10 Chicago, IL Companies With Tuition Reimbursement 2026

Chicago's job market spans everything from healthcare and finance to retail, insurance, and pharmaceuticals. Many employers throughout the city and surrounding suburbs offer tuition reimbursement programs that can help you earn a degree, complete career training, or build new skills while continuing to work.

Whether you're planning to return to college, finish a degree you started years ago, or prepare for a promotion, employer-sponsored education benefits can make your goals more affordable. Below, you'll find Chicago-area employers that invest in employee growth through tuition assistance programs, scholarships, and professional development opportunities.

What Is Tuition Reimbursement and How Does it Work?

Tuition reimbursement typically means you pay for approved classes upfront and your employer pays you back after you successfully complete them. Tuition assistance programs often work differently, covering some or all of your educational costs before classes begin through partnerships with colleges, universities, or education providers.

Every employer has its own requirements. Depending on the company, you may need to attend an approved school, earn a minimum grade, work a certain number of hours, complete a waiting period, or stay employed for a set amount of time after receiving educational benefits. Reviewing your employer's policy before enrolling can help you get the most value from the program.

Top Chicago-Based Companies With Tuition Reimbursement Programs

If you're looking for Illinois companies with tuition assistance, the Chicago area offers plenty of options. Major employers in healthcare, retail, insurance, finance, and pharmaceuticals provide educational benefits that can help you earn a degree, complete a certificate program, or develop new skills while continuing to work. 

1. AbbVie

AbbVie is headquartered in North Chicago and is one of the region's largest pharmaceutical employers. The company offers tuition reimbursement benefits that help eligible employees pursue undergraduate degrees, graduate education, professional certifications, and continuing education programs.

You can use educational benefits for approved fields such as biotechnology, healthcare administration, business, finance, engineering, information technology, data analytics, and leadership studies. Along with tuition reimbursement, AbbVie provides mentoring programs, leadership development opportunities, and learning resources designed to support long-term career growth.

2. Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware is headquartered in Oak Brook, a western suburb of Chicago, and offers education benefits through its partnership with Guild. Eligible employees can access degree programs, professional certificates, workforce training, and career-development opportunities that align with their professional goals.

Available pathways include business administration, supply chain management, information technology, finance, leadership, and other career-focused fields. Depending on the program selected, educational costs may be partially or fully covered. Employees also receive access to academic coaching, enrollment guidance, and student support services through Guild.

3. Advocate Health

Advocate Health has a major presence throughout the Chicago area and offers education benefits through InStride. Eligible employees can access degree programs, certificates, and workforce training opportunities that support career advancement in both clinical and nonclinical roles.

Many employees use these benefits to pursue nursing, healthcare administration, public health, allied health, business, information technology, and leadership programs. In addition to tuition assistance, Advocate Health provides academic coaching, career guidance, and student support services to help employees balance work and school.

4. Allstate

Headquartered in Northbrook, a northern suburb of Chicago, Allstate is one of the largest insurance companies in the country. Through its partnership with Guild, eligible employees can pursue undergraduate degrees, graduate programs, professional certificates, and workforce training opportunities.

Popular fields of study include business administration, finance, accounting, cybersecurity, information technology, data analytics, project management, and leadership. Depending on the educational pathway selected, employees may qualify for tuition assistance or fully funded programs. Guild also provides education coaching and career-planning support.

5. CNA Financial 

CNA Financial is headquartered in downtown Chicago and offers tuition reimbursement benefits that support continuing education, degree completion, and professional development. As a major insurance and financial services employer, the company invests in employee learning through both educational assistance and career-growth opportunities.

Employees may use tuition reimbursement for approved undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as professional certifications related to their roles. Common areas of study include finance, accounting, risk management, business administration, information technology, cybersecurity, and leadership. CNA also offers training programs and development resources designed to help employees advance within the organization.

6. Discover Financial Services

Discover Financial Services is headquartered in nearby Riverwoods and offers educational benefits through Guild. Eligible employees can access degree programs, professional certificates, and career-focused training designed to support long-term growth in the financial services industry.

Employees commonly pursue studies in finance, accounting, business administration, information technology, cybersecurity, data analytics, and leadership. Depending on the program selected, educational costs may be partially or fully covered. Additional benefits include academic advising, career coaching, and student support resources that help employees succeed both in school and at work.

7. Exelon Corporation

Exelon is headquartered in Chicago and is one of the nation's largest utility and energy companies. The company offers tuition reimbursement benefits that help eligible employees pursue degree programs, professional certifications, and continuing education opportunities that support career growth.

Employees commonly use educational assistance for studies in engineering, environmental science, information technology, cybersecurity, business administration, project management, and energy-related fields. In addition to tuition reimbursement, Exelon provides leadership development programs, technical training, mentoring opportunities, and other professional learning resources.

8. McDonald's

McDonald's is headquartered in Chicago and offers educational assistance through its Archways to Opportunity program. Eligible employees can receive tuition assistance for college coursework, along with support for high school completion programs, English language learning, and career-development opportunities.

The program is available to qualifying restaurant employees who meet minimum work-hour and tenure requirements. Participants also receive access to college advising services and education planning resources that can make earning a degree more manageable while working.

9. Northwestern Medicine

Northwestern Medicine is headquartered in Chicago and is one of the Midwest's leading healthcare systems. The organization offers tuition reimbursement benefits that help eligible employees pursue undergraduate degrees, graduate education, professional certifications, and continuing education programs.

Many employees use these benefits for nursing, healthcare administration, allied health professions, public health, information technology, business, and leadership programs. Northwestern Medicine also provides professional development resources, certification support, clinical education opportunities, and leadership training designed to help employees advance their careers.

10. Walgreens

Walgreens is headquartered in nearby Deerfield and offers educational benefits through its partnership with Guild. Eligible employees can access degree programs, professional certificates, workforce training, and career-focused learning opportunities that support advancement within the company.

Employees can pursue studies in healthcare administration, pharmacy-related fields, business administration, information technology, supply chain management, and leadership. Depending on the program selected, educational costs may be partially or fully covered. Guild also provides academic coaching, enrollment support, and student success resources to help employees reach their educational goals.

National Employers With Tuition Assistance Programs

In addition to Chicago-area employers, several national companies offer educational benefits that can help you earn a degree while you work. These programs are available at locations throughout Chicago and often include tuition assistance, scholarships, workforce training, and professional development opportunities.

Dunkin'

Dunkin' employs thousands of workers across the Chicago area through company-owned and franchised locations. Educational benefits can vary by franchise owner, but many employees have access to scholarship opportunities, workforce development programs, and educational assistance initiatives that support college attendance. The brand also maintains a partnership with Southern New Hampshire University.

These resources can help you pursue business degrees, hospitality management programs, leadership training, and other professional development opportunities while continuing to work.

Starbucks

Starbucks offers one of the most widely recognized education benefits programs in the country through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan. Eligible employees can receive 100% tuition coverage for approved online bachelor's degree programs through Arizona State University.

The program is designed primarily for employees working toward their first bachelor's degree. Participants also receive academic advising, student support services, and access to resources that can help them balance school and work responsibilities.

Subway

Subway employees may have access to scholarship opportunities, educational assistance programs, and workforce development resources that support both college attendance and career growth. While benefits can vary by franchise owner, the company has supported scholarship initiatives designed to help employees pursue higher education, including the Fresh Start Scholarship program.

Educational pathways often include business administration, management, hospitality, marketing, and leadership development programs. These opportunities can help employees build skills that support advancement both within Subway and beyond.

Target

Target's Dream to Be program provides eligible employees with access to fully funded degree programs, professional certificates, and workforce training opportunities through participating schools. Both full-time and part-time employees may qualify for educational benefits depending on their role and eligibility status.

Programs are available in fields such as business, technology, supply chain management, leadership, and healthcare. Employees also receive access to academic coaching and student support resources designed to help them succeed in school while continuing to work.

What Types of Education Can Tuition Reimbursement Cover in Chicago?

Chicago employers support everything from two-year degree programs to graduate education and professional certifications. The options available depend on your employer, but many programs are designed to help you build skills that align with the city's largest industries, including healthcare, finance, insurance, technology, retail, and pharmaceuticals.

Associate Degrees

Many Chicago employers allow you to use tuition assistance benefits toward associate degree programs offered by accredited community colleges and universities. Popular options include nursing, healthcare administration, business administration, accounting, information technology, cybersecurity, and supply chain management.

An associate degree can be a practical way to enter a growing field while continuing to work. Healthcare systems, retailers, and corporate employers often support these programs because they help employees develop skills that can lead to advancement opportunities.

Bachelor's Degrees

Bachelor's degrees are among the most common educational pathways covered by employer-sponsored programs. Chicago employees frequently pursue degrees in business administration, finance, accounting, healthcare management, engineering, computer science, information technology, and data analytics.

Employers such as AbbVie, Discover, Allstate, Walgreens, and Exelon often support undergraduate education because it helps employees prepare for leadership positions, technical roles, and specialized careers across the Chicago job market.

Master's Degrees

Many tuition assistance programs also extend to graduate education. Depending on your employer, you may be able to use benefits toward a Master of Business Administration (MBA), master's degrees in healthcare administration, finance, engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, public health, or organizational leadership.

Graduate education can be especially valuable in Chicago's healthcare, insurance, financial services, and pharmaceutical sectors, where advanced credentials are often preferred for management and specialized positions.

Certificate and Workforce Training Programs

Not every educational goal requires a degree. Many Chicago employers support professional certificates, industry credentials, continuing education courses, apprenticeships, and workforce training programs that can often be completed more quickly than a traditional degree.

Popular options include project management certifications, cybersecurity credentials, healthcare certifications, data analytics programs, leadership training, supply chain certifications, and technical workforce credentials. These programs can help you gain job-ready skills while continuing to build your career.

Industries in Chicago With the Best Tuition Assistance Programs

Chicago's economy includes major healthcare systems, financial institutions, insurance companies, retailers, technology employers, and pharmaceutical firms. If you're looking for a company that will help pay for school, these industries tend to offer some of the strongest educational benefits.

Healthcare

Healthcare employers offer some of the most generous tuition assistance programs in Chicago. Organizations such as Northwestern Medicine and Advocate Health invest heavily in employee education through tuition reimbursement, certification support, and continuing education opportunities.

Many employees use these benefits to pursue nursing degrees, healthcare administration programs, public health studies, and allied health credentials. These educational pathways can help open doors to higher-paying clinical, technical, and leadership roles.

Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences

Chicago is home to major healthcare and pharmaceutical employers, including AbbVie. Companies in this sector often support degree completion, professional certifications, and workforce training programs that help employees develop specialized technical and leadership skills.

Common fields of study include biotechnology, laboratory sciences, healthcare administration, engineering, information technology, data analytics, and business administration.

Finance and Insurance

The Chicago area has long been a hub for finance and insurance. Employers such as Allstate, Discover Financial Services, and CNA Financial frequently offer tuition assistance, professional development programs, and workforce training opportunities.

Employees commonly pursue degrees and certifications in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, cybersecurity, project management, and data analytics. These skills can support advancement into management and specialized professional roles.

Energy and Utilities

Utility and energy employers often provide strong educational benefits because of the technical expertise required throughout the industry. Exelon is a good example of a Chicago employer that supports employee learning through tuition reimbursement and workforce development programs.

Employees frequently pursue engineering degrees, environmental studies, information technology credentials, business administration programs, and project management certifications.

Retail and Consumer Goods

Retail employers such as Walgreens, Ace Hardware, Target, Starbucks, and Dunkin' offer some of the most accessible education benefits available to working adults. Many of these programs are designed to support employees who are balancing school, work, and family responsibilities.

Educational benefits are commonly used for business administration, management, healthcare, information technology, supply chain operations, and leadership development programs.

Technology and Business Services

Technology skills are in demand across nearly every major Chicago industry. As a result, many employers support education in cybersecurity, information technology, software development, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and project management.

Whether you work in healthcare, finance, insurance, retail, or energy, technology-focused education can help you qualify for new opportunities and stay competitive in a rapidly changing workforce.

FAQs About the Best Tuition Reimbursement Programs in Chicago

Employer-sponsored education benefits can make college and career training much more affordable. Here are answers to some of the most common questions Chicago workers ask about tuition reimbursement and tuition assistance programs. 

Which Chicago Employers Offer the Best Tuition Reimbursement Programs?

Some of the strongest educational benefits in the Chicago area come from employers such as AbbVie, Advocate Health, Allstate, Discover Financial Services, Exelon, Northwestern Medicine, Walgreens, and McDonald's. National employers like Starbucks, Target, and Dunkin' also offer programs that can help reduce the cost of education.

The right program for you will depend on your career goals, preferred field of study, and whether you're looking for a degree, certificate, or workforce training opportunity.

Can Tuition Reimbursement Be Used for Online Degrees?

Most employers allow educational benefits to be used for accredited online programs as long as the school and degree meet company requirements. There are many excellent online colleges in the Chicago area and across the country.

Online learning can be a convenient option if you're balancing work, family responsibilities, and commuting in the Chicago area. Many employees use tuition assistance to earn online associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees while continuing to work.

What Is Guild and How Does It Work?

Guild is an education benefits platform that partners with employers to provide access to degree programs, certificates, and workforce training opportunities. Several employers on this list, including Walgreens, Allstate, Discover, and Ace Hardware, use Guild to help employees pursue education through participating colleges and universities.

Depending on the employer and program selected, educational costs may be partially covered or fully funded. Guild also provides education coaches who can help you choose a program, enroll in classes, and stay on track toward graduation.

Do Part-Time Employees Qualify for Tuition Assistance?

Employers such as Target, Starbucks, and certain retail and restaurant chains extend educational benefits to eligible part-time workers, while other organizations reserve tuition reimbursement programs for full-time employees.

Eligibility requirements vary and may include minimum work hours, length of employment, or job classification. Checking your employer's policy is the best way to understand what benefits are available to you.

Are Tuition Reimbursement Programs Worth It?

For many employees, tuition reimbursement can save thousands of dollars on educational expenses. These programs can help you earn a degree, gain new skills, qualify for promotions, or prepare for a career change without taking on as much student loan debt.

When combined with scholarships, grants, and federal financial aid, employer-sponsored education benefits can make higher education significantly more affordable while helping you advance your career.

Discover Flexible Online Degrees

Find online degree options and tuition assistance programs by exploring the resources featured on Learn.org. To find out more about a company’s tuition benefits, reach out to that employer directly.