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How to Get Tuition Reimbursement by Working at Chipotle

By Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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and Cait Williams

Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

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Edited by Maria Geiger

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Updated: March 12th, 2024
How to Get Tuition Reimbursement by Working at Chipotle

Full-time and part-time Chipotle employees can greatly reduce their college costs by taking advantage of tuition reimbursement benefits. Chipotle’s tuition reimbursement program can be applied to a variety of educational programs. These include undergraduate and graduate study, GED programs, and English programs for non-native speakers. 

Let’s break down how you can get tuition reimbursement by working at Chipotle. We’ll start with a step-by-step guide for getting tuition reimbursement. Afterwards, we’ll discuss more of the benefits of tuition reimbursement for employers and employees. Finally, we’ll discuss your options if there is no Chipotle close to your college.

Related: Scholarships360’s free scholarship search tool

Step-by-step guide to get tuition reimbursement at Chipotle

1. Find a job at Chipotle (All positions are eligible)

You can start your search for a Chipotle job on their jobs portal. If you input the approximate location of where you want to work, it will provide locations and open positions. Positions can include restaurant crew, management, or support roles. Any of these are eligible for tuition reimbursement.

Even if there are no open positions in your area, you have options. Through the jobs portal, you can sign up for updates when positions become available. This means you won’t have to keep checking back on the website. Being notified right when the opportunities are posted can put you ahead of the crowd.

2. Work a minimum of 15 hours a week for 4 months

Tuition reimbursement is available for both part-time and full-time employees at Chipotle. However, they do have a set of requirements for eligibility. Although employees are eligible for most benefits after 30 days of employment, tuition reimbursement takes longer to kick in. An employee must work for at least 15 hours per week for 4 months before they become eligible.

This helps ensure that employees are a good fit at the company before Chipotle invests in their education. If you are aiming to get tuition reimbursement for an upcoming school year, try beginning work in the summer. You can put in your time to become an established member of the team without the distraction of school. This way, once school starts, you will soon be eligible for tuition reimbursement.

Also see: How to get tuition reimbursement at FedEx

3. Choose your program of study

Chipotle offers a few different types of tuition reimbursement. The first is a debt-free degree from approved programs. These programs are relevant specifically to furthering a career at Chipotle. These can be a great opportunity for someone interested in the service industry, in business, or in agriculture. Through their partnership with Guild Education, Chipotle is able to offer these programs at no charge to employees.

If you are not interested in the debt-free programs, you can still take advantage of tuition reimbursement. Chipotle will pay up to $5,250 per year for any approved educational program. These programs include undergraduate, graduate, and trade school degrees. They also include GED programs and ESL programs.

So, the amount that you can benefit from tuition reimbursement varies based on what program you are pursuing. If you find a good fit in a debt-free degree, you can receive an education for free. If you have another program in mind, you can still receive up to $5,250 per year. Keep in mind, this is all on top of your regular salary!

4. Check if your family is eligible

Chipotle also extends some tuition reimbursement benefits to the immediate families of employees. These include reimbursement for GED and ESL programs.

What is Guild Education?

Guild Education serves as a sort of middleman between corporations and educational institutions. They have a list of corporate partners, (Chipotle is on the list) and a list of educational providers. Given your geographic location, your educational aspirations, and any other factors you want to consider, they will help match you with an educational provider and program.

As an employee with Guild Education partnership, you’ll have a wealth of resources at your disposal. It is Guild’s primary mission to provide success to their students, so they make sure to offer you whatever support you need.

Why does Chipotle offer tuition reimbursement?

Chipotle offers tuition reimbursement to help its retention rate and train its workers. The company has found that its employees in the program have a 3.5x higher retention rate. Employees in the program are 7.5x more likely to move up to management positions. Maintaining skilled employees is beneficial for Chipotle and saves them hiring costs.

Additionally, Chipotle is able to write off their tuition reimbursement on their taxes. This gives Chipotle a huge incentive to put its money towards employees’ education. Their tax benefits are maxed out at $5,250 per employee per year. This is why they set their reimbursement limit at $5,250 annually.

Other companies that offer tuition reimbursement

It’s true that Chipotle is known as having some of the most generous tuition reimbursement benefits. But they are far from being the only company that offers tuition reimbursement. Companies like Starbucks, Home Depot, Amazon, and UPS all offer tuition reimbursement. So, if there is no Chipotle near your school, don’t give up on tuition reimbursement. There are many other options out there!

Related: College Alternatives: Bootcamps, Apprenticeships, Online Learning, and more!

Next Steps

Next Steps

  • If you are looking for an employer that sponsors your education, start filling out your Chipotle application today!
  • After four months of working a minimum of 15 hours per week, you gain eligibility for up to $5,250 per year for any eligible program, or a debt-free degree through Chipotle’s partner organizations
  • Don’t fret if there is no Chipotle near your school. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement; just be sure to check their website before you apply
Next Steps

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Frequently asked questions about Chipotle tuition reimbursement

What degrees does Chipotle pay for?

Chipotle does not specify what degrees they will pay for. Their tuition reimbursement is designed to support whatever degree you would like to pursue, as long as that degree is coming from an accredited institution. Take your time exploring what degree is right for you!

Is it possible to get through college and graduate debt free?

Of course! There are so many ways to pay for college these days! Graduating debt free, or with extremely minimal debt, is more than possible. In addition to tuition reimbursement, you can take advantage of scholarships, grants, ISAs, and attend in-state schools to take advantage of lower tuition rates!

How do I ask for tuition reimbursement at work?

It might seem intimidating to talk to your employer about something like tuition reimbursement, but it’s not something that you should feel you have to figure out on your own. Ask someone at your job who can help you get the process going. A supervisor or manager should be able to answer your questions, or at least point you in the right direction. Don’t be nervous, as they’ll likely be more than happy to help you begin this journey!

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