Jobs That Pay for College: 10+ Tuition Reimbursement Companies

Approximately 47% of employers offer tuition reimbursement as an employee benefit, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, but only 2% of employees take advantage of it. That’s like leaving money on the table, especially if you’re a college or graduate students. If you are planning to work through college anyway, why not start your career with an employer that will make attending college less expensive for you? Finding jobs that pay for college is one of the smartest ways to reduce student debt while gaining real-world experience. This is a great summer, part-time job idea! Additionally, you'll gain invaluable work experience that could mean a full-time position within the company – or elsewhere – after graduation. Below, you'll find 10+ companies that offer tuition assistance, including part-time jobs with education benefits. A few of these companies are also offering student-focused perks to part-time employees.

Companies that Cover All Tuition

In recent years, companies that pay for college tuition have announced that they will begin covering 100% of college costs for their employees. These are big-name companies that likely have a retail center, office space, or distribution center near you.

Target's Debt-Free Degrees

Target offers its employees free college tuition to 40+ colleges and universities across the United States. The retail giant will also cover course fees and textbooks. This perk is available for part-time employees, making it one of the best part-time jobs with tuition assistance. Target’s Debt-Free Degrees pays institutions directly. Additionally, graduate students can earn up to $5,250 for non-master’s degrees and up to $10,000 for master’s degrees.

Amazon Career Choice

Amazon isn't just covering college tuition for employees. It will also provide funding for course costs, textbooks, and fees. After 90 days of work, employees can have their semester pre-paid by Amazon. This makes Amazon one of the top employers that cover college costs for workers at all levels.

Walmart Live Better U

Walmart employees can earn high school diplomas, college degrees, skilled trades, and professional certificates at no cost. The company will cover all costs for select online programs from universities like The University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, and Purdue University. This tuition assistance program is available for part-time employees.

Spectrum's Education Benefit

Full-time employees at Spectrum Communications are eligible for their education benefit, which covers 100% of tuition for select online degrees and certificate programs. Employees can earn degrees and certificates through Guild, which will help them gain in-demand skills and discover new career opportunities.

Starbucks College Achievement Plan

Once employees become "benefits eligible" at Starbucks, they can take advantage of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. This tuition reimbursement program covers 100% tuition through Arizona State University's online program. Full-time employees become benefits eligible after 60 calendar days of employment, whereas part-time employees reach this milestone once they've worked 240 total hours over three consecutive months.

Companies that Provide Tuition Reimbursement

Not all companies cover the full cost of tuition, but the amount of tuition reimbursement they do provide is enough to make a large dent in what students will pay. Additionally, many of these tuition reimbursement programs are available to part-time employees, allowing students to receive compensation in addition to being reimbursed for a portion of their tuition.

Home Depot's Tuition Reimbursement Program

At Home Depot, full-time salary employees can receive up to $5,000 a year, full-time hourly employees $3,000, and part-time hourly up to $1,500 per year. Tuition reimbursement can be applied to the college, university, or technical school of the employee's choice, if the courses meet eligibility requirements.

UPS Earn and Learn Tuition Assistance Program

UPS employees can claim up to $5,250, with a lifetime maximum of $25,000, and are eligible for tuition assistance on the first day that they're hired. Employees can use their tuition assistance on any subject of their choice. This makes UPS one of the fastest ways to access employer-paid education.

Publix Tuition Reimbursement

Publix offers tuition assistance to employees who take courses that contribute to their job performance, enroll in occupational or technical programs, or acquire undergraduate degrees in select majors. Employees can claim up to $4,000 per year and a lifetime maximum of $16,000. For other courses, programs, and majors not specified by Publix, employees can receive up to $2,200 per year, with a lifetime maximum of $4,400. This benefit is available to both full-time and part-time employees. They just need to work a minimum of 10 hours per week. Employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement after 90 days of employment.

Lowe's Tuition-Free Education Assistance

Full-time employees at Lowe's are eligible for up to $2,500 per year to assist with tuition, fees, and books. Tuition assistance is available for Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees, covering education at every level.

Apple Tuition Reimbursement

At Apple, full-time employees can receive up to $5,250 per year toward college costs. Employees can also take advantage of free courses at Apple University to enhance financial, software, and business skills. Apple's program combines tuition reimbursement with professional development opportunities.

Wells Fargo Tuition Reimbursement

Wells Fargo employees will be awarded up to $5,000 per year toward education expenses. Part-time employees can earn $2,500. They also provide scholarships for the dependent children of employees, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. This makes Wells Fargo a family-friendly option for employees seeking education benefits.

Companies that Offer Employee Scholarships

In addition to tuition reimbursement, some employers offer scholarships to employees as well as the children of employees. These employee scholarships provide additional financial support beyond standard education benefits and recognize employees that are making a difference in their workplace.

Feeding Student Success Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000 Eligibility: The Feeding Student Success Scholarship Program is open to Black and other minority students who reside across Whataburger's footprint in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas.

Archways to Opportunities Program

Award Amount: Up to $5,250 Eligibility: The Archways to Opportunities Program is open to restaurant managers, office staff, and crew members employed by participating McDonald's Franchise Owner / Operators in the United States. You must be working an average of 15 hours per week to be eligible for this award.

Remarkable Futures True Inspiration Scholarships

Award Amount: Up to $25,000 Eligibility: The Remarkable Futures True Inspiration Scholarship is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are team members of Chick-fil-A. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and be active in your school and community, demonstrate a strong work ethic, leadership abilities, good teamwork, and a desire to succeed to qualify for this award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tuition reimbursement may be a fairly new concept to high school and college students. With that, here are the most common questions about this incredible employee benefit:

How does tuition reimbursement work?

Generally, tuition reimbursement, or tuition assistance, is offered to part-time and full-time employees of a company. If the employee meets eligibility standards, the company will offer to pay a portion or all of their tuition at an institution of higher learning. Most programs require students to meet minimum academic standards in order to keep qualifying. Some employers may require employees to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to qualify as well.

Is tuition reimbursement taxable?

The IRS states that anything below is $5,250 not taxable. However, any assistance provided beyond that is considered taxable wages.

Do you have to pay back tuition reimbursement if you quit?

Typically, companies have employees sign a contract that states they will remain with the company for a specific time to take advantage of tuition reimbursement. You cannot simply get the funds and then quit that job. Rather, most companies will require employees to work for a set amount of time after receiving the funds -- or they will need to be paid back.

Which companies offer tuition reimbursement for part-time employees?

Many of the above companies offer tuition assistance to part-time employees. If you would like to take advantage of this benefit, it's best to speak with your manager directly about potential opportunities. They will know if it's offered at your place of employment and can point you to the correct people and resources.

Next Steps: Apply for Tuition Reimbursement

Working for companies that pay for college tuition is a powerful way to reduce student debt while building your career. Whether you choose employers that cover 100% of tuition or those offering substantial tuition reimbursement, you're making a smart financial decision. Start exploring these part-time jobs with tuition assistance today, and turn your work schedule into a pathway to a debt-free degree.