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10 Fast Food Jobs That Pay For College Tuition

If your teen is itching to get a part-time job to bring in a little extra cash, keep in mind that not all jobs are created equally.

If he chooses to work in the fast food industry, he should choose carefully because some fast food companies offer impressive college benefits that can save your child thousands of dollars (or you, if you're looking to further your education!) !

fast food jobs that pay for college tuition

Let's jump in and take a look at some fast food jobs that offer to help pay for college.

Chipotle

Chipotle recently announced that they’ve instituted a new program to allow their employees to go to college debt free.

Chipotle will cover the full cost of 75 different business and technology degrees in select colleges and universities including: the University of Arizona, Bellevue University, Brandman University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Wilmington University.

The only caveat is that employees must work for the company for 120 days before entering this program.

Starbucks

Starbucks will reimburse the full amount employees pay to attend Arizona State University’s online program. The company reimburses tuition costs after each semester ends.

Employees are eligible from the first day of employment, but they must work 20 hours a week.

They currently have more than 10,000 people taking advantage of the program.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has a Life Unboxed EDU program for all employees. Pizza Hut partners with Excelsior College to offer all employees and their immediate family 45% off undergraduate tuition.

In addition, Pizza Hut will cover $5,250 per year in tuition, books, and fees for each full-time salaried employee.

Pizza Hut pays for the classes, so students are not required to have the money up front to pay and wait for a reimbursement.

Papa John's

Papa John's International will be offering free tuition to Purdue University Global for 20,000 corporate employees and discounted tuition for employees at franchise-owned stores.

To be eligible corporate employees are eligible once they have worked 20 hours a week for at least 90 days.

Franchisees' employees get a 20% reduction in tuition costs on associate or bachelor's degrees and 14% on master's degrees.

Marco’s Pizza

Marco’s Pizza has partnered with Bellevue University to offer $5,250 in tuition assistance to all full-time and part-time employees who attend the college full-time.

If immediate family members also attend Bellevue University, they will receive yearly tuition assistance of $2,625.

To qualify, employees must have been employed for at least 90 days before applying.

McDonald's

Mcdonald's has the “Archways to Opportunity” tuition program that will pay up to $2,500 annually for tuition for eligible crew members.

To be eligible for the program you used to have to work there for 9 months, but they've recently dropped the timeframe to only 90 days of employment.

McDonald's announced it would increase funding for the program to almost $150 million over five years, and over 400,000 employees would be eligible.

Chick-Fil-A

While Chick-Fil-A doesn’t offer to pay their employees’ tuition, they do partner with nearly 100 colleges that offer discounts of 5 to 30% off tuition for Chick-Fil-A employees.

In addition, every year, Chick-Fil-A offers scholarships for their employees. The largest scholarship is a one-time award of $25,000 to be used for college. Twelve employees receive this scholarship each year.

Up to 3,000 employees receive a smaller scholarship of $2,500 for the year. Employees can apply for this scholarship every year, so potentially, employees can earn up to $10,000 over their four years of college.

KFC

Employees of Kentucky Fried Chicken can receive a grant for $2,000 per year to an accredited four year or two year university of their choice.

Employees can reapply each year, and on subsequent years will receive $2,500 per year. Managers will receive $3,000 per year.

Taco Bell

Like Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell partners with various universities and colleges to offer discounts of 5 to 30% for Taco Bell employees.

Taco Bell also offers the Live Más scholarship for employees between the ages of 16 and 24. Applicants must submit a video no longer than two minutes that tells of their life passion.

According to Taco Bell, the scholarships are not based on financial need but on passion. Recipients can reapply if they’ve used up 75% or more of their originally awarded Live Más scholarship.

White Castle

White Castle offers a 10 percent tuition discount to employees who enroll in a degree offering through Indiana Wesleyan University.

Full and part time employees are eligible to receive discounted tuition, however some degree programs (like nursing) are excluded from the discount.

Make Some Extra Money & Get Free College Tuition

When it comes to applying for fast food jobs, clearly not all jobs are created equal.

Before applying to local restaurants, carefully research the companies’ employee benefits, especially as they pertain to college.

If you choose wisely, not only will you be making money through your fast food job, you’ll also be saving money as you make your way through college.

Have you worked at a fast food restaurant that offered college benefits? If so, what benefits did you receive? Would you recommend the program to others?

How To Identify A Solid Business Partner

By Miranda Marquit 3 Comments

Many entrepreneurs strike out on their own originally, but eventually realize that they need help as they find success. In some cases, this help means hiring the right people for your team. In other cases, though, the best approach is to partner up with another business-savvy person.

Finding a business partner you can trust can be a chancy venture, but the rewards, when you pick correctly, can be great.

The Advantages Of Having A Business Partner

business-partner-traits First of all, you need to decide if it makes sense for you to get a business partner. I didn't really think about getting a business partner (I didn't even think of my blogging as a business!) until two years ago, at the inaugural Financial Blogger Conference in 2011. Tom Drake suggested that we partner on creating a site, and now he's a partner on a second site that I own, as well as a helpful partner for the launch of my book.

When you work with a business partner, you have the opportunity to find someone who serves as a complement to your strengths and weaknesses. This means that you have more time to focus on the things you do well, while your partner works on the things that he or she does well. You have the chance to create a situation in which your combined effort is greater than the sum of your individual parts.

On top of that, a business partner helps you spread the work around. You are less likely to run yourself ragged and experience burnout when you have a business partner. I know that my business has benefitted from including Tom, and I would be lost without him.

So, if you are looking for a business partner, what should you look for? You don't want to choose wrong, or you could end up in a great deal of trouble.

Traits Of A Good Business Partner

Everyone looks for something different in a business partner. In my case, an ability to handle the backend of a web site, and monetize it, was extremely important. You might have other requirements for your own business partner. However, no matter what specific traits and expertise you are looking for, here are some traits common to a solid business partner:

Shares your enthusiasm: It helps if you are both enthusiastic about the venture and about the partnership. You want someone who is passionate as well, so you can encourage each other.
Credibility: Make sure your partner has a degree of credibility. You don't want to discover that your business partner has a history of shady dealings. You want someone on the up-and-up who want sully your own reputation.
Financial stability: While your business partner doesn't need to be very rich, it does help if he or she has the finances under control. Even being debt-free isn't a requirement. But a measure of stability, and an ability to manage their own finances with competence is important, since you will be taking risks together.
Trustworthy: You have to trust and respect your business partner. Without that trust and respect, your partnership is likely to deteriorate.

Think about the situation before you commit to a business partner. Identify someone with whom you work well, and who has solid traits.

What do you look for in a business partner?

What Do You Think About Telecommuting?

By Miranda Marquit 4 Comments

Recently, Marissa Mayer, Yahoo's CEO, instituted a new plan to bring telecommuters back into the office. Following suit, Best Buy just announced that it, too, will rein in telecommuting.

In recent years, technology has given rise to more flexibility in the workplace. The ability to work from home — at least some of the time — has led to something of a revolution. More companies offer the telecommuting option, and the flexible hours option, as perks to workers who want to be able to plan their lives around what works for them.

However, this move for Yahoo seems to be paving the way for a bit of a throwback. Job seekers might find that companies aren't as willing to accommodate them, especially if this move manages to re-energize Yahoo and help the company.

How Much Abuse Goes On With Telecommuting?

What Do You Think About Telecommuting? The big question that many are asking is whether or not there has been abuse with telecommuting. While there are some studies that indicate telecommuting can increase productivity, the fact remains that some workers are going to abuse the privilege.

For some, working from home is an ideal solution. I like working from home, and I have found that I am much more productive here at home than I ever was in an office. But there are some differences. For one, I am self-employed now, so it's up to me to make sure that I get my “paycheck.” In the office, I was working for someone else, and sometimes just did the minimum required for my minimal pay.

How much abuse actually goes on with telecommuting is hard to measure since there isn't someone there to see what is happening. Yahoo claims that there was some abuse happening with the policy, and some Yahoo employees seem to back up that view. Bringing more employees back into the office, under the eye of managers, seems like a solution in cases of abuse.

Does It Matter If You Get Your Work Done?

In my case, it doesn't really matter when I do my work, as long as I get it done (by the deadline). With many companies, the situation is similar. As long as telecommuters are getting their work done on time, does it really matter if they spend half the day in their pajamas, surfing the web? Does it matter that they are working on side businesses at home?

Where you fall on this subject might depend on what you think about how workers are paid. Those who are paid a salary, and expected to just fulfill project requirements, might get away with a little more. But what about hourly telecommuters who charge for their time — although they might be doing something else with it?

It's a sticky situation that can't really be resolved without adding software to personal computers that some might think an invasion of privacy. But what you do on company time still matters, even if you aren't on company property.

Personally, I think telecommuting can be a great thing. Providing a flexible schedule where workers can telecommute one to three days a week could allow workers to still come into the office for “team building” while still having the ability to work from home as needed.

What do you think? Is telecommuting a good idea?

Boost Your Job Prospects For The New Year

By Miranda Marquit 2 Comments

A new year is coming, and with it a certain amount of hope. Many of us look forward to a new year as a fresh beginning. A way to make a new start that results in a better situation in life and in finances. One way that you can improve your quality of life, as well as your finances, is to work to improve your job prospects for the new year.

According Money magazine, 2013 will offer the best chance for you to get a new job — or a raise — since 2007. That means that next year could be a good one for you, as long as you are poised to take advantage of the potential opportunities provided for the climate.

Brush Up on Your Skills

Look at your skills. What do you have to offer an employer? Do you have marketable skills that others value? Evaluate your current skills, and see where you can brush up. Is there a certification that you can achieve in order to make yourself more desirable? Could you finish a degree that would qualify you for a new job, promotion, or raise?

It's not just about developing hard skills that are easily recognized, either. You should also make an effort to develop your soft skills. More and more, employers value someone who can communicate well in writing and in speech. Additionally, good leadership qualities and problem solving skills can go a long way. If it is clear that you are adding something to the company, you are more likely to be valued. Or hired on at a new company that values what you can bring to the table.

Find ways to build upon what you already know, and show that you are capable and that you add value. Brush up on all your skills so that you are ready to take things to the next level. Often, that's all it takes to get a better job that you like more than your current position, or land the raise you have been looking for.

Prepare Your Job Hunt Materials

Don't go into the new year unprepared. Now is a good time to prepare your job hunt materials. Even if you want to try for a promotion or a raise at your current work, it doesn't hurt to update your resume, cover letter, and network contacts. If you don't get what you had hoped for from your current employer, being ready for the job hunt can go a long way toward helping you land a new position in 2013.

If you are refreshing your networking contacts, make sure that you reach out now, and re-establish those old ties before you decide to look for work. You want to have a solid relationship in place before you start calling for help. And remember to return the favor if you can. Get everything up to date, and maybe even think about creating an online resume that's easy for others to find. Don't forget to clean up your social media profiles and make an effort to appear attractive to employers through the Internet. More and more, that matters.

This could be the year that you turn your career around. Prepare now to make those changes in 2013.

What Is The Real Unemployment Rate? Is It Really Only 9.8% Or Are Things Worse Than That?

By Mr. Money Leave a Comment

The past few years have been rough ones, and we have seen our unemployment rates go from 4-5% all the way up to 9.8% as of last month's unemployment report. As bad as 9.8% sounds, could the situation be even worse that that? Could the actual unemployment rate be even higher?

What Is The Actual Unemployment Rate?

When we look at the unemployment figures that the government puts out we get two figures. First, we get the standard jobless rate, which only looks at people who have reported looking for work in the past 4 weeks. Then, we get the real (U6) rate, which also takes into account the number folks who are either underemployed or have stopped looking for work because they can't seem to find anything. From MSN:

The official unemployment index, based on a monthly survey of sample households, counts only people who reported looking for work in the past four weeks. It doesn't account for part-time workers who want to work more hours but can't, given the tight job market. And it doesn't include those who have given up trying to find work.

When the underemployed and the discouraged are added to the numbers, the unemployment rate rises to 16.6%. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the Labor Department, began tracking this alternative measure — known as the U-6 for its department classification — in 1995 after economists lobbied for a method comparable to the way Japan, Canada and Western Europe count their unemployed.

When you take into account the underemployed and discouraged workers, the unemployment rate rises to almost 16.6%! That number is up from 16.4% a year or so ago and from 9.7% in May 2008. It was 7.1% in May 2000. Here's a graphic showing those real jobless rates over the past 10 years.

The problem with the unemployment rates don't end there, however. The problem? There are even more people it doesn't take into account who are having a rough go of things:

The truth is that even the broader measure of unemployment doesn't fully capture how difficult the job market is for U.S. workers. It doesn't include self-employed workers whose incomes have shriveled. It doesn't look at former full-time employees who have accepted short-term contracts, without benefits, and at a fraction of their former salaries. And it doesn't count the many would-be workers who are going back to school, taking on more debt, in hopes that advanced degrees will improve their chances of landing jobs.

So when we hear of a the unemployment rate being less than 10%, we need to keep in mind that it is only one statistic that shows it being less than 10%. If other factors are taken into account the real jobless rate is higher than 15%. Remember the old saying about statistics popularized by Mark Twain?

‘There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.'”

You can get statistics to say just about whatever you want.

Jobless Are Unemployed For Longer

Not only are there more people unemployed nowadays than we might think, a lot of those people are unemployed for longer than was common in the past.

In the second quarter of 2010, about 46 percent of the 14.6 million unemployed persons were jobless for 27 weeks or longer and about 31 percent were unemployed for 52 weeks or longer. [source]

It has also been suggested that the availability of extended unemployment insurance benefits has contributed to the increase in unemployment duration. [source]

Because people are out of work for longer, and because there are more of them, the situation is thought to be more dire than other recessions in recent history.

“That largely reflects how more severe this recession has been than of 1982 and of the 1990s,” said Bernick, who has worked in the job-training field since the late 1970s.

Now, although severe layoffs are no longer occurring, hiring has not picked up significantly.

“The labor market is still very, very slow,” Bernick said. “Each job (opening) brings tens, usually hundreds, of applicants.”

So things are tough out there, inflation is coming and things are probably even tougher than some of the common statistics would show. At least for the near future, it doesn't appear that things will be getting much better, at least until companies start seeing a turn around, the tax situation stabilizes and they are able to start hiring again.

What do you think about the unemployment rates? Do you think they're even higher than some might think? Do you think the jobs situation will be getting better sooner rather than later? Should unemployment insurance be extended past 99 weeks for the unemployed?

Mortgage Rates Are Low, But Are The Homes Affordable? [Infographic]

By Mr. Money 3 Comments

My wife and I are currently thinking about upgrading our home because the prices in our market are so much cheaper than they've been for years, it almost seems like it would be a bad idea not to jump in and buy the home of our dreams. After all, it'll probably never be this affordable again, right?

When I was looking around the web this week I saw a post over at GoBankingRates.com talking about how just how much the home prices have gone up over the past few decades. It seems like they've been going up at an ever exponentially increasing rate. In fact, median home values are 7 times higher than they were 70 years ago, when the first housing census was done in 1940. That means in 1940 the median home value was $30,600 while in 2010 it is $219,700. That's quite a jump.

But here's where the numbers get even crazier. From GoBankingRates.com:

Between 1950 and 1960, the median price of a home rose from $44,600 to $58,600–an increase of roughly 23 percent. However, from 2000 to 2010, the average home price went from $119,600 to $219,700, which is a jump upwards of 84 percent over a similar 10-year period.

So while mortgage rates are nearing all time lows this year, we're still seeing record numbers of foreclosures and people going into default. The reason? So many of those people are still buying homes that they can't afford, and since the unemployment rates are hovering around 10%, many people have lost their jobs, and even if they could afford these homes in the first place – once they've lost a job it becomes unmanageable.

When home prices go up on average over 84 percent over a decade, the home prices are getting to a point where they're not really realistic anymore. In my opinion there needs to be a correction, and I think the real estate market may be in it for the long haul now.

Current State Of Home Affordability Infographic

Here's an infographic from GoBankingRates.com that looks in depth at our current housing situation. Lot's of interesting data here. (click to enlarge)

Find the best bank rates at GoBankingRates.com. via: Credit Score Blog

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