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In a move that could affect hundreds of thousands of people, Amazon is offering to pay even more for college tuition, classes, books and fees for its front-line employees.
Amazon employees more than 1 million people in the US
The e-commerce giant has been offering a $3,000 annual tuition stipend and has now raised that to $5,250. It’s a generous offer and one that might be best for employees looking to study part-time while working. It’s not enough to cover the full yearly tuition at most of the schools on the partner list.
That $5,250 amount is noteworthy because that’s the amount of tax-free tuition reimbursement that the federal government allows. Anything over that is considered income and is taxed.
What Kind of Degrees Can Be Obtained?
Amazon will fund college tuition toward bachelor’s degrees, as well as high school programs, GEDs, and English as a Second Language proficiency certifications for eligible employees, including those who joined the company as recently as three months ago.
One bonus of this offer is that Amazon will pay tuition and fees up front rather than reimburse employees later, so that personal finances do not get in the way of the educational opportunity. Often company tuition reimbursements take place after classes have been taken with proof of passing grade. In these cases, employee-students have to pay up front.
The new initiative — part of Amazon’s Career Choice program — started in January 2022.
Here are some examples of schools that are participating in the Amazon program, with in-state tuition, out-of-state tuition, and 2021 student population. Most states require a residence period, often two years, before a new resident qualifies for in -state tuition.
Tuition Costs at a Glance
| Educational Institution | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Student Population | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama | $7,896 | $15,792 | 14,224 | SCHOOL LINK | |
| Bakersfield College (California) | Source link
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