Starbucks has been a household word for almost 20 years, so its quality of coffee and its brand have stood the test of time. What some people might not know is that Starbucks also has a reputation as a good employer. For instance, how many coffee shops offer full health benefits – including dental and vision – above-average salaries, hefty annual bonuses, 401(k), and (of course) free coffee! NOW, they’ve joined forces with Arizona State University (ASU) to help put selected employees through college. In Starbucks’ recent press release, the company confirmed that a first group of 1000 employees would start classes in mid-October, in its “Starbucks College Achievement Plan,” and another group of 800 has already been accepted to ASU and will start some time after the first group.
Eligibility simply requires that you be a U.S. Starbucks employee who works at least 20 hours per week. The unprecedented program is estimated to be valued at $15,000 per year per student. Why is Starbucks doing this? It’s a recruiting “experiment,” and this experiment really seems to be working. According to Starbucks, when surveyed, 8,000 of the most recent job applicants said that the college program was the main reason they were applying. In a company where 70% of its 135,000 employees do not have a college education, this sounds like a win/win.