Starbucks to Provide Free College Education to Thousands of Workers

Starbucks will provide a free online college education to thousands of its workers, without requiring that they remain with the company, through an unusual arrangement with Arizona State University, the company and the university will announce on Monday.

The program is open to any of the company’s 135,000 United States employees, provided they work at least 20 hours a week and have the grades and test scores to gain admission to Arizona State. For a barista with at least two years of college credit, the company will pay full tuition; for those with fewer credits it will pay part of the cost, but even for many of them, courses will be free, with government and university aid.

Starbucks to Provide Free College Education to Thousands of Workers

While I appreciate the sentiment that Starbucks is allowing students to go to school for free, why did they pick one of the most worst schools in the country to do so?

The program is open to any of the company’s 135,000 United States employees, provided they work at least 20 hours a week and have the grades and test scores to gain admission to Arizona State. For a barista with at least two years of college credit, the company will pay full tuition; for those with fewer credits it will pay part of the cost, but even for many of them, courses will be free, with government and university aid.

ASU Iacademic merits are not mid-standard to say the least. There have been known issues with firing tenures for an expendable adjunct lower paid faculty. There have been scandals about its disorganized administration. The ridiculous tuition surcharges and fees have been the subject of several websites from former disgruntled students who transferred. The rudeness of the staff and upper administration has been noted in US Colleges and Peterson's in previous years. Let us not forget it is in Arizona, a state that has Sheriff Joe running around catchin' illegals as he see fit.

Also there is the brand recognition of being a highly regarded party school.

Ranked #13 out of 40 Top Party Schools by Playboy Magazine in 1987
Ranked #14 of 25 of America's Douchiest Colleges by GQ Magazine in 2009
Ranked #1 Party School by Playboy Magazine in 2002
Ranked #20 on the Princeton Review Party School List in 2009

I'm just not buying this as being a great opportunity. What of people that work out of state of the place? Who is going to fit the cost of relocation should they choose to go to school there?

If all this turns out to be is another corporate company getting in the for profit academic business and ushering in more idiots to "online learning", Starbucks will be at the top of the heap.

Nobody will have to relocate because YOUR OWN article states that these are online courses.

Even IF they were only offering it to those who would relocate... Why should that be wrong?

Have you ever heard the old saying "Never look a gift horse in the mouth"? That applies here I think.

Starbucks DOESN'T have to do or offer anything. The ONLY thing they have to do, is pay their employees a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. Anything above and beyond that is a GIFT.

I don't understand why there needs to be complaints when things like this happen. If it's the worst school in all the country, and if only the people who relocate can take advantage of it... It's still a GIFT and it's still a million times more than what they have to do and what other companies actually do for their workers. There isn't even a waiting period. In the article it says that they can start work and start school at the same time. That's pretty awesome to me... but I am usually grateful for the things I am given.

Who complains about a gift FFS?

The employees can either do it or not. If they are smart they will take advantage of this opportunity instead of complaining that they didn't get more. But they will probably complain as well. It seems to be the growing status quo these days.

THIS is why we can't have nice things.

a reply to: Kangaruex4Ewe

So if I took a big steaming dump, I mean a White Castle/Waffle House # in a box, put sprinkles on it and gave it to you, its still a gift, would you be thankful?

Sending someone to an academic institution that is an overgrown community college is NOT helping them, gift or not. It's perpetuating more mediocre learning and worse, even more issues with graduating from institutions of higher learning having learned NOTHING. Damn. Why don't you just send them straight to a fraternity, let them major in beer management, and graduate them after eight years?

a reply to: ArchPlayer

That is a completely ludicrous comparison and you know it.

The people who feel the way you do about it don't have to take it. It's simple. They are not requiring that anybody take it. They are offering it to their employees cost free for those who have no other alternative to better themselves.

The campus and college life point is also moot. These are online courses. Nobody has to go to the actual institution.... Ever.

They are offering free classes to get a bachelors degree. Why is that wrong of them to do? How many other places (besides the military) do you know that will foot the bill for that?

Just because they aren't footing the bill for folks to get their law degree at Harvard, it doesn't mean that what they are offering is shiite.

a reply to: ArchPlayer

If like to know just what Starbucks is getting out of the deal... They're getting something... Maybe locations on ASU campus? Interesting the article didn't mention that or how much Starbucks will actually pay, if anything, for the tuition. They mention what tuition costs of course, but never said that's what will be paid. Tricky tricky...

a reply to: Kangaruex4Ewe

Let me make my point clear here.

1. If an individual does not attend classes in the traditional sense (in the classroom), the quality and recognition of the education SUFFERS. By not going to the institution they are being cheated of this great experience that Starbucks claims to want to offer.

2. They are offering free classes to get a bachelors degree. ONLINE. Even though for local residents they can go in person, I looked. For everyone else, ONLINE. How does an institution such as ASU which isn't worth the spit it takes to curse it lower academic standards have merit to give such a great education to allow one to persevere ONLINE? Foot the bill my ass, the (Starbucks) are insulting them. They don't think any better of them than online? Than ASU? It's not like they are offering a REAL DEGREE.

3. It sounds like to me this is just a ploy for Starbucks to get in the runnings to be like EE Corporation who runs Art Institutes. This is a waste of time and resources for a bull# degree. THAT IS MY POINT.

a reply to: ArchPlayer

Oh, I get your point. MY POINT is that what you consider a bullshiite degree is STILL better than what they have to do and what other companies do. You say Starbucks doesn't think enough of their employees to offer them more... I say Starbucks thinks enough of their employees to offer some form of education when most do not.

I don't think it is an insult to their employees at all. You do. We will have to agree to disagree. As I think offering something is far more than other places even think of doing. My point is that there is something wrong when folks have the audacity to be offended by free education.

What would be good enough?

a reply to: Kangaruex4Ewe

Its a waste of space and resources to offer a subpart education under the premise of helping your workers get better jobs after they leave you when they know damn well their workers won't with this type of degree. The school is a joke. THAT is my point.

Its insulting to pass yourself off as a great philanthropist when this great free opportunity may hold them back twofold. If that school drops any lower, loses more accredidations, these free students will have to go BACK to school to work on second degrees on their dime just to break even.

Jackson State University students learned this too well back in the 1990s and early 2000s.

If Starbucks truly wanted to educate their students they would have put more thought and incentive in sending their best and brightest to top rated universities in the classroom, not online, and GIVE a better incentive for them to stay within the company if they send them off for proper training in various areas.

That would be good enough.

a reply to: ArchPlayer

First off . . . I'm not sure, by your response, that you know much about colleges or universities in general. However, it is very clear you know absolutely nothing about the university that you claim is "sub-par" (although apparently you spell it "subpart" . . . ). I also question if you have attained any sort of advanced degree yourself.

While using "Playboy" and "GQ" may help your asinine assertions, those publications are certainly no barometer of the actual quality of education you would get attending. And, the latest date for those is 2009? Surely, those publication put out that stupid list every year . . . so, where is ASU on the latest rankings? Also, to conflate a local sheriff with the university further shows your ignorance.

First . . . let's start with the "opportunity" that is provided from such a "mid-standard" school (as you put it) . . .
Wall St. Journal Top 25 Recruiter Picks (In case you are unaware a "recruiter" seeks out employee candidates for corporations)

Below are the Top 25 schools whose graduates were the top-rated by recruiters.

5. Arizona State University

Only schools ahead of ASU that major corporations recruit from are Penn St., Texas A&M, Purdue, U of Ill. Seems plenty of graduates have "opportunity" from Fortune 500 companies . . . You know . . . like Starbucks.

Next . . . Where does ASU rank academically according to the services that actually rank such things . . . as opposed to your examples of a porn mag and a magazine that caters to metrosexual douchebags (which is funny that they have a ranking of "douchiest schools").

The Academic Ranking of World Universities, compiled by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, ranked ASU as 78th among the Top 100 universities in the world. ASU entered the rankings in 2003, achieved Top 100 status in 2006, and has moved up steadily since then. The university was 94th in 2009 and 81st in 2010.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, using data supplied by Thomson Reuters, placed ASU in the Top 200 in the world in 2010, using measures of excellence from all three core elements of a university’s mission: research, teaching and knowledge transfer. In 2011, ASU was ranked 21st in the world in mathematics, above Columbia University, Cornell University, Oxford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cambridge University.

U.S. News & World Report ranked ASU in the top tier of national universities from 2008 through 2012. It was also named one of the top “Up and Coming Schools,” from 2009 through 2012 and second in the 2011 edition of "America’s Best Colleges" – a ranking highlighting schools to watch in terms of promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus life, diversity and facilities. In 2012, the magazine ranked ASU No. 1 in the nation for online student services and technology.

A ranking published by The Wall Street Journal in September 2010 named ASU No. 5 in the nation among corporate recruiters for producing the best-qualified graduates – those who are the most prepared and academically well-rounded, integrate well with the companies’ cultures and produce the best track records.

In 2009 and 2010, Forbes placed ASU on its list of 100 of "America’s Best Colleges," based on students' satisfaction with their course instruction, indicators of their post-graduate employment success, four-year graduation rates, student and faculty success in competitive academic and research awards, and the four-year debt load for typical student borrowers.

ASU was selected by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School” for four consecutive years 2010-13. The list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools doing the most to embrace America's veterans as students.

The Princeton Review, one of America's most widely known education services and test preparation companies, named ASU one of the “Best 377 Colleges” in the nation in 2010. It also named ASU one of the nation's 50 "Best Value" public colleges and universities. The Princeton Review calls ASU “a leading research institution and a dynamic public university” and commends it for its “outstanding honors college” and leadership in entrepreneurial education.

ASU continues to be one of the top choices for international students, placing 20th in the nation in 2011 and 2012 among all colleges and universities, according to the Institute of International Education. The university draws students from 120 countries because of the breadth of its programs and its strong reputation for innovation in academic programs and research.

And what about the "outstanding honors college" mentioned above . . .

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University is a selective, residential college that recruits academically outstanding undergraduates across the nation. Named “Best Honors College” in the nation, this residential community has more National Merit Scholars than MIT, Duke, Brown, Stanford or the University of California-Berkeley, and Barrett students benefit from a twelve million dollar endowment used exclusively to support honors students and their projects.

If you like we can also get into individual rankings for their very well-thought of Business, Engineering, Law, Biological Sciences, Education, Journalism and Mass Communications, Finance, Environmental Policy, Psychology, Nursing, Healthcare Management, Physics, Earth Science, Criminology, and Economics.

I'm sure a smart guy like yourself knows how to use Google . . . so, if you were really interested in knowing any "facts" about that university I'm sure you could have figured it out. Instead, it seems like you have some irrational beef (or maybe it is just simple ignorance) with the school. Did someone from ASU do your mom . . . and then Starbucks fired her?

If not, maybe she can get a job and a top notch education, if you drop your ignorant views . . . I mean, here is a company that is willing to provide up to $30,000 for a college education (you know those things everybody keeps claiming are "unaffordable" these days), while still being able to stay employed.

ASU's online program ranks ninth in the 2014 "Best Online Programs” U.S. News & World Report list and first for online student services and technology. It ranks fourth for "Best Online Programs for Veterans" in the same report.

a reply to: solomons path
And here is a nice overview of actual rank by U.S. News and World report:
USNWR College Rankings

It's funny that the site's motto is "Deny Ignorance" and headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ . . . yet, you promote nothing but, about that very state.

Have you even been to Arizona?

a reply to: solomons path

Way to do some research and help those who don't see it realize why this is a big deal for starbucks workers.

I wish my old fast food company offered something like this!

Frankly I don't care if they were offering free online classes to the local community college, it's still something and gives them the opportunity to make plans for a future with a degree.

a reply to: ArnoldNonymous

I agree. There have been plenty of places I have worked that I wished offered anything close to this. To complain about it is completely asinine IMO.

I would bet a good amount of money that this will bring them plenty of loyal, new employees. With the way the economy is, you really can't beat free college education.

originally posted by: ArchPlayer
a reply to: Kangaruex4Ewe

Let me make my point clear here.

1. If an individual does not attend classes in the traditional sense (in the classroom), the quality and recognition of the education SUFFERS. By not going to the institution they are being cheated of this great experience that Starbucks claims to want to offer.

2. They are offering free classes to get a bachelors degree. ONLINE. Even though for local residents they can go in person, I looked. For everyone else, ONLINE. How does an institution such as ASU which isn't worth the spit it takes to curse it lower academic standards have merit to give such a great education to allow one to persevere ONLINE? Foot the bill my ass, the (Starbucks) are insulting them. They don't think any better of them than online? Than ASU? It's not like they are offering a REAL DEGREE.

3. It sounds like to me this is just a ploy for Starbucks to get in the runnings to be like EE Corporation who runs Art Institutes. This is a waste of time and resources for a bull# degree. THAT IS MY POINT.

What year are you living in? I mean really you do not know that online classes are common even if you live on campus? And what is up with your hate for ASU did they not accept you or something? As anybody can easly look up and see they are fine school. Or do you just hate the fact that people working at Starbucks will end up with a degree for free and for some reason that angers you?

This is great. Anytime you can take college courses or online college courses for free or partly free, it's a great thing. I'm a big proponent of lifelong learning. It's just one more perk of working there.

Why would anyone have a problem with this?

Haters just have to find something to hate, I suppose. Could it be a better school, could the this program be a little better...yes yes, but did Starbucks have to do it at all? For some of those employees, this is the chance of a lifetime and they are and should be taking advantage of it. That's what really matters.

Some of you guys get too caught up in the details.

I was just in town today and the local college has a Starbucks on campus. Not a Starbucks near campus in there own building, but in a campus building in the middle of campus. Also, this is the only Starbucks in a 50 mile radius. So it's strange to me that this is being posted today, as I was just thinking about what kind of deal they had to make with the college and how much money was being being taking from college kids and their parents.

I learned early on how to make my own coffee, I drink it black and I'd never spend more than a dollar or two on a cup. They need to teach these kids self reliance and get them use to buying a cup of mud for a reasonable price.

originally posted by: amazing
Some of you guys get too caught up in the details.

And some of them appreciate absolutely nothing.

a reply to: ArchPlayer

I think our Negative Nancy probably owes tons in student loans and is seeing the green eyed dragon over the fact Starbucks workers can get a bachelors for free. I say awesome job, Starbucks! Way to step up and start helping people do better in their own futures. yay!!!! THIS is what huge corps should be doing for their workers. Help them forward, don't keep them stagnant.

a reply to: sarra1833

I think all of you all who support this are forgetting the Deny Ignorance clause here on ATS.

Supporting online learning is only going to cause for more delusion in higher academia. Online learning is NOT helping these minimum wage workers get better jobs, especially at a known Party School like ASU. This is only going to get them further back and more dependent on their nice corporate benefactor for long term employment.

Academic integrity in higher academia use to mean something. Now no one gives a damn because its "convienent" to go to online school, which is bull#. Plain and simple. Online education does not ensure you a fair shake and has flooded the integrity of higher academia since faculty has no idea if you are who you say you are behind the screen.

I know too many people that have side hustles doing the online work for people that hire them that don't want to be bothered.

But go ahead and support this "free education". It's not going to open the floodgates to something sooooooooo great that America will jump out of the idiocracy its stuck in for brighter sands. This is just dumbing down the selection pool even further.

It also gives Starbucks a nice window to get into For Profit education.

a reply to: ArchPlayer

I think all of you all who support this are forgetting the Deny Ignorance clause here on ATS.

Oh the sweet, sweet dripping irony . . .



Since you seem soooooo concerned with "integrity" . . . let's get to your (well playboy's) claim that "ASU is a notorious party school". What exactly are the criteria that are used to determine "party school"? I mean anybody can make a list and slap some schools on it.

And before you say "everybody knows it" . . . I grew up 10 minutes from that campus . . . so, I know the "history" of that claim. It was non-existent until ASU was "dubbed" that by Playboy in the early 80's. So, deny ignorance and all . . . what is the criteria and how is the list compiled? Also, what differentiates ASU from any other college campus (especially those in the midwest and south) in this regard? Surely . . . since you are "denying ignorance" . . . you should have some data?

And again . . . ignorance . . . even on-campus residents have to or can take on-line versions of certain courses, all schools offer them. And today, all schools offer online degree programs outside of Stanford, Northwestern, and the Ivys. If you are concerned with "academic integrity" and the possibility of having others complete those courses for the SB employees . . . why wasn't that your point from the beginning? Something smells rotten in Denmark . . .

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