A college education is necessary to be professionally competitive and to enter certain career paths (like law or medicine). Unfortunately, the price of college has been steadily climbing year after year. Students who entered college during the 2014-2015 school year can be expected to pay an average of $23,410 if they choose to attend an in-state public college.
Due to the high cost of college, many students are faced with the reality that they cannot afford college without sinking themselves into massive student loan debt.
At this point students have two choices: take out student loans to pay for their education or temporarily retiring their dreams of attending college. Neither choice is a good one.
Many businesses have stepped up to help their employees pay for college by adding a tuition reimbursement program to their benefits package. With these programs, companies help employees attend college by paying all or some of the student’s college costs. Individuals interested in attending college can seek a job at any one of the companies listed below.
Anthem
Employees Covered:Full-time and Part-Time (20+ hours).
Service Requirement:6 months.
Benefits Offered: free tuition for associates or bachelor’s degree from College for America at Southern New Hampshire University.
Chipotle
Employees Covered: Full-time, part-time, salaried and hourly.
Service Requirement: 1 year (unless you are a manager or a salaried employee).
Benefits Offered: 90% of tuition, books and other fees up to $5250 per year.
Deloitte
Graduate School Assistance Program
Employees Covered: All employees.
Service Requirement: 2 years. After graduation employees must remain with the company 2 additional years.
Benefits Offered: Full tuition when employees attend one of the twenty approved business schools.
Fiat Chrysler
Employees Covered: Full-time and part-time. (Only available to employee’s whose dealership paid the fee to participate in the program).
Service Requirement: 30 days.
Benefits Offered: 100% tuition, fees, and books when employees pursue an associate, masters, or bachelor’s degree from Strayer University.
Ford
Tuition Assistance
Employees Covered: Active, laid off, and retired employees.
Service Requirement: None.
Benefits Offered: Tuition, college fees, and up to $200 for textbooks. Active employees will receive up to $5,000 per year. Laid off employees will receive up to $8,400 one time. Retired employees can receive up to $1,750.
Home Depot
Employees Covered: Hourly or salaried full-time or part-time.
Service Requirement: 1 year.
Benefits Offered: Will help pay 50% of tuition cost, books, class registration fees, and 50% of mandatory fees up to a max of $250. Salaried associates can receive up to $5,000 per year, full-time hourly can receive up to $3,000 per year, part-time hourly can receive up to $1,500 per year. The coursework that students pursue must be related to the business of the company. All employees must receive a “c” or better in their classes.
Intel
Employees Covered: Full-time
Benefits Offered: 100% of reimbursable costs, tuition, texts, and certain fees up to $50,000 per work related program. Internal training available through Intel University.
JP Morgan Chase
Employees Covered: High performers.
Benefits Offered: Tuition assistance for a degree that aligns with the employee’s current job or long term professional goals (within the company).
Procter & Gamble
Tuition Reimbursement
Benefits Offered: 80% of educational fees. Maximum of $40,000.
Starbucks
College Achievement Plan
Employees Covered: Full-time and part-time employees.
Benefits Offered: 100% tuition when employees pursue a bachelor degree from Arizona State University’s online program.
By Samantha Stauf.
photo credit: Thumbs and degrees.JPG via photopin (license)
