Companies That Pay for College: 18 Employer Programs Compared

Companies that pay for college include Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Chipotle, FedEx, UPS, Best Buy and Bank of America. Some prepay tuition at partner schools; others reimburse you up to a yearly cap, often $5,250, which is also the federal tax-free limit for 2026. We checked each of the 18 employers below on its own official page in October 2026.

The table compares what each program covers, how much it pays, whether part-time workers qualify and how long you wait. After that you'll find notes on the most-searched programs, a checklist for choosing between them and the catches to watch for.

Key Takeaways

• FedEx, UPS and Chipotle each list up to $5,250 a year in education benefits; UPS adds a $25,000 lifetime maximum, while FedEx says there is no lifetime maximum while you work there.
• Walmart's Live Better U and Target's Dream to Be are open to part-time and full-time workers from day one, but only for programs in each company's catalog.
• Amazon Career Choice prepays tuition of up to $5,250 a year and is listed for regular full-time and part-time employees after 90 days of employment.
• Starbucks covers 100% of upfront tuition for a first-time bachelor's degree through Arizona State University's online program, for benefits-eligible U.S. partners who file the FAFSA.
• Bank of America lists up to $7,500 a year for job-related courses, degrees and certifications, which is above the $5,250 federal tax-free cap.
• Most programs limit which schools you can use, cap the yearly amount or require you to stay employed, so read the policy before you choose a job for its tuition benefit.

Companies That Pay for College: 18 Employers Compared

"Not stated" means the official page we checked did not give that detail, not that the answer is no. Ask HR or a recruiter to confirm before you rely on it.

Companies That Offer Tuition Reimbursement vs. Prepaid Tuition

If you're comparing companies who offer tuition reimbursement, start with how the money moves. Companies that offer tuition reimbursement, such as FedEx and Best Buy, generally pay you back after a course ends. You front the tuition, then submit grades and receipts. That works if you have savings or a payment plan, but it can be hard on a paycheck-to-paycheck budget.

Prepaid programs, such as Amazon Career Choice, Walmart Live Better U, Target Dream to Be and the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, pay the school directly. You owe little or nothing at the start of the term, but you usually choose from a set catalog of schools and programs. A third model is the competitive scholarship, like Chick-fil-A's, where you apply and only some workers win.

Home Depot Tuition Reimbursement

Home Depot's benefits page says it offers "tuition reimbursement options and scholarships, as well as discounted tuition rates at partner universities and colleges." It does not publish a dollar cap there. A company article says Home Depot has granted part-time, full-time and salaried associates more than $131 million in tuition reimbursement over a 12-year period, so part-timers have used it. Ask your store's HR contact for the current cap and waiting period.

Target Tuition Reimbursement: Dream to Be

Target's Dream to Be is open to U.S. team members, part-time or full-time, from their first day. Target's September 2025 fact sheet lists about 500 tuition-free or partially funded programs across more than 40 schools, run with the education company Guild. Target reports more than 40,000 enrollments and over 10,000 graduates since the program launched in September 2021.

Chipotle Tuition Reimbursement

Chipotle's current benefits page says students "get up to $5,250 each year toward education goals, plus our celebrated Debt-Free Degree program." When Chipotle launched debt-free degrees in 2019, it said all eligible employees, including crew members, qualified after 120 days of employment. The current page does not repeat the waiting period, so confirm it during onboarding.

FedEx Tuition Reimbursement

FedEx says that if you're in the U.S. or Canada and working toward a college degree or attending a trade, vocational or technical school, it "will cover your tuition up to $5,250 per year." It adds that there are no lifetime maximums while you're with the company. The careers page we checked does not state the waiting period or part-time rules.

UPS Tuition Reimbursement: Earn & Learn

UPS Earn & Learn pays up to $5,250 per calendar year with a $25,000 lifetime maximum and no restrictions on subject. UPS says eligibility begins on your first day of employment, but the program is only available in select locations. Ask the hiring site whether your building participates before you accept a shift there.

Walmart Live Better U

Walmart Live Better U covers full-time and part-time hourly and salaried Walmart and Sam's Club associates from day one. Walmart says eligible associates have "little or no out-of-pocket cost for tuition and required books," with any federal or state grant aid applied first. Temporary associates, salaried associates at market level and above, and anyone who already holds a bachelor's degree are not eligible, and only programs in the Live Better U catalog qualify.

Amazon Career Choice and Starbucks

Amazon's September 2026 announcement describes Career Choice as prepaid tuition of up to $5,250 a year through more than 475 education partners. Our Amazon Career Choice guide covers eligibility, partner schools and how to apply.

Starbucks covers 100% of upfront tuition for a first-time bachelor's degree through ASU Online. Part-time partners become benefits-eligible after at least 240 total hours over three full, consecutive months. Read our Starbucks tuition reimbursement guide for the details.

How to Choose an Employer That Pays for College

1. Start with your degree. If you need a specific nursing or accounting program, a reimbursement plan that accepts any accredited school may beat a catalog with no match.
2. Compare real dollars. Line up each program's yearly cap against your school's actual tuition and fees, not the headline number.
3. Check your hours. Amazon lists Career Choice for part-time workers at 20 to 29 hours a week, and Starbucks requires benefits eligibility. Make sure your schedule qualifies.
4. Count the waiting period. A 90-day or 120-day wait can push your start to the next term.
5. Ask about cash flow. Reimbursement means paying first. Prepaid tuition doesn't.
6. Read the exit terms. Find out what happens to money already paid if you quit, drop a class or get laid off.

Example: Suppose two jobs pay the same wage. Job A reimburses up to $5,250 a year after grades post. Job B prepays tuition for any program in a 40-school catalog. If your program costs $4,000 a year and is in Job B's catalog, Job B saves you from fronting $4,000 each term. If your program isn't in the catalog, Job A is the only one that helps.

Catches to Watch For

• School catalogs. Walmart says only programs in its Live Better U catalog are eligible. Partner-school limits are common in prepaid programs.
• Annual caps. The federal $5,250 tax-free amount can't be carried forward, and a program that front-loads costs can exceed your employer's yearly limit.
• Location limits. UPS Earn & Learn is offered only at select locations, and McDonald's benefits vary because franchise owners are responsible for employment matters at their restaurants.
• Bachelor's degree holders. Walmart's Live Better U and the Starbucks plan are for workers without a bachelor's degree.
• Taxes above $5,250. Under IRS rules, education benefits over $5,250 a year are generally taxable unless they qualify as job-related working condition benefits, per IRS Publication 970.
• Policies change. Benefit pages are summaries. Plan documents govern, and employers can amend them.

Balancing a new job and new classes takes planning. See how to manage college and work.

Getting Help While You Work and Study

Many of these benefits depend on passing your courses, sometimes with a minimum grade. If a heavy shift schedule puts an assignment at risk, AceMyHomework offers tutoring and homework help for working students.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Companies Pay 100% of College Tuition?

Starbucks covers 100% of upfront tuition for a first-time bachelor's degree through ASU Online. Disney says Aspire covers 100% of tuition upfront, and Lowe's advertises 100% tuition-free education programs. Walmart says Live Better U leaves eligible associates with little or no out-of-pocket cost for tuition and required books in its catalog programs.

Which Companies Offer Tuition Reimbursement to Part-Time Employees?

Walmart and Target say part-time workers are eligible from day one. Amazon lists Career Choice for part-time employees working 20 to 29 hours a week after 90 days, and Starbucks part-timers qualify once they become benefits-eligible. Home Depot says part-time associates have received tuition reimbursement.

Which Companies Offer Tuition Reimbursement on Day One?

Walmart's Live Better U and Target's Dream to Be are available from an employee's first day. UPS says Earn & Learn eligibility begins on your first day of employment at participating locations. Chick-fil-A's scholarships have no hours or length-of-service requirement.

Does Home Depot Pay for College?

Home Depot offers tuition reimbursement, scholarships and discounted tuition at partner schools, according to its benefits page. It does not publish the dollar cap on that page. Ask HR for the current limit and eligibility rules.

How Much Does UPS Pay for College?

UPS Earn & Learn pays up to $5,250 per calendar year, with a lifetime maximum of $25,000. Any subject qualifies. The program is offered only at select UPS locations.

Is Employer Tuition Assistance Taxable?

Up to $5,250 a year is tax-free in 2025 and 2026 when paid through a qualified educational assistance plan. Amounts above that are generally taxable wages unless the education is job-related enough to count as a working condition fringe benefit. This is not tax advice, so check with a tax professional.

Program terms change, and benefit summaries are not plan documents. Confirm details with the employer before you rely on them; for tax questions, consult a tax professional. Figures come from each employer's official benefits or careers page linked in the table above, Amazon's September 2026 press release, Starbucks benefits eligibility rules, Chipotle's 2019 announcement, Home Depot's corporate site, Lowe's 2022 announcement and IRS Publication 970, as of Oct. 2026.