Some employers help pay for school, and finding one can cut your costs sharply. The best known example is the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, launched in 2014 with Arizona State University. It offers eligible full- and part-time employees 100 percent upfront tuition coverage for a first bachelor’s degree earned online through ASU. Other large employers run tuition assistance programs too, though the amounts and rules vary widely, so read the fine print before counting on them.
Federal work-study is another route. It is a need-based federal aid program that funds part-time jobs, often on campus, for eligible students. Because the jobs are designed around class schedules, work-study can be easier to balance than an off-campus job. Check your aid offer and talk to your school’s financial aid office about availability.
Cooperative education programs combine paid work terms with study, usually in engineering, business, and technology fields. You earn money and graduate with experience employers value. Apprenticeships in skilled trades work the same way: you learn on the job while earning a wage, and many lead directly to full-time work.
Military service benefits can also cover large parts of college costs for veterans and active-duty members. If this applies to you, talk to a veterans’ affairs office about what you have earned.
Whatever route you take, apply early and confirm the details in writing: which costs are covered, what grades you must keep, and how long you must stay employed. Pair employer help with other aid by maximizing your financial aid, checking work-study eligibility, and browsing scholarship opportunities before the financial aid deadline passes.
