9 Companies That Will Pay for Your College Degree

On October 15, Chipotle announced that it will now be covering 100% of tuition costs up front for eligible employees to earn a degree in 75 different business and technology fields, debt-free, at the following universities:

• University of Arizona
• Bellevue University
• Brandman University
• Southern New Hampshire University
• Wilmington University

Chipotle employees can also seek up to $5,250 in tuition assistance reimbursements if they choose to pursue a degree outside Chipotle’s education benefits program. The program is run in partnership with tuition reimbursement and education platform Guild Education, which helps human resources and leadership and development professionals morph their standard tuition reimbursement from a typical cost center into a data-driven benefit and talent strategy.

Basically, Guild Education evaluates an organization’s tuition reimbursement program and then designs a recommendation that matches that organization’s business objectives, in order to create a more impactful program. For Chipotle, this means a highly curated selection of programs to choose from, with a focus on business and technology degrees, as those two areas play into Chipotle’s growth plan for both the company and the employees. Killing it tuition-assistance-wise isn’t a new move for Chipotle, which has distributed over $20 million dollars in tuition assistance over the last two years.

Even better? Chipotle isn’t the only company that invests in its employees. Here’s a snappy look at nine companies with tuition reimbursement plans that will help you achieve your wildest education dreams—within reason, of course.

1. Starbucks

Starbucks partnered with Arizona State University in June 2014 to create the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. The plan allows all eligible Starbucks employees working in the United States to earn their bachelor’s degree with full tuition coverage at ASU’s top-ranked online degree program. After scholarships and financial aid, any out-of-pocket tuition costs an employee has paid is reimbursed directly into their bank account at the end of the semester.

Both full-time and part-time employees are eligible for free tuition, but they must work at a regular company store (as opposed to a “licensed” coffee shop, like one in a grocery store). Employees are ineligible to participate if they already have a four-year degree.

2. BP

BP reimburses eligible employees for up to 90% of expenses for educational and vocational courses taken at an “accredited educational institution”, a definition which includes any schools, colleges, universities, trade schools, associations, vocational schools, and professional societies that offer coursework at a post-high school level. Employees must get approved to be reimbursed before they register for a course, and they must complete the course with a passing grade in order to be reimbursed.

3. GEICO

Geico offers to reimburse eligible full-time associates up to $5,250 per calendar year to further their education by obtaining a degree at a community or four-year college. Their plan covers application fees, tuition, course-related charges, and up to 75% of textbook costs.

4. Oracle

Oracle offers to reimburse eligible full-time employees up to $5,250 per year for courses related to their current and/or future responsibilities at Oracle, as long as the employee passes the course with a grade of “B-” or better.

5. Novartis

Novartis offers its employees up to 100% tuition reimbursement for “eligible expenses” (primarily courses related to an employee’s current or future role at Novartis) up to an annual maximum.

6. Genentech

Genentech offers eligible employees up to $10,000 per year in tuition reimbursements.

7. AT&T

AT&T offers eligible employees tuition reimbursement of up to $8,000 per year, with a lifetime cap of $25k for undergraduate costs and a lifetime cap of $30k for graduate costs.

8. Deloitte

Deloitte offers eligible employees $10,000 a year after at least one year of employment. Additionally, student loan refinancing and personal loan solutions are offered through various voluntary programs, which may allow participants to combine their private and federal student loans into one loan, consolidate credit card debt, or pay off a high-interest debt by obtaining a personal loan.

9. Bank of America

Bank of America offers up to $5,250 a year in tuition reimbursements for eligible employees who attend an accredited school listed in the American Council on Education publication.

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