Looking under every rock for more college funding? Employee scholarships might be available. In some cases, a parent’s dependents are eligible to apply, but in other cases, the teen must be an employee. If you or your teen already work for one of these companies, simply contact your Human Resources department and ask for more information about education benefits.
My teen wants a job that isn’t on this list
Working is great, no matter how you slice it, but rather than browsing and hoping to find your teen’s employer, be proactive and talk to them about seeking employment at a company that offers educational benefits through scholarships or tuition reimbursement. That’s being smart and planning ahead. A summer job isn’t supposed to be a permanent career that’s deep and rewarding. It’s a nice way to earn some spending money, learn responsibility, develop a work ethic……. and possibly earn a scholarship!
What’s the difference between tuition reimbursement and a scholarship?
Tuition reimbursement generally requires continued employment with the company while you go to school. When you’ve finished a course, the company writes you a check to reimburse you for the tuition you paid. Tuition reimbursement can sometimes pay for a full degree, but often has a service requirement or other obligation in exchange for the educational benefit.
Scholarships are awards given to a student for achievement. Often, these are one-time awards. Scholarship amounts vary by employer, but it’s not unusual to see scholarship awards for $500 – $2,500. Typically, a scholarship is a one-time award without further obligation.
I’m seeing a few names that are also on a tuition reimbursement list.
That’s right! Many companies consider investing in an employee’s education as a very important part of their mission. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (the largest HR organization in the world), as many as 91% of large companies maintained or increased their educational benefits since 2014. In contrast, as few as 4% offer any kind of student loan forgiveness program. In short: plan to find these benefits before you start college and resort to borrowing. Among millennials, as many as 1/3 report falling behind on their student loan payments. Ouch!
101 Companies with Education Benefits
- A&W
- Abbott Laboratories
- Adobe Systems
- ADP
- Aetna
- Alcoa
- Amazon.com
- American Airlines
- American Cancer Society
- AT&T
- Baxter International
- Biogen Idec
- BMW Group
- Bosch
- Build A Bear
- Burger King
- California Grape Grower
- California State University Bakersfield
- Capital One Financial
- Carmax
- CenterPoint Energy
- Chevron
- Chobani
- Citigroup
- Community Bankers Assoc. of Illinois
- ConocoPhillips
- Costco
- CPS Energy
- Cracker Barrel
- CVS Pharmacy
- Darden Restaurants
- DirecTV
- Dish Network
- Dominion Resources
- Duke Energy Corporation
- DuPont
- Edison International
- Express Scripts
- Exxon
- GameStop
- General Electric
- General Mills
- Genzyme
- H&R Block, Inc.
- Harley Davidson
- Hewlett- Packard (HP)
- Home Depot
- Humana
- Hyundai Motors
- IBM
- Intel
- J Crew
- JetBlue Airways
- Kentucky Fried Chicken
- L.L. Bean
- Land O’ Lakes
- Long John Silver’s
- Lowe’s
- Marathon Petroleum
- Mayo Clinic
- McDonald’s Corporation
- Meijer
- Morgan Stanley
- Mutual of Omaha
- National Roofing Contractors Assoc.
- Nordstrom, Inc.
- Nucor
- Oshkosh
- Pacific Gas & Electric
- PepsiCo
- Pfizer Inc.
- Phillips 66
- Pizza Hut
- Rockwell Collins
- Roller Skating Association
- SAS
- Servco – HI
- Southwest Airlines
- Starbucks
- State Farm
- Subway Restaurant
- Sunoco
- Taco Bell
- Texas Instruments
- Tj Maxx
- Uline
- Union Pacific
- United Technologies
- US Bank
- USDA
- Valero Energy
- Verizon
- Vermont Grocers Assoc. Member
- Wakefield Healthcare Center
- Wal-Mart
- Walgreens
- Walt Disney
- Wells Fargo
- Whole Foods
- Yum!
- UPS
