Brewing Loyalty: Starbucks Invests in Employee Education, Celebrates Graduates From Free College Program

Starbucks continues to invest in its employees’ continuing education, which has some of the most valuable benefits in the retail industry.

Per a company news blog, Starbucks handles its employees’ college dreams differently. It explained that the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, or SCAP, offers 100% upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree online at Arizona State University.

Employees are eligible for the program from their first day of work, even if they are part-time workers. This is a stark difference from most employer education benefits, which are typically $5,250 a year at most, with limited degree options, and may require years of full-time service to a company after earning a degree, according to Starbucks.

Sara Kelly, Starbucks’ chief partner officer, revealed that more than 1,100 Starbucks partners graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) this week through SCAP. The company first partnered with the educational institution in 2014.

The company believes the benefits of this partnership not only enhance employees’ personal lives but also their professional careers. Here are Starbucks’ current statistics when it comes to SCAP:

• 16,000+ graduates and 26,000+ students currently participating 
• 13% of the company’s U.S. workforce is participating , six times the average for Fortune 500
• Participation is up 60% in the last five years 
• Nearly 90% of U.S. stores have at least one SCAP scholar 
• SCAP partners are promoted at higher rates than their peers, building careers at Starbucks and beyond 
• 70% report landing a job they weren’t previously qualified for 

Kelly stated in the blog post, “This isn’t just a benefit — it’s an investment in our collective future. From competitive pay and benefits like SCAP, company stock and industry-leading paid parental leave benefits, to our goal to hire 90% of retail leadership roles from within, we’re making Starbucks the unrivaled best job in retail. Because when partners feel supported and valued, they bring that care and connection to every cup they serve.”

What Is the Starbucks College Achievement Plan?

SCAP was launched in 2014. This online program partnership with Arizona State University allows students the opportunity to pursue more than 150 degree programs with full tuition coverage while they work.

Eligible employees can find the degree that fits their goals while simultaneously growing their career at the coffee retailer. Most importantly, upon graduation, students have no debt.

The program makes it easy from start to finish for prospective students. They are given access to all the tools they need to have a successful college experience, from academic advisors to success coaches, as well as educators all focused on assisting workers in achieving their goals.

Additionally, if a worker is a United States veteran, they can extend this benefit to a qualifying family member. Therefore, their spouses, children, or other eligible loved ones can attend ASU Online with the same tuition benefits throughout the program.

For those employees who are not yet ready to leap into a degree program, Starbucks also offers employees a Pathway to Admission program. It allows prospective students to complete the courses they need to become eligible for ASU. Eligible partners can take up to 10 ASU courses with credit conversion costs fully covered, and subsequently, when these courses are completed, students can be admitted into ASU to earn a degree.

Additionally, the coffee retailer does not require employees to stay with the company after graduation. However, according to the company, many remain after pursuing their degrees.