1851

<a href="https://www.chipotle.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chipotle Mexican Grill </a>has announced a partnership with <a href="https://www.guildeducation.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Guild Education</a> to offer debt-free degrees in Agriculture, Culinary and Hospital to its employees.&nbsp;After 120 days of employment, employees at the corporate-owned chain are eligible to pursue degrees from The University of Arizona, Bellevue University, Brandman University, Paul Quinn College, Southern New Hampshire University, Wilmington University, the University of Denver,&nbsp; Johnson &amp; Wales University and Oregon State University.In 2019, Chipotle <a href="https://newsroom.chipotle.com/2019-10-15-Chipotle-Debuts-Debt-Free-Degrees-For-All-Employees?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">announced an expansion</a> of its Cultivate Education benefits program to cover 100% of tuition costs upfront for degrees in business and technology.“Diversifying our debt-free degree program with new majors and partner universities makes our educational benefits even more inclusive,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marissaandrada/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marissa Andrada</a>, Chief Diversity, Inclusion and People Officer at Chipotle,in a <a href="https://newsroom.chipotle.com/2021-04-08-Chipotle-To-Offer-Free-Degrees-In-Agriculture-Culinary-And-Hospitality-To-Employees?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">press release</a>. “Through our partnership with Guild, we are committed to accelerating our employees’ professional growth and helping them achieve personal success by offering opportunities to pursue career paths in their particular area of interest.”Restaurant chains&nbsp; — particularly QSR chains — have increasingly been using tuition benefits to attract hourly workers as a strategy for hiring, retention and increasing company loyalty. Now, with the economy set to take off again, attracting workers has become a top priority for many QSR chains.<a href="https://www.tacobell.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Taco Bell</a>, which is <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-fast-food-labor/fast-food-struggles-to-hire-as-demand-soars-u-s-economy-roars-idUSL1N2LY25U?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">looking to hire 5,000 new employees</a>, provides tuition discounts through Guild Education and up to $5,250 annually in tuition assistance.McDonald’s, which is <a href="https://www.news5cleveland.com/open/ohio-mcdonalds-restaurants-hiring-5-000-new-employees-1-200-in-cleveland-area?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463#:~:text=Ohio%20McDonald's%20restaurants%20hiring%205%2C000%20new%20employees%2C%201%2C200%20in%20Cleveland%20area,-Photo%20by%3A%20Richard&amp;text=CLEVELAND%20%E2%80%94%20McDonald's%20plans%20on%20filling,1%2C200%20in%20the%20Cleveland%20area." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">seeking 5,000 new employees</a> in the state of Ohio alone, offers its hourly-paid workers up to $2,500 yearly in tuition assistance through its “Archway to Opportunity” program.Other QSR chains that offer tuition assistance programs to employees include <a href="https://www.kfc.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">KFC</a> (annual grants from $2,000-$2,500), <a href="https://www.pizzahut.com/index.php?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463#/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pizza Hut </a>(discounted tuition at Excelsior College) and <a href="https://www.chick-fil-a.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees-2715463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chick-fil-A</a>, which offers employees tuition discounts and grants that can be applied to more than 100 colleges and universities around the country.The strategy has been paying off at Chipotle, which employs more than 60,000 people. The company says it’s seen a retention rate 3.5 times higher among students who are enrolled in their Cultivate Education program, and participants using the benefit are 7.5 times more likely to move into a management role within the organization.“Chipotle’s debt-free degree program expansion highlights its deep commitment to employees’ economic opportunity and professional development,” said Guild Education President Natalie McCullough in the press release. “By expanding Cultivate Education to include a variety of programs aligned to the company’s mission, Chipotle is continuing to lead as an innovator in employee development and wellness.”

How QSR Chains Are Using Tuition Benefits to Attract and Retain Employees

1851 Franchise

Chipotle is the latest quick service brand to roll out a tuition assistance program for employees.

how-qsr-chains-are-using-tuition-benefits-to-attract-and-retain-employees

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise - Bob Evenhouse - Grand Rapids, Michigan -  1851 Franchise

Corporate Refugee Turned Punctual Plumber: Why Bob Evenhouse Left Corporate Life To Build a Family-Focused Plumbing Franchise

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-franchise-bob-evenhouse

BooXkeeping

image of booxkeeping franchise graduation present

Why a BooXkeeping Franchise Might Be the Smartest Graduation Gift You Can Give

booxkeeping-franchise-graduation-gift

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

image of kidstrong franchisees NFL player Shaun Wade and his former Team USA Heptathlete wife Jordan

Why This Athlete Couple Chose To Open a KidStrong Franchise

nfl-player-shaun-wade-kidstrong-franchise-georgia

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Team of home inspectors exiting branded HomeTeam Inspection Service vehicle

HomeTeam Inspection Service Offers Franchise Opportunity With No Experience Required

hometeam-franchise-training

Comfort Keepers

image of comfort keepers employees franchise

Comfort Keepers® Partners With PocketRN to Enhance Dementia Care Nationwide

comfort-keepers-pocketrn-dementia-care-partnership

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Franchises, work-life balance, millennials in franchising, millennials work-life balance

The Best Franchises for Millennials Wanting Work-Life Balance

best-franchises-millennials-work-life-balance

Photo of Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza franchisee Lily Wilford

Entrepreneur: This 18-Year-Old Saves Babysitting Money for College — Then Decided to Buy a Business Instead

18-year-old-franchise-owner-lily-wilford

Amazon outage, AWS outage, Amazon AWS logo

The Day the Cloud Stalled: How Amazon's Outage Impacted Franchise Economy

amazon-aws-outage-franchise-impact-travel-dining-failure

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

How QSR Chains Are Using Tuition Benefits to Attract and Retain Employees

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS