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Papa John&rsquo;s has teamed up with Purdue University Global to provide free tuition for corporate employees and fee reductions up to 20 percent for franchisees&rsquo; employees who enroll in the online degree program, <a href="https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/papa-john-s-launches-free-tuition-program-employees?NL=NRN-02_&amp%3BIssue=NRN-02__20190215_NRN-02__568&amp%3Bsfvc4enews=42&amp%3Bcl=article_1_1&amp%3Butm_rid=CPG06000007795822&amp%3Butm_campaign=28502&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Belq2=6817b1868310481d95910a307c1ef3cb&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=papa-johns-becomes-latest-brand-to-implement-employee-scholarship-program-2709166" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">according to a recent Nation&rsquo;s Restaurant News article</a>.

As part of Papa John&rsquo;s efforts to improve its benefits program, eligible employees can pursue 180 different degrees in associate, bachelor&rsquo;s or master&rsquo;s degree programs. Textbooks and course materials are included in the offer, and the application fee is waived.

&ldquo;We believe this is a truly unique tuition program in our industry,&rdquo; Papa John&rsquo;s president and CEO Steve Ritchie said in a statement included in the NRN article. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re excited to partner with such a well-respected institution to help us deliver on such a robust career growth opportunity for team members who want to pursue their goals and further their education.&rdquo;

Do scholarship programs like these increase employee retention, though? <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/workforce/does-employee-education-boost-retention-chick-fil-has-proof?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=papa-johns-becomes-latest-brand-to-implement-employee-scholarship-program-2709166" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">A recent Restaurant Business article</a> explored the success <a href="https://www.chick-fil-a.com/Franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=papa-johns-becomes-latest-brand-to-implement-employee-scholarship-program-2709166" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Chick-fil-A</a> is having with the initiative <a href="https://1851franchise.com/chick-fil-a-ramps-up-employee-scholarship-fund-to-15-3-mill-ion-2709145#category" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">on the heels of the brand&rsquo;s recent announcement</a> it has expanded its scholarship fund to a whopping $15.3 million. 

According to the article, Chick-fil-A surveyed past scholarship recipients last year and found that 90 percent intend to keep working for the brand even after they earn their degree. While there&rsquo;s no requirement that employees stick around, the research shows that the overwhelming majority will anyway. The brand didn&#39;t say how many of the 53,000 employees who participated in the program were surveyed.

With big industry players like McDonald&rsquo;s, Taco Bell, Chili&rsquo;s and Starbucks now offering similar programs, it&rsquo;s clear brands are recognizing the need to differentiate their employment opportunity in a competitive job market. Add Papa John&rsquo;s to the list, too.

Read the full NRN article <a href="https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/papa-john-s-launches-free-tuition-program-employees?NL=NRN-02_&amp%3BIssue=NRN-02__20190215_NRN-02__568&amp%3Bsfvc4enews=42&amp%3Bcl=article_1_1&amp%3Butm_rid=CPG06000007795822&amp%3Butm_campaign=28502&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Belq2=6817b1868310481d95910a307c1ef3cb&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=papa-johns-becomes-latest-brand-to-implement-employee-scholarship-program-2709166" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">here</a>.

Papa John's, Chick-fil-A, employee scholarship programs

Papa John’s Becomes Latest Brand to Implement Employee Scholarship Program

1851 Franchise

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