Dive Brief:
- Anthem Inc. has announced a partnership to enable eligible empoyees to earn a free associate's or bachelor's degree from College for America, an accredited program offered online by Southern New Hampshire University.
- The tuition reimbursement benefit is now available to Anthem's 55,000 full-time and part-time employees who work at least 20 hours per week and have been employed for at least six months.
- College for America is known for its flexibile, direct assessment academic programs designed for working adults, with pricetags of $2,500 per year or less.
Dive Insight:
The announcement makes Anthem the latest major employer to announce a free tuition program, following the likes of Starbucks and Chrysler. The move marks a trend toward increased interest in tuition programs following a decline after the recession, EdAssist, a company that advises employers on tuition assistance, told Fortune.
Anthem's new program expands on a pilot that the company untertook with College for America in New Hampshire.
"Our partnership with College for America has a proven track record of success for a number of our associates here in New Hampshire," said Lisa M. Guertin, President of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire, in a prepared statement.
"We are a company of people, and if we want to grow as a business, making higher education accessible is very important," Guertin said. "I am extremely proud that our success is the basis for taking this tremendous partnership to the next level and making an affordable education available to Anthem associates across the country."