Companies that Will Pay for Your College Degree

Top 30 Fortune 500 Companies That Will Pay for Your College Degree 

Many major Fortune 500 corporations offer direct tuition reimbursement to fund part-time or full-time higher education for their workforce. For high school students entering the job market, taking advantage of these programs offers a powerful path to earning a debt-free college degree or professional certification while gaining real-world work experience. These benefits aren't limited to entry-level retail or logistics roles either, most of these companies allow employees to leverage tuition coverage later in their careers for graduate school, MBAs, or specialized technical degrees. Choosing an employer with strong educational support gives students financial independence, career mobility, and a way to avoid taking on major student loan debt. 

1. Walmart

  • Program Overview: Through the Live Better U (LBU) program, Walmart pays 100% of tuition and book costs upfront for eligible part-time and full-time associates starting on their first day. Employees can pursue high school completion, trade certificates, and undergraduate degrees in high-demand fields without out-of-pocket costs.
  • Official Website: Walmart Live Better U

2. Amazon

  • Program Overview: The Amazon Career Choice program pre-pays 100% of tuition, required textbooks, and course fees up to an annual maximum for hourly employees who have worked at least 90 days. It covers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, industry certifications, and foundational education through partner schools.
  • Official Website: Amazon Career Choice

3. Target

  • Program Overview: Partnering with Guild Education, Target offers 100% debt-free tuition coverage for over 250 business-aligned undergraduate degree programs and certificates across 40+ institutions. For programs outside the primary network, Target reimburses up to $5,250 annually for undergraduate studies and up to $10,000 for graduate degrees.
  • Official Website: Target Education Benefits

4. Starbucks

  • Program Overview: The Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP) offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for benefits-eligible U.S. partners earning their first bachelor's degree online through Arizona State University. The program includes dedicated academic advising, covers over 140 degree paths, and has no post-graduation employment commitment.
  • Official Website: Starbucks College Achievement Plan

5. The Home Depot

  • Program Overview: The Home Depot offers direct tuition assistance to salaried, full-time hourly, and part-time hourly associates after 90 days of continuous service. Associates can receive up to $5,000 per year (full-time) or $2,500 per year (part-time) toward approved associate, bachelor's, or master's degree programs.
  • Official Website: The Home Depot Education Benefits

6. Bank of America

  • Program Overview: Bank of America provides up to $7,500 per year in upfront tuition assistance or reimbursement for eligible coursework and degree programs. The program is available to employees seeking job-related undergraduate or graduate education after meeting basic eligibility requirements.
  • Official Website: Bank of America Employee Benefits

7. Wells Fargo

  • Program Overview: Wells Fargo offers tuition reimbursement up to $5,000 per calendar year for eligible full-time and part-time employees pursuing approved degree programs. They also offer specialized scholarship programs for employees' dependents to support higher education costs.
  • Official Website: Wells Fargo Employee Benefits

8. Apple

  • Program Overview: Apple reimburses employees for formal education expenses, including tuition and textbooks for approved courses relevant to their career trajectory. Education assistance is offered alongside extensive internal learning pathways via Apple University.
  • Official Website: Apple Employee Benefits

9. Boeing

  • Program Overview: Through the Learning Together Program, Boeing provides 100% upfront funding or reimbursement for eligible college courses, certificate programs, and degrees in STEM, business, and supply chain fields. Boeing pays partner academic institutions directly to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for employees.
  • Official Website: Boeing Learning Together Program

10. AT&T

  • Program Overview: AT&T offers tuition assistance and reimbursement options to help full-time and part-time employees obtain degrees or professional certifications relevant to technology and business operations. The company also partners with select universities to provide discounted corporate tuition rates.
  • Official Website: AT&T Employee Benefits

11. Verizon

  • Program Overview: Verizon provides up to $8,000 per year in tuition assistance for full-time employees ($4,000 for part-time) pursuing approved undergraduate and graduate programs. Through institutional partnerships, Verizon also arranges direct billing to minimize out-of-pocket employee spending.
  • Official Website: Verizon Employee Benefits

12. UPS

  • Program Overview: The UPS Earn & Learn program offers up to $5,250 per calendar year ($25,000 lifetime maximum) in tuition assistance for eligible part-time and full-time package handlers and staff from day one of employment.
  • Official Website: UPS Earn & Learn

13. FedEx

  • Program Overview: FedEx offers tuition assistance starting on day one for most part-time and full-time package handlers and operations employees, reimbursing up to $5,250 annually for higher education courses.
  • Official Website: FedEx Ground Benefits

14. Comcast

  • Program Overview: Comcast NBCUniversal offers tuition reimbursement to support eligible full-time employees pursuing accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees related to business, communications, and technology.
  • Official Website: Comcast Employee Benefits

15. The Walt Disney Company

  • Program Overview: Disney Aspire covers 100% of upfront tuition, books, and administrative fees for eligible hourly employees pursuing trade certificates, associate degrees, or bachelor's degrees through partner universities.
  • Official Website: Disney Aspire Program

16. Google (Alphabet)

  • Program Overview: Google provides up to $12,000 per year in tuition reimbursement for employees taking accredited job-related education, alongside internal upskilling resources and certifications.
  • Official Website: Google Careers Benefits

17. Microsoft

  • Program Overview: Microsoft offers annual tuition reimbursement for approved undergraduate and graduate coursework in technology, engineering, and business disciplines to support employee professional development.
  • Official Website: Microsoft Life & Benefits

18. RTX (Raytheon Technologies)

  • Program Overview: The Employee Scholar Program (ESP) pays 100% of tuition, books, and fees directly to accredited universities for approved degree programs, offering paid study time off for eligible employees.
  • Official Website: RTX Employee Benefits

19. Lockheed Martin

  • Program Overview: Lockheed Martin reimburses 100% of eligible tuition and book costs up to annual policy limits for employees pursuing engineering, computer science, and business degrees aligned with the defense industry.
  • Official Website: Lockheed Martin Benefits

20. Procter & Gamble (P&G)

  • Program Overview: P&G offers a tuition assistance program that reimburses eligible employees up to 80% of tuition and fee expenses for approved degree programs that support current or future roles within the business.
  • Official Website: P&G Employee Benefits

21. Johnson & Johnson

  • Program Overview: J&J provides tuition reimbursement up to $10,000 per year for full-time employees enrolled in accredited degree programs aimed at advancing their healthcare, scientific, or managerial skills.
  • Official Website: Johnson & Johnson Benefits

22. CVS Health

  • Program Overview: CVS Health offers tuition assistance up to $3,000–$5,250 annually for eligible full-time and part-time staff, alongside discounted tuition rates through partner universities for pharmacy and business degrees.
  • Official Website: CVS Health Education Benefits

23. UnitedHealth Group

  • Program Overview: UnitedHealth Group offers up to $5,250 annually in tuition reimbursement for full-time employees pursuing accredited healthcare, IT, or business degree programs after completing 90 days of employment.
  • Official Website: UnitedHealth Group Careers Benefits

24. Chipotle

  • Program Overview: In partnership with Guild, Chipotle covers 100% of upfront tuition for select business and technology degrees for eligible crew members after 120 days of employment, as well as offering up to $5,250 in annual tuition reimbursement for other programs.
  • Official Website: Chipotle Cultivate Me Education

25. Discover Financial Services

  • Program Overview: Discover's The Discover College Commitment provides 100% upfront tuition coverage for bachelor's degrees in business, technology, and analytics through select online university partners, starting on day one of employment.
  • Official Website: Discover Employee Benefits

26. McDonald's

  • Program Overview: Through Archways to Opportunity, McDonald's restaurant employees working 15+ hours per week for 90 days can receive up to $2,500–$3,000 annually in upfront tuition assistance for high school completion, ESL, or college degrees.
  • Official Website: McDonald's Archways to Opportunity

27. T-Mobile

  • Program Overview: T-Mobile pays 100% of tuition directly to full-time and part-time employees enrolled in select online degree programs with partner universities after 90 days of employment, alongside traditional tuition reimbursement options.
  • Official Website: T-Mobile Employee Benefits

28. Capital One

  • Program Overview: Capital One reimburses eligible full-time and part-time associates up to $5,250 per year for approved undergraduate and graduate courses taken at accredited institutions.
  • Official Website: Capital One Benefits

29. Best Buy

  • Program Overview: Best Buy offers tuition reimbursement up to $3,500 per year for undergraduate studies and $5,250 per year for graduate studies to eligible full-time employees who have completed six months of service.
  • Official Website: Best Buy Benefits

30. Lowe's

  • Program Overview: Lowe's covers 100% of tuition for eligible full-time and part-time frontline associates through Guild Education, offering access to 50+ debt-free undergraduate programs and up to $2,500/year for other accredited programs.
  • Official Website: Lowe's Guild Education Portal