Lots of companies offer educational opportunities to employees, ranging from free degrees through partnering universities to tuition reimbursement for enrolling in programs within their respective fields.
Some of the largest companies offering these benefits include national food service corporations, retailers, banks, travel, and entertainment employers. However, these businesses aren't the only ones that offer tuition reimbursement or assistance — ask your human resources department or manager if there are any educational opportunities through your workplace.
There are also opportunities to get student loan assistance/forgiveness for working in high-need areas within healthcare, teaching, and public service.
Before pursuing tuition reimbursement and assistance, your first step should be filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid to see if you qualify for grants and scholarships. Depending on your financial situation, you may even qualify for free tuition at hundreds of schools, according to BestColleges.com. Check out how you can maximize your financial aid and navigate through it with confidence.
Jobs that Help Pay for College
These are employers who help pay for employees' college tuition, with some providing free tuition at partnered colleges and universities, some paying the university directly, and others reimbursing you after finishing a class/program.
Bank of America
Bank of America provides up to $7,500 annually in college tuition assistance for employees enrolling in job-related courses, degrees, and certifications.
BestBuy
Employees can earn certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and master's degrees for free through Strayer University.
You can also qualify for a 10% scholarship toward tuition at ASU.
Boeing
Boeing offers employees $5,000 to $25,000 per year for education, from individual courses to graduate degree programs. Boeing also promises 100% funding for some STEM programs. Tuition is paid directly to the school rather than reimbursed.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A offers $1,000, $2,500, and $25,000 scholarships to employees enrolling or planning to enroll in an undergraduate, graduate, or technical program the next year. You must be recommended by an operator, interim manager, or executive general manager and have at least a 2.5 GPA. Students must demonstrate financial need for the $25,000 scholarship.
Chipotle
As a Chipotle employee you can enroll in undergraduate programs, master's programs, certificate programs, bootcamps, high school completion, and college prep for up to $5,250 per year to five colleges and universities through Guild.
Disney
Employees can enroll in diploma programs, undergraduate degree programs, and English language courses for free at nine colleges and universities through the Disney Aspire program for full- and part-time employees. Students receive coaching, professional development resources, and reimbursement for required books and fees.
FedEx
FedEx provides up to $5,250 per year for college, trade, vocational, and technical programs and discounted tuition at Robert Morris University.
Nike
Nike's Lane Four program has self-paced programs through the University of Memphis Global where students can receive up to $5,250 per year for their education.
The Home Depot
Employees will receive 50% tuition reimbursement, or 100% for employees with American Heart Association CPR/AED and CKBD certifications, up to these values:
Full-time: $3,000
Part-time: $1,500
Salaried: $5,000
Students must earn a C or pass a pass/fail course to remain eligible.
Starbucks
The Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP) offers all employees free tuition at Arizona State University (ASU). The program awards students additional funding after they exhaust federal grants. Starbucks employees can sign up for SCAP by applying to ASU.
Employees who do not have a bachelor's degree, are benefits-eligible, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), can qualify for free tuition and fees at Arizona State University. Employees who don't meet admission requirements can earn admission through the Pathway to Admission program.
Target
Employees have up to $5,250 per year for undergraduate and certificate programs, and up to $10,000 per year for master's programs. Students have access to undergraduate and master's degrees, certificates, bootcamps, high school completion programs, and college prep.
UPS
Employees in select locations can sign up for the Earn & Learn program, which provides up to $5,250 per year, with a $25,000 lifetime maximum in any college subject.
Walgreens
The Walgreens Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program provides up to $40,000 total for pharmacy interns enrolled in a professional pharmacy program. Students must commit to working as a Walgreens pharmacist for:
16 months if they complete a three-year program
12 months if they complete a four-year program.
The reward amount corresponds to the hours you commit to working. If you receive the full $40,000 award, you will be expected to work at Walgreens for 48 months.
Walmart
Full- and part-time employees at Walmart and Sam's Club can take certificates, courses, and bachelor's degrees all for free, with no obligation to stay at Walmart after completing your education.
You must have 12 transferable credit hours to enroll in the bachelor's degrees at five participating universities. If you don't have transfer credits, you can earn them through foundational learning courses.
Wells Fargo
Full-time employees can qualify for an annual maximum of $5,250 ($2,625 for part-time employees) for eligible career-related classes. Students will receive reimbursement upon successful completion of classes.
Government Tuition Assistance Programs
These government assistance programs mostly present loan assistance/repayment for healthcare professionals, teachers, and public service workers. Some programs meet up to 85% of your outstanding loans; in return, you have to agree to work in a high-need area for a certain amount of time.
Other programs, like the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant and the federal work-study program, are grant awards that directly lower the cost of your education as you attend college.
Nursing
If you're a registered nurse, advanced practice registered nurse, or nurse faculty, you may qualify for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program. The program pays up to 85% of your unpaid student loan debt in exchange for serving at least two years in a Critical Shortage Facility or an eligible nursing school.
If you're accepted into the program, the program will pay for 60% of your outstanding loans over two years. You may be eligible for another 25% in return for a third year of service.
Health Professions
Physicians, dentists, social workers, therapists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can utilize one of four loan repayment programs from the National Health Service Corps.
You can apply to loan repayment plans that give you funds to repay your student loans if you meet service requirements like serving in a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Choose from four types of repayment plans:
NHSC Loan Repayment Program
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
Students to Service Loan Repayment Program
To qualify for the Loan Repayment Program, you must be a U.S. citizen or national, fully trained and licensed in an eligible discipline, have student loan debt for education related to your health profession, and be working or accepting employment at an approved site by your application deadline.
Public Service Professions
After working as an eligible public service employee and making 120 student loan payments over 10 years, you can qualify for forgiveness of all outstanding loans.
The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program is for full-time public service workers at:
Government agencies
501(c)(3), tax-exempt nonprofit organizations
Healthcare facilities
AmeriCorps
Peace Corps
Borrowers interested in PSLF must create an online account to determine their eligibility. The program's website includes a detailed how-to guide covering the application process.
Teaching
The TEACH Grant can provide up to $4,000 per year for your undergraduate or graduate degree in teaching. To qualify, you must agree to teach a high-need subject at a school serving low-income students for at least four years after graduation. If you violate the contract, you must pay back the grant as an unsubsidized loan with interest.
Federal Work-Study Program
The federal work-study program provides eligible students with financial need with part-time jobs through their college. Students will receive a total federal work-study award on their financial aid package from their school — that number is the total amount of money you can earn through work study. You'll earn an hourly wage that can earn up to that maximum amount.
You're not guaranteed to earn as much as the award on your package; you may work fewer hours or choose to decline work-study altogether.
