Most people have no idea their employer will pay for their education. According to InStride, only 1 in 4 employees who are interested in tuition reimbursement benefits actually start an application. That means 75% of eligible workers are leaving free education money on the table.

We compiled this list from official company benefits pages, verified reporting from BestColleges, and education platform data. Every company listed below has a confirmed, active tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance program for US-based employees.

How Tuition Reimbursement Works

Before we get into the list, here is how these programs generally work.

Tuition reimbursement is an employee benefit where your employer pays for part or all of your college education. The specifics vary by company, but most programs share a few common features. There is usually an annual cap on how much the company will pay (often $5,250 per year, which is the IRS tax-free limit for employer educational assistance). You typically need to be employed for a minimum period before you are eligible. Coursework usually needs to be related to your role or career path within the company. You generally need to maintain a minimum GPA (often a B or C average) to qualify for reimbursement.

Some companies reimburse you after you complete a course and submit your grades, while others pay the school directly up front so you never have to float the cost yourself. The direct-pay model is a significant advantage since many employees cannot afford to pay tuition out of pocket while waiting for reimbursement.

The IRS allows employers to provide up to $5,250 per year in tax-free educational assistance per employee. Amounts above that threshold are taxable as income.

Full List of Companies That Pay for College

Technology

Amazon offers its Career Choice program, which provides prepaid tuition for eligible hourly employees pursuing approved education pathways including associate and bachelor's degrees, industry certifications, and GED completion. The program is available after 90 days of employment. Tuition is paid directly to participating institutions, so employees never have to pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement. Amazon also provides career coaching and college advising through the program.

Apple reimburses certain education expenses including tuition for employees pursuing formal education through its Educational Assistance Program (administered by Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions). Employees can also attend Apple University for internal professional development. The annual maximum is reported at $5,250 for full-time employees.

AT&T offers between 50% and 100% tuition assistance depending on the employee's department, covering over 131 certificate programs. The company also offers tuition reimbursement for specific certifications in related fields like electronics and finance. Reimbursement is $5,250 annually for full-time employees and $2,625 to $3,937.50 for part-time employees depending on hours.

Comcast provides up to $5,250 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $8,000 per year for graduate programs. Eligible employees can enroll in online programs from the University of Maryland Global Campus through the Bright Horizons Smart Track program.

Google offers up to $12,000 per year in tuition reimbursement to employees with over 90 days of employment.

Intel provides tuition reimbursement for eligible employees pursuing degrees at accredited colleges and universities related to their career development.

Microsoft offers tuition reimbursement for full-time employees.

Retail

Best Buy covers tuition for full-time and part-time employees through a partnership with Strayer University's Degrees@Work program, offering a debt-free education path. The company also provides tuition reimbursement for approved undergraduate and graduate coursework at accredited institutions.

Chipotle offers tuition-free associate and bachelor's degrees through its partnership with Guild Education, covering programs at 20+ schools. For coursework outside those partner schools, Chipotle provides tuition reimbursement of up to $5,250 per year ($2,625 each half-year period). Most part-time and all regular full-time workers are eligible. Benefits can extend to immediate family members.

Chick-fil-A awards Remarkable Futures Scholarships of up to $25,000 to eligible full-time and part-time employees every year, with additional $2,000 and $1,000 awards. These can be used at any accredited institution.

Home Depot reimburses up to 50% of tuition expenses with yearly maximums of $5,000 for full-time salaried employees, $3,000 for full-time hourly employees, and $1,500 for part-time hourly employees.

Kroger provides up to $3,500 per year in tuition reimbursement with a lifetime maximum of $21,000.

Lowe's offers 100% tuition-free select programs through Guild Education, or up to $2,500 per year for other programs in Guild's catalog.

McDonald's provides tuition assistance of up to $5,250 per year for certain full-time managers and $2,500 annually for other crew members and part-time employees through the Archways to Opportunity program.

Starbucks covers 100% of tuition and fees through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP), offering over 150 online bachelor's degree programs through Arizona State University. Available to both full-time and part-time employees. More than 18,000 Starbucks partners have earned their first bachelor's degree through this program since it launched in 2014.

Target funds partial and full tuition for select college courses, boot camps, bachelor's degree programs, and master's degree assistance through its Dream to Be program.

Walmart offers a debt-free education through its Live Better U program, covering curated degrees and skills certificates in business, supply chain, cybersecurity, data, healthcare, and leadership. Associates pay $1 per day. The program includes partnerships that streamline admissions, advising, and credit transfer.

Finance and Banking

Bank of America provides up to $7,500 per year in tuition assistance or reimbursement for eligible job-related courses, degrees, or certifications. The program also includes access to a network of schools offering discounted tuition and waived fees.

Capital One offers up to $5,250 per year in tuition assistance paid up front for tuition, textbooks, and eligible course fees at over 300 colleges and universities.

Discover provides up to $5,250 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $10,000 per year for graduate programs. Through its Shine Brighter U program with Guild Education, all US-based employees can access 100% free tuition for select bachelor's degrees.

Fidelity offers up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement and also provides student loan debt assistance of up to $15,000 toward employee student loan balances. Through Guild, eligible full-time employees get 100% free tuition for select undergraduate programs.

JPMorgan Chase provides up to $5,250 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $7,500 per year for graduate programs. Through Guild, the company also offers 100% tuition payment for select programs.

GEICO offers the GEICO Strive program, providing prepaid tuition and fees via partnerships with colleges and universities, as well as tuition discounts at partner institutions.

Allstate covers up to $5,250 per year for both undergraduate and graduate programs. After at least one year of employment, the company also covers the total cost of tuition for select courses, boot camps, and professional certificates through Guild.

Healthcare and Pharma

Baxter International provides up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement for undergraduate courses and tuition assistance for graduate courses with management approval.

Cigna offers up to $5,250 per year through Guild for select learning programs, plus tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year for approved programs outside the Guild catalog and up to $10,300 per year for pre-selected MBA cohorts.

UnitedHealth Group offers tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing degrees related to their career development.

Automotive and Manufacturing

Boeing provides up to $15,000 per year for bachelor's degrees, $7,500 per year for associate degrees, and up to $25,000 per year for graduate programs. The company also covers up to 100% funding for STEM programs, $10,000 per year for certificate programs, and $5,000 per year for individual courses.

Ford offers up to $8,000 per year through its Employee Tuition Assistance Plan (ETAP) for eligible GED, associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs related to the employee's job. Additional programs include Professional Development Assistance (PDA) at $4,000 per year and PDA Educational Enrichment courses at $1,500 per year.

Logistics and Shipping

FedEx provides up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement for college degrees and trade, vocational, or technical certificates, with no lifetime maximum. Employees also get tuition discounts at partner universities.

UPS offers up to $5,250 per year with a lifetime maximum of $25,000. Employees are eligible for tuition assistance from their first day of employment and can use it for any subject of their choice.

Food and Beverage

Papa John's offers tuition assistance through its Dough and Degrees program in partnership with Purdue University Global.

Taco Bell offers Live Mas Scholarships and tuition assistance through Guild Education.

Entertainment and Hospitality

Disney covers tuition costs through the Disney Aspire program for eligible full-time and part-time hourly US workers pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees at partner universities including the University of Central Florida, Cal State Fullerton, and North Carolina A&T State University. Disney pays schools directly so employees do not need to pay and wait for reimbursement.

Herschend Enterprises provides up to $5,250 per year and offers 100% free tuition for select programs through its GROW U. program with Guild.

Insurance

Anthem (Elevance Health) offers tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing eligible degree programs.

Other Notable Companies

Adidas provides up to $5,250 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $10,000 per year for graduate programs, offering upfront tuition coverage at Arizona State University. Employees' families can also access over 200 degree and certificate programs.

Carvana provides up to $5,250 per year for eligible full-time employees plus an additional 20% scholarship toward an online bachelor's degree from Arizona State University.

T-Mobile offers tuition assistance for eligible employees pursuing approved degree programs.

Verizon provides tuition reimbursement through its education benefits program.

Companies That Pay 100% of Tuition (No Out-of-Pocket Cost)

Some companies go beyond the standard $5,250 cap and cover the full cost of tuition at partner schools with no out-of-pocket expense for the employee. These "debt-free education" programs are the gold standard. Here are the companies with confirmed full-tuition programs:

• Starbucks - 100% tuition for 150+ online bachelor's programs through Arizona State University
• Amazon - Full prepaid tuition at partner institutions for hourly employees (Career Choice program)
• Disney - Full tuition at partner universities through Disney Aspire (pays schools directly)
• Walmart - Debt-free degree programs through Live Better U ($1/day contribution)
• Chipotle - 100% tuition for select programs at 20+ partner schools through Guild
• Best Buy - Debt-free education through Strayer University partnership
• Boeing - Up to 100% for STEM programs, up to $25,000/year for graduate degrees

How to Take Advantage of Tuition Reimbursement

Many employees do not use their tuition benefits simply because they do not know they exist. Here is how to find out if you are eligible and how to make the most of it.

Step 1: Check your employee handbook or benefits portal. Most companies list tuition assistance under benefits or professional development. If you cannot find it, ask your HR department directly.

Step 2: Understand the requirements before you enroll. Most programs require pre-approval before you start coursework. Enrolling first and asking for reimbursement later is the most common reason employees get denied.

Step 3: Choose a program that qualifies. Many companies restrict reimbursement to accredited institutions and degree programs related to your job or career path. Some have partner schools where tuition is fully covered versus partial reimbursement at non-partner schools.

Step 4: Maintain the minimum GPA. Most programs require you to earn a B average or better. Some accept a C or above. Failing a course or dropping below the GPA threshold typically means you pay for that semester yourself.

Step 5: Understand the service commitment. Some companies require you to stay employed for a certain period after completing your education (often one to two years). Leaving before that period may mean you have to repay the tuition assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much tuition reimbursement can I get tax-free?

Under IRS Section 127, employers can provide up to $5,250 per year in educational assistance tax-free. This covers tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment. Amounts above $5,250 are treated as taxable income.

Can part-time employees get tuition reimbursement?

Yes, many companies offer tuition assistance to part-time employees. Starbucks, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Amazon, and Disney all extend education benefits to part-time workers, though the reimbursement amount may be lower than for full-time employees.

Do I have to pay tuition upfront?

It depends on the company. Some programs (like Amazon Career Choice, Disney Aspire, and Starbucks SCAP) pay the school directly so you never have to pay out of pocket. Others reimburse you after you complete a course and submit your grades, which means you need to cover the cost upfront.

Can I use tuition reimbursement for an online degree?

Yes. Most companies accept online programs from accredited institutions. In fact, many of the full-tuition programs listed above are specifically designed for online education, since that makes it easier for working employees to complete their degrees.

Do I have to stay at the company after completing my degree?

Many companies include a service agreement requiring you to stay employed for one to two years after your education is completed. If you leave before the service period ends, you may be required to repay all or part of the tuition assistance.

Can I use tuition reimbursement for a master's degree or MBA?

Yes, many companies cover graduate programs. Boeing offers up to $25,000 per year for graduate degrees. Cigna covers up to $10,300 per year for pre-selected MBA cohorts. Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Discover all offer between $5,250 and $10,000 per year for graduate studies.

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