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Looking for a summer job with opportunities to continue working throughout the school year? This is exactly the right time to be job hunting! And as long as you are job hunting, why not focus on targeting companies that will actually help you in more ways than one??
Did you know that in addition to your hourly wage that you could ALSO get education benefits from many companies that hire student workers?? It’s true!!
Today, many companies offer tuition reimbursement, direct tuition payment programs, or even support for student loan repayment – and some of these companies offer these benefits even to part-time or seasonal workers! This could be a game-changer in helping you manage the costs of your education.
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Check for scholarshipsWhy are companies helping students?
Employers understand that the cost of higher education is too much for most students and families to bear, so they are stepping up to help out. Many of these companies are offering scholarships on the ScholarshipOwl platform, but there are also companies that offer support through company-sponsored employee benefits. By investing in students and employees, businesses are fostering a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce, boosting morale and loyalty, and ultimately enhancing their own competitiveness while also helping students like you forge a more affordable path to college. In fact, 61% of Gen Z students are seeking employment with companies that offer education benefits.
Job search strategies
If you’re interested in working for a company that offers education benefits, follow these tips:
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Focus on companies that you know offer education benefits.
Check our list below to get you started.
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Research each company’s policies regarding education benefits.
While many companies do offer education benefits, most of them have established parameters around that benefit. For example, you might need to have accrued a minimum number of work hours before you can access education benefits, or you might have to work for the company for at least one year to qualify, etc. So when targeting companies to apply to, do some research online to determine which companies offer education benefits to part-time / seasonal employees, and which companies offer these benefits to employees early-on in their employment.
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Target companies with multiple locations.
Many retailers, restaurants and service businesses have multiple locations. If you live with your family during the summer, and on or near your college during the school year, it’s smart to aim for continuity with your employment. You can work at the location near your home during breaks, and at the location near your college part-time while in school. By working year-round, you’re more likely to be eligible for available education benefits.
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Aim for long-term employment with one company to get you through your college education.
Rather than switching jobs every year, specifically plan on working at one company while you are in college so that you can maximize your opportunities with their education benefits, and potentially significantly reduce your out of pocket cost for college.
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Prioritize companies and industries that align with your career goals.
Consider how a job at a particular company, even a summer job, could potentially contribute to your long-term educational and career goals, especially if they offer benefits that support your studies.
Employers you’ll want to target
Keep an eye out for jobs at these companies that are investing in your future:
Amazon
After 90 days of employment, Amazon employees can access the Amazon Career Choice program. Through this program, employees can access pre-paid college tuition as well as reimbursement for the cost of books and fees, up to an annual limit. Employees can choose from more than 400 education partners offering associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees and certificates. Partner schools include on-campus and virtual campus options. will cover tuition and fees
Apple
Full-time Apple employees can access the Apple Education Reimbursement program to receive up to $5,250 per year in tuition reimbursement for two-year and four-year degree programs. In addition, employees can access training through Apple University, an in-house education program .
AT&T
Both part-time and full-time AT&T employees are eligible for up to $5,250 in tuition assistance annually after a minimum of six months of employment. Textbooks and supplies may also be eligible for reimbursement.
Bank of America
Similar to AT&T, Bank of America’s part-time and full-time employees are eligible for tuition assistance after at least six months of employment. They can receive up to $7,500 in tuition assistance annually for undergraduate degree or certificate programs that are relevant to a career path at Bank of America.
Best Buy
In 2025, Best Buy announced expansion of their education benefits for both full-time and part-time U.S. employees. On the first day of employment, employees become immediately eligible though Strayer University’s Degrees@Work program. This program enables employees to complete certificates, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees. Employees can choose from a areas of study that benefit both the employee and employer, including business and information technology. Employees can also complete college-level general education classes through Sophia Learning, an online learning platform.
Boeing
Boeing offers their employees the Learning Together Program immediately upon beginning employment. This program covers up to 100% of the cost for tuition, books and fees for programs related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at over 300 partner schools. Funds are paid directly to the school, so the employee doesn’t have to front those costs and then wait for reimbursement. For students interested in other courses of study, Boeing provides up to $15,000 annually for tuition reimbursement for an undergraduate degree, and up to $25,000 per year for a graduate degree.
Capital One
Both full-time and part-time employees of Capitol One are eligible for tuition reimbursement that begins on their date of hire for courses that begin on or after beginning their employment with the company. The Capitol One Education Assistance program reimburses up to $5,250 per year for tuition, fees, and textbooks. In addition, employees can choose from over 200 schools and programs to receive a tuition discount.
CarMax
CarMax offers reimbursement of qualified education expenses to eligible employees. Administered by Edcor, qualified education expenses include tuition, textbooks, and course fees.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A employees can access multiple programs to help them cover the cost of college. Their Remarkable Futures Scholarship awards select employees scholarships of $1,000, $2,000, and $25,000 to employees. Employees can also access discounted tuition through Scholarship America’s Tuition Reduction Network by AllCampus Network. Chick-fil-A’s Grow U program offers coverage of 100% of tuition for either online or on campus classes at Point University, a private evangelical Christian institution in West Point, GA.
Chipotle
Full-time and part-time employees of Chipotle who have worked for at least 120 days averaging 15 hours per week are eligible for the company’s tuition reimbursement program, up to $5,25o annually. Employees who enroll in one of several designated degrees through the Guild education platform can access a tuition-free bachelor’s or master’s degree in areas such as business, technology, culinary arts, hospitality, and agriculture.
Comcast
Full-time Comcast employees are eligible for tuition assistance up to $5,750 per year if the employee chooses a Comcast-approved degree program.
Discover
Credit card company Discover offers U.S. full-time and part-time employees education benefits from date of hire through it’s Shine Brighter U program. The program is offered through the Guild education platform, offering specified associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees tuition-free. Alternatively, employees can access up to $5,250 per year for bachelor’s degree programs and up to $10,000 per year for graduate degree programs at in-network schools.
Disney
Disney offers the Disney Aspire program to U.S. part-time and full-time employees who have worked at least 180 days for the company. Through Disney Aspire, employees can access up to $5,250 at several partner schools through the Guild education platform.
FedEx
FedEx employees in the U.S. and Canada can access up to $5,250 annually to support employees pursuing a college degree or attending trade, vocational, or technical school.
Ford Company
Full-time employees at Ford Company can access up to $6,000 per year in tuition and fees after completing 90 days of employment.
GEICO
Through GEICO Strive, GEICO provides payment of tuition costs up to $5,250 per year for full-time employees choosing one of 220 schools and education providers. Options include in-person, hybrid, and online programs.
Google’s Educational Leave program helps employees cover the cost of a master’s degree. Google also matches employee’s student loan payments up to $2,500 per year to help them pay off their student debt.
Home Depot
Home Depot offers tuition reimbursement to employees upon their hire date. Employees may receive up to 50% of the tuition cost of an undergraduate or graduate degree and certain technical / trade school coursework, subject to annual limits. Salaried employees may receive up to $5,000 annually; hourly full-time employees may receive up to $3,000 annually; and part-time employees may receive up to $1,500 per year.
Kroger
Eligible employees at Kroger can receive up to $3,500 annually, up to a maximum of $21,000 in tuition reimbursement throughout their employment.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s full-time employees who have worked at least one year for the company can access the Guild education platform to receive tuition assistance for specific bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. In addition, Lowe’s offers up to $2,500 annually toward tuition for programs outside of the Guild platform.
McDonald’s
For franchise employees who have worked at least 90 days, McDonald’s provides up to $3,000 per year in tuition support for employees who work at least 30 hours per week. Employees working at least 15 hours per week are eligible for up to $2,500 per year. Employee’s of corporate-owned establishments may receive up to $5,250 per year.
Papa John’s
After working at least 90 days at a minimum of 20 hours per week, Papa John’s employees are eligible for up to 100% tuition reimbursement for specific online colleges through their Dough and Degrees program. Employees can choose any major. Note that benefits may vary depending on if the establishment is corporate-owned or a franchise.
Publix
Publix offers up to $4,000 per year in tuition assistance at a four-year college or university, or up to $2,200 per year at a two-year school or community college, up to a maximum limit of $16,000 throughout employment.
Starbucks
For employees who have worked 240 hours and continue to work at least 20 hours per week, Starbucks will cover the full tuition cost for eligible employees enrolled in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. This program is a partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) Online. Employees may choose from over 150 online programs offered by ASU Online. To participate, you must not yet have earned a bachelor’s degree, and you must be benefits-eligible, as determined by criteria set by Starbucks.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell’s Tacos & Tuition program supports employees by helping to pay for their education at designated accredited schools. Note that not all franchise locations offer this benefit, so if looking for a job, you’ll want to focus only on locations that offer this benefit.
Target
Target offers their Dream to be Program to both full-time and part-time employees. This program covers 100% of the tuition costs for select programs, and up to $5,250 for other undergraduate programs. Employees can also receive up to $10,000 per year for graduate programs. 100% of required books and fees are also covered.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile part-time and full-time employees who have worked at least 90 days can access full tuition coverage through one of their college partners. In addition, employees who choose other colleges can receive up to $5,250 in tuition assistance if they are full-time, or up to $2,500 if they are part-time.
UPS
The UPS Earn and Learn program provides tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year to part-time and full-time employees beginning on their date of hire, up to a lifetime maximum of $25,000. Employees are eligible for the program as soon as they start work.
Verizon
The Verizon Tuition Assistance Program (VZTAP) provides tuition reimbursement for full-time employees at participating locations. If the education program is relevant to the company, then Verizon will reimburse up to $8,000 for tuition each year. If the program is not relevant to the company, then Verizon will reimburse up to $5,250 per year.
Walgreens
Walgreens provides education assistance to pharmacy students each year they are enrolled in a professional pharmacy program while also working as a pharmacy intern at Walgreen’s. Through the Walgreens Pharmacy Educational Assistance Program (PEAP), Walgreens pharmacy interns may receive up to $40,000 in education assistance. In addition, Walgreens employees who are not pharmacy interns may be eligible to receive a tuition discount of 10% to 40% at specific partner universities throughout the country.
Walmart & Sam’s Club
Through the Live Better U program, Walmart and Sam’s Club offer full-time and part-time employees coverage of all tuition and fees at one of their partner online colleges after 90 days of employment. The program covers 1oo% of these costs, except for $1 per day which is the employee’s responsibility.
Wells Fargo
Full-time and part-time benefits-eligible Wells Fargo employees can access offers up to $5,000 in tuition coverage per year.
Potential pitfalls
It’s important to note that the eligibility criteria, the amount of tuition reimbursement offered, and the types of educational programs covered can differ significantly from company to company. Some programs might require you to be a full-time employee for a certain period, while others extend benefits to part-time staff. Some might focus on specific fields of study that align with their business needs, while others offer more flexibility.
Key takeaways
By proactively seeking out potential employers that offer education benefits, you’ll be able to not only earn income from a job, but you’ll also be able to strategically invest in your future education with the help of your employer. It’s literally a win-win, since you want to work anyway!
The landscape of work is changing, and the value of continuous learning is becoming increasingly clear. Take the time to explore companies that see their employees’ education as a valuable investment – it could be the key to unlocking your next level of career and personal growth, starting with your summer job!
