Five Guys Tuition Reimbursement & Education Benefits 2027

Five Guys offers an education benefit that can help you earn a degree, finish high school, or build new skills while you work. Through a partnership with the education platform Guild, the company pays full tuition for select programs and covers part of the cost for many others. For a fast-casual burger chain, that's a more generous offer than many people expect.

Below, you'll learn what the Five Guys education benefit covers, who qualifies, and how to sign up. You'll also see how the benefit compares with other companies that offer tuition reimbursement in the restaurant industry and what to weigh before you enroll.

Does Five Guys Pay for College?

Yes, Five Guys helps eligible employees pay for college through its Guild education program. The company first announced the program as a debt-free path to a degree, with full tuition coverage for business administration, hospitality management, and finance programs. Today, Guild's Five Guys portal lists about 100 online programs with flexible start dates.

The benefit works a little differently from traditional tuition reimbursement. For many programs, Five Guys pays the school upfront through Guild, so you don't have to cover the bill yourself and wait to be paid back. That can make a big difference if you're working hourly shifts and can't front hundreds of dollars per class.

Fully Funded Programs

Five Guys pays 100% of tuition for select programs in the Guild catalog. These include certain bachelor's degrees, certificates, bootcamps, high school completion, and college prep courses. Required books and fees are also fully covered at select schools and programs, up to the program's funding cap.

When Five Guys launched the program, its fully funded degrees centered on business administration, hospitality management, and finance, which tie directly to restaurant leadership. Guild's partner schools for Five Guys have included Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and the University of Massachusetts Global. Check the Guild portal to see which programs are fully funded right now, since the list can change.

Partial Tuition Coverage

If the program you want isn't fully funded, Five Guys still pays up to $5,250 per year toward other undergraduate degrees and certificates in the Guild catalog. Past examples have included accounting, marketing, supply chain management, and computer science. Depending on the school, that amount could cover most or all of a year's tuition at a low-cost online program.

Keep in mind that Guild applies any grants or scholarships you receive before Five Guys funding kicks in. Filing the FAFSA can help you qualify for federal grants that stretch the company's contribution further.

High School, College Prep, and English Programs

Not everyone is ready to jump straight into a degree, and the Five Guys benefit accounts for that. You can earn a high school diploma, take college prep courses that may transfer to select schools, or enroll in English language learning programs. If you're weighing your options, compare free GED classes online as well.

All programs are taught in English, but Guild has bilingual specialists who can help you in Spanish. That support can make the enrollment process much easier if English is your second language.

Who Qualifies for the Five Guys Education Benefit?

Five Guys doesn't publish its full eligibility rules on public pages, so you'll want to confirm the details with your manager or the Guild portal. A Boston University profile of the company reported that the benefit was open to managers and to hourly employees who had worked 32 hours a week for the past 52 weeks. That's a higher bar than some restaurant chains set, so plan for a waiting period if you're a new or part-time crew member.

Where you work matters, too. Five Guys has more than 1,900 locations worldwide, and many of them are owned by franchisees. The company's careers page notes that specific benefits vary by location, so a franchise-owned restaurant may not offer the same education program as a corporate one.

How To Use the Five Guys Education Benefit

Signing up happens mostly through Guild. Here's how the process generally works:

• Confirm your eligibility: Ask your general manager or HR contact whether your restaurant participates and whether you meet the hours requirement.
• Create a Guild account: Use the Five Guys portal on Guild to browse programs and see which ones are fully or partially funded.
• Talk with a Guild specialist: Guild offers one-on-one help choosing a program, completing applications, and planning your course load around your shifts.
• File the FAFSA: Since grants and scholarships are applied first, completing the FAFSA can lower the amount Five Guys needs to cover.
• Apply to your school: Finish the school's application and any admissions steps, then start classes on one of the flexible start dates.

Degree Programs That Fit a Five Guys Career

Five Guys built its fully funded options around degrees that support restaurant leadership. These two paths line up especially well with moving up in the company.

Hospitality Management

A hospitality management degree covers restaurant operations, food safety, customer service, and staff management. If you see yourself running a Five Guys location or moving into a multi-unit role, this degree gives you the business side of what you already practice on the line.

Online programs give you the same core training as campus-based ones, and you can learn more about whether online hospitality management degrees are legit before you choose. Many programs include courses in event management and lodging, too, which can open doors outside of restaurants.

Business Administration and Finance

Business administration degrees teach management, accounting, marketing, and operations, all of which apply to a growing restaurant brand. Finance degrees go deeper into budgeting, investment, and financial analysis, which can lead to corporate roles in areas like franchise development or accounting.

SNHU is a common choice for Guild-funded business degrees, and several large employers cover its programs. Companies that offer free tuition with SNHU can give you a sense of how other employers structure similar benefits.

Career Outlook for Restaurant Managers

Moving into restaurant management is one of the clearest ways to use a Five Guys-funded degree. Food service managers earn a median annual wage of $69,390, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Employment is projected to grow 6% through 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.

Many food service managers start without a degree and work their way up from crew positions. However, the BLS notes that employers may prefer candidates with postsecondary education, especially for higher-level roles. A degree in hospitality or business can help you stand out when promotion opportunities come up.

How Five Guys Compares to Other Fast-Food Chains

Education benefits vary widely in the restaurant industry. Here's how Five Guys lines up with a few well-known chains.

Chipotle

Chipotle also works with Guild, and its benefit is one of the strongest in fast food. Chipotle's tuition program covers 100% of tuition for more than 300 select programs, including some master's degrees.

For other programs, Chipotle pays up to $5,250 a year, the same cap Five Guys uses. Employees report a tenure requirement of about 120 days, which is shorter than the year of steady hours reported for Five Guys.

McDonald's

McDonald's offers tuition help through its Archways to Opportunity program. McDonald's tuition assistance pays up to $5,250 a year for full-time employees at corporate-owned restaurants and up to $2,500 for part-time staff.

Franchise restaurants must opt in, and their full-time employees can receive up to $3,000 a year. Employees qualify after 90 days and need to average at least 15 hours a week, a lower hours requirement than the one reported for Five Guys.

Wendy's

Wendy's doesn't advertise a companywide tuition program. Wendy's education benefits depend largely on individual franchise owners, some of whom may offer their own tuition help.

The company does offer leadership development programs and an employee assistance program. For college funding, though, Five Guys gives you considerably more to work with.

Things To Consider

The Five Guys benefit can cover your entire degree if you choose a fully funded program, but you'll pay part of the cost yourself for other options. Also, keep in mind that education assistance above $5,250 in a calendar year counts as taxable income on your W-2. If you stay at or below that limit, the federal allowance for tuition reimbursement keeps your benefit tax-free.

The bigger question for many employees is access. Since eligibility rules aren't fully public and franchise locations may differ, confirm that your restaurant participates before you build your plans around the benefit. If you're job hunting, ask about education benefits during your interview.

FAQs About Five Guys Education Benefits

These questions come up often among Five Guys employees and job seekers. The answers can help you plan your next step.

Can You Use the Five Guys Benefit for a Master's Degree?

Guild's Five Guys portal focuses on undergraduate programs, certificates, bootcamps, high school completion, and college prep. Graduate degrees aren't listed among the covered options. If you're planning on a master's degree, you may need to look at federal aid, scholarships, or another employer's benefit.

Does Five Guys Help Pay Off Student Loans?

Five Guys doesn't publicly advertise a student loan repayment benefit. The education program focuses on paying for new coursework instead of past debt. Since Five Guys pays tuition upfront for many programs, it can help you avoid taking on new loans in the first place.

Can You Work at Five Guys While Taking Classes Online?

Yes, and that's how the program is designed to work. Classes through Guild are online with flexible start dates, and Five Guys promotes flexible scheduling for its crew. Taking one or two courses at a time can help you balance shifts and schoolwork.

Do Five Guys Employees Get Help Choosing a Program?

Yes, Guild provides one-on-one specialists and coaches who can help you pick a program, apply, and stay on track. Coaching is available from enrollment through graduation. That support can be especially helpful if you're the first person in your family to attend college.

Make the Most of Your Education Benefits

The Five Guys education program can take a big bite out of what you'd otherwise pay for school, especially if you choose a fully funded degree. Learn.org offers information and resources to help you find scholarships for online students and weigh your education options before you enroll.