100% Free Tuition from KFC?

Want free Tuition for University? Effective February 1, 2023 KFC will now cover 100% tuition for bachelors or masters degrees for employees! Franchise City explains how to qualify for the program, what courses are available, and how to get started.

This is a great idea from KFC, I think maybe even better than the Colonel on Ice. Yes, that was a thing. So why is this such a great idea both for employer and employee? The biggest challenge in the labor market, and particularly fast food, is hiring and retaining quality people. It has always been a challenge but the past year has been especially difficult. Most food franchises have have added some perks to try and attract employees but I think KFC has a game changing idea here.

You are probably asking what is the catch? Surprisingly this is a really employee friendly gesture in my opinion, and if you watch the channel you know I don't pull any punches with franchises. KFC will pay your tuition 100%, the program is non-competitive, meaning you don't have to measure up against anyone else, or achieve any benchmarks to qualify, and they provide it starting from day one of your employment! Many corporations have tuition coverage with gimmicks or catches where you have to work a certain time period like 6 months to a year before you qualify, or they only cover a pro rated percentage or make you jump through hoops. Not the case with KFC you qualify for 100% tuition the same day you walk in and put on the KFC hat.

So KFC will likely have a lineup of applicants and be able to pick and choose, employees will be rewarded with this free tuition. Morale will increase, food sales will likely increase, so this seems like a win/win situation for everybody. Except the chickens.

This is a special partnership between the KFC foundation and Western Governors University. WGU is a non-profit, private university founded by 19 US Governors in 1997, hence the name, and their mission is to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education with over 150,000 graduates in all 50 states. They are based in Utah, but you can conduct most or all of of the coursework online depending on your degree and work at your own pace. Admissions are rolling, meaning you can apply at any time of year and get started when you are ready.

WGU offers bachelors degrees in accounting, human resources, business administration, finance, IT, health information management and also masters degrees including MBA, marketing, IT, data analytics and many others, there is a total of 60 different bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

According to their website WGU grads see an average salary increase of $18,200 within just two years of graduation, and undergraduates pay back their tuition investment in around a year and a half. I wont go into detail as far as all of the ratings, feedback and reviews for Western General University, but from what I saw many graduates and existing students were very happy with their decision, and were happy with the way WGU conducts their classes and the learning curriculum. There are also many video's here on YouTube from WGU graduates, some of who claim to have completed their degree in as little as a few months.

So how do you qualify? You must be a restaurant general manager, assistant manager, shift supervisor or team member in good standing at a KFC restaurant participating in the KFC Foundation’s Annual Franchise Donation Program. To continue receiving 100% tuition coverage at WGU through the KFC Foundation, you must remain employed and in good standing at a participating KFC restaurant. So no you cant work a half shift, quit, and get your entire tuition paid. More than fair. And according to the KFC website employment will be verified at the beginning of each six-month term. In order to qualify you must have graduated from high school or earned a high school equivalency/GED. Now if I am not mistaken KFC also provides the opportunity to help you get your GED as well as the University tuition.

#freetuition #franchisecity

History of WGU: https://youtube.com/watch?v=B2qBQUNAZlU&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE

https://kfcfoundation.org/wgu/