Amazon Will Pay For Its Hourly Employees To Earn A Rutgers Degree

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — This fall, Amazon announced it will pay for its hourly employees to either earn or finish their college degree at Rutgers University.

Amazon is offering a pre-paid tuition voucher program at Rutgers. Rutgers is just one of many colleges across the U.S. Amazon has partnered with as part of its Career Choice program, and Amazon says it will pay "100 percent of tuition, books and fees with no lifetime limit."

This is part of an initiative by Amazon to offer its 750,000 hourly workers throughout the United States higher education and career advancement opportunities.

In New Jersey, Amazon employs 58,000 front-line workers, including 28,000 in Middlesex County.

There are no restrictions on the types of courses of degrees an Amazon employee can pursue at Rutgers. Rutgers officials say they are working closely with Amazon to hold information sessions to make Amazon hourly workers available of this benefit.

“Whether employees are looking to finish their bachelor’s degree at Rutgers–New Brunswick or build on their foundational skills of English proficiency or GED preparation, we’re prepared to meet our employees wherever they are on their educational journey,” said Colin Newman, director of economic development for Amazon.

While Amazon pays for tuition and fees, Amazon workers may apply to Rutgers in the same way other prospective students might. Rutgers programs are accessible to Amazon employees in three steps:

1. Explore the university's majors and degree options.

2. Apply to Rutgers.

3. Once admitted to Rutgers, use the Amazon Career Choice portal to generate a voucher to pay for classes.

Launched in 2012, the Career Choice program expanded its benefits in January to include pre-paid college tuition, new industry certifications, courses to improve English-language proficiency and high school completion programs.

In the U.S., Amazon is investing $1.2 billion in offering education and training to more than 300,000 employees by 2025 to help move them into higher-paying, in-demand jobs.

Amazon says that more than 80,000 Amazon employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice.