-time or part-time employee who works at least 20 hours per week and has been employed at least six months Tuition discounts available at Western Governors University for master's students Associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees
Best Buy $3,500 for undergraduate programs or $5,250 for graduate programs minus the amount you receive from scholarships, grants, and other funding Active, full-time Best Buy employees after six months of employment

Nationally accredited schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

Online schools must be members of the National University Continuing Education Association

Must be job-related

High school and college prep classes, first-time associate, bachelor's, or master's degrees

Other courses must be job-related

Abbott Laboratories

$7,000 per year for undergraduate programs

$10,000 per year for graduate classes

Employees with at least one year of full-time business experience Limited to business-relevant classes Undergraduate and graduate programs
Gap, Inc Up to $5,000 per year

Full-time employees in good standing after at least one year of employment

This includes employees at the following Gap companies: Old Navy, Banana Republic, Piperlime, Athleta, and Intermix

Courses taken at a regionally or nationally accredited institution Certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master's degrees
Intel

100% of tuition assistance for eligible schools and programs

Up to $50,000 per program

Unknown

Job-related degrees

Tuition for Teaching program available to employees receiving their first teaching certification in STEM to become a public school teacher

Undergraduate and master's programs
Comcast

$5,750 per year for undergraduate programs

$8,000 per year for graduate programs

Full tuition grants available for some colleges

Tuition discounts for family members available at some schools

Full-time employees with at least six months of employment May be limited to programs at partner schools Associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees
McDonald’s

$3,000 per year for full-time managers or staff at participating franchises

$2,500 per year for restaurant crew members and part-time employees at participating franchises

Full-time managers or staff who work at least 30 hours per week

Restaurant crew members and part-time employees who work an average of 15 hours per week

Limited to approved schools accredited by the U.S. Department of Education

Includes technical and vocational schools

Undergraduate and graduate programs
HCA Healthcare

$5,250 per year

Full funding available for some clinical programs

Scholarships and $50-100 in student loan assistance per month also available

Full and part-time employees with at least 90 days of employment

Tuition discounts available at Galen College of Nursing and Western Governors University

May be limited to partner schools

High school courses, English language classes, certificates, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees
Pizza Hut

$5,250 per year for salaried, full-time corporate employees

45% discount on undergraduate tuition and 15% off graduate tuition at Excelsior College for salary or hourly employees

Tuition reimbursement available to salaried, full-time corporate employees

Equity or franchise, salaried or hourly employees and their immediate family members are eligible for tuition discounts

Excelsior College Certificates, professional development courses, associate, bachelor’s, and master's degrees
Target

100% of tuition covered for select degrees through Dream to Be program

$5,250 per year for undergraduate degrees

$10,000 per year for graduate programs

All full and part-time employees eligible for Dream to Be program

Limited eligibility for traditional tuition reimbursement program

Dream to Be program limited to partner schools through Guild Education High school completion, college prep classes, English language classes, bootcamps, associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees
Home Depot

$5,000 per year for salaried employees

$3,000 per year for full-time hourly employees

$1,500 per year for part-time hourly employees

Salaried, full-time and part-time hourly employees Courses must be approved and offered by an accredited college, university or technical school Certificates, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
State of Florida Tuition and fee waiver for up to six credit hours per semester, limited to $5,250 per year Full-time, salaried employees State colleges and universities in Florida on a space-limited basis Undergraduate and graduate programs
Disney

100% of tuition paid

Reimbursement for books and fees

Full-time and part-time hourly employees through Disney Aspire program Limited to partner programs and schools, largely online Undergraduate and graduate programs
Papa John's

Up to 100% of tuition paid for corporate employees

Reduced tuition for franchise employees

Corporate team members and franchise employees Limited to online partner schools Associate, bachelor's and master's programs
T-Mobile

$5,250 per year for full-time employees

$2,500 per year for part-time employees

100% of tuition paid at some online schools

Active full and part-time employees in good standing after 90 days of employment Full tuition benefit limited to Ashford University, Capella University, Colorado Technical University, Kaplan or University of Phoenix (UoP) Undergraduate and graduate degrees
Boeing Up to $25,000 per year No annual limit for eligible STEM degrees and courses Unknown

Limited to Boeing-approved fields of study

Master's and doctoral students must remain at the company for 2 years

Certificates, courses, master's, and doctoral degrees

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