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Whether you’re a current high school or college student looking for a part-time job or are currently in the workforce but considering going back to school, know that there are a multitude of national companies that offer tuition reimbursement for employees. College is expensive, so if you plan to work while earning your degree or before enrolling, consider one of these companies to cut down on your educational costs at the same time!
Note that not all companies offer tuition assistance, and each company that does sets its own policies about approved institutions, majors, and classes. Some employers work directly with a specific institution, whereas others will allow tuition assistance to be used at any accredited college. Additionally, some companies require that any coursework for which they’re paying be directly related to an employee’s current job. If your company limits your choices, make sure you truly want to pursue a certain field before signing up for courses.
Amount: Up to $5,250 per year in reimbursed education expenses for graduate-level courses, or $3,500 per year for undergraduate-level courses
Eligibility: Full-time employees who have been with the company for at least six months
Amount: Up to $5,250 in annual tuition assistance
Eligibility: Hourly restaurant employees who have been with the company for at least one year
Other Information: Employees can also earn up to 44 college credits through on-the-job training
Amount: Up to $3,200 per year in reimbursed education expenses, with a lifetime maximum of $12,800
Eligibility: Part-time employees who have been with the company for at least six months and work an average of 10 hours per week
Other Information: Employees can elect to take individual courses or pursue a bachelor’s degree; individual courses must be related to the employee’s current job area, bachelor’s degrees must be in one of 15 approved majors
Amount: The portion of tuition not covered by federal financial aid (students must complete the FAFSA) at Arizona State University; assistance is available until a bachelor’s degree is earned
Eligibility: Employees who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree and who have worked at least half time for three months
Other Information: Over 60 majors are offered; courses must be completed online
Amount: Up to $5,250 per year in reimbursed educational expenses, with a lifetime maximum of $25,000
Eligibility: Part-time package handlers become eligible on the day that they’re hired
Amount: 15% tuition grant if students attend American Public University or American Military University
Eligibility: Part- and full-time employees become eligible on the day that they’re hired
Other Information: Part-time employees who held an approved position for at least three years and full-time employees who held an approved position for one or two years (depending on the position) may be able to earn college credits for on-the-job training
Other companies, including AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon also offer tuition assistance to their employees (though detailed information isn’t readily available online). In fact, the IRS allows employers to set aside up to $5,250 in tax-free funds for each of their employees every year. Not all companies take advantage of this, but the only way to find out for sure is to talk to an HR representative. Fingers crossed your company will help pay for some of your education, whether you want to take continuing ed classes or get your first degree!
