Does Best Buy Pay for College? 2026 Update

Best Buy can help pay for college, but it does it through two separate education benefit programs, and the rules depend on whether you’re part-time or full-time (and how long you’ve been employed). The big recent change is Best Buy’s expanded Degrees@Work partnership with Strayer University, announced in February 2025, which gives all U.S. employees, including part-time employees, access to no-cost degree pathways from day one, with Best Buy paying tuition directly.

Alongside that, Best Buy also offers an ASU Online pathway that includes a tuition scholarship for eligible employees and an additional tuition reimbursement benefit for qualifying full-time employees (typically after meeting a waiting period and hour requirements). In other words, you’ve got an upfront, tuition-covered path through Strayer and a broader program choice with a scholarship + reimbursement path through ASU Online.

Best Buy isn’t the only major employer covering tuition. If you’re comparing options, it’s worth looking at how Walmart, Target, and Starbucks structure their education benefits too.

Key Takeaways

• Best Buy’s Degrees@Work (Strayer University) provides no-cost-to-the-employee degree pathways for all U.S. employees, including part-time workers, with access starting on your first day.
• Best Buy’s ASU Online program includes a tuition scholarship, and tuition reimbursement is tied to full-time eligibility with additional requirements (manager approval and other steps).
• Books, materials, and certain fees are commonly not covered under employer programs, so you should expect some out-of-pocket costs either way.
• For people who aren’t Best Buy employees (or who want an employer-independent path), University of the People is tuition-free with assessment fees per course, and it’s WSCUC-accredited.

What Education Benefits Does Best Buy Offer?

Best Buy’s education benefits generally fall into two lanes:

1. Degrees@Work through Strayer University (the no-cost degree pathway option), where Best Buy pays tuition directly for eligible programs, and employees can start using it right away.
2. ASU Online support, including a tuition scholarship and a separate tuition reimbursement component for eligible full-time employees, with steps such as eligibility confirmation and manager approval.

They’re complementary, not identical. Your best fit depends on your schedule, your field of study, and whether you want immediate access or broader program variety.

The Degrees@Work Program Through Strayer University

If you’re looking for the most straightforward “Best Buy pays for college” answer, this is usually it. Best Buy expanded its relationship with Strayer so employees can pursue no-debt, no-cost-to-the-employee degree pathways, and access starts immediately for U.S. employees.

Who Is Eligible For Degrees@Work?

Best Buy’s February 2025 announcement describes the expanded offering as available to all full- and part-time Best Buy employees in the United States, with access on the first day of employment. In practice, you’ll typically confirm your options through Best Buy’s education benefits portal/manager process (often routed through Workforce Edge).

What Degrees And Programs Are Available Through Strayer?

The expanded Degrees@Work benefit covers coursework and credentials ranging from certificates through master’s degrees, with program options highlighted in areas like business and information technology. Employees can also access Sophia Learning (ACE-recommended general education courses that can apply toward a Strayer degree).

What Is And Is Not Covered

The core promise of Degrees@Work is that eligible degree pathways can be paid for directly by Best Buy, which is what makes it feel “no-cost” in day-to-day terms. That said, it’s still important to confirm whether things like application fees, books, and course materials are included for your specific program, because those are common gaps in employer education benefits.

Strayer University’s Accreditation

Strayer University is accredited and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

The Employee Tuition Assistance Program Through ASU Online

If you want a wider menu of majors and credentials, ASU Online is typically where you’ll find them. Best Buy employees pursuing ASU Online programs can receive a tuition scholarship, and eligible full-time employees can also receive additional tuition reimbursement (with eligibility confirmation and other steps).

Who Is Eligible For ASU Tuition Assistance?

Based on ASU’s Best Buy program material and ASU’s eligibility confirmation page, this tends to work in tiers:

• A tuition scholarship is available to eligible employees.
• Tuition reimbursement is typically tied to full-time eligibility, with additional requirements such as manager approval.

(Exact hour thresholds and waiting periods can be role-specific, so the safest move is to verify through Best Buy’s HR/benefits portal before you enroll.)

What Programs Are Available Through ASU Online?

ASU Online offers a broad online catalog, so this path is usually better if you’re trying to study outside the narrower fields highlighted in the Strayer announcement. Your actual available list will depend on the Best Buy-ASU pathway and eligibility rules.

How The Reimbursement Process Works

ASU’s Best Buy guidance outlines steps such as confirming eligibility through the Best Buy pathway, completing school enrollment steps, and using the Letter of Eligibility process (with processing time noted). The key practical point: reimbursement programs often require you to pay first and then get reimbursed after meeting course completion requirements, so cash flow matters.

What Is And Is Not Covered

You’re responsible for remaining costs, including things like the application fee and other costs not covered by the scholarship or reimbursement structure. So even if tuition support is strong, you should still budget for typical extras.

Additional Best Buy Scholarship Programs

Best Buy also has separate scholarship initiatives that are not the same thing as employee tuition benefits.

Best Buy Scholarship Program

Best Buy also offers a scholarship that awards around $1,000 to a large number of high school students each year, often to over 1,000 recipients. Since details can change from year to year, it’s a good idea to check the current requirements before planning around it.

Best Buy Scholars Program

Best Buy also runs an HBCU-focused scholars program, where selected students can receive up to $20,000 per year for up to four years, as part of a broader commitment to supporting students through long-term partnerships.

Comparing Best Buy’s Two Education Programs

Here’s a clear way to think about the difference:

Category	Degrees@Work (Strayer)	ASU Online Path
Program Name	Degrees@Work	Employee Tuition Assistance (ASU Online pathway)
Partner School	Strayer University	Arizona State University Online
Eligible Employees	U.S. employees, including part-time	Scholarship: eligible employees; reimbursement: typically full-time eligible
Waiting Period	Day-one access is described in the 2025 expansion	Eligibility confirmation required; reimbursement usually has extra requirements
Annual Dollar Benefit	Tuition covered for eligible pathways	Tuition scholarship + reimbursement for eligible full-time employees (caps vary by policy)
Tuition Coverage Model	Best Buy pays tuition directly for eligible programs	Scholarship applied + reimbursement structure for qualifying employees
Degree Levels Available	Certificates through master’s described	Certificates through graduate programs are available through the ASU Online catalog
Program Fields Available	Highlighted: business and IT (confirm current list)	Broader catalog (confirm current list through benefits portal)
Books/Fees Covered	Often not covered; confirm program details	Some costs are not covered; program material notes, remaining tuition/fees, and other costs are the employee’s responsibility
How To Access	Best Buy education benefits portal / Workforce Edge	Best Buy-ASU pathway and eligibility confirmation

Limitations And Considerations

Even with generous benefits, it helps to go in with your eyes open:

• Part-time employees may have excellent access through Degrees@Work, but reimbursement-style benefits are often tied to full-time eligibility and specific requirements.
• Degrees@Work is a Strayer pathway, so if your goal is a program Strayer doesn’t offer, you’ll likely need the ASU route or an outside option.
• Scholarship/reimbursement paths often don’t cover everything (application fees, books, supplies, and some fees are common gaps).
• If your employer provides more than $5,250 in education assistance in a year, amounts above that can be taxable, depending on how the program is structured.
• Benefits are tied to employment. If you leave Best Buy, your future eligibility can change, so confirm your program’s rules before you commit.

How Does UoPeople Compare For Non-Best Buy Employees?

If you’re not a Best Buy employee, or you simply want a path that isn’t tied to any employer, University of the People can be a useful comparison point. UoPeople is tuition-free, with a $60 application fee and $160 per undergraduate course in assessment fees, which puts the total cost of a degree significantly lower than most traditional options. It’s also accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the same regional accreditor as many well-known U.S. universities.

UoPeople offers fully online, asynchronous programs in areas like business administration, computer science, and health science, which makes it a practical option if you’re balancing work, life, and study. For working adults, the key advantage is flexibility and independence. You’re not tied to a specific employer, benefit structure, or eligibility window, so you can start, pause, or continue your education without worrying about losing funding if your job situation changes.

Making The Most Of Best Buy’s Education Benefits

If you’re trying to get the maximum value, start with your non-negotiables:

• Do you need day-one access and minimal upfront cost? Degrees@Work is designed for that.
• Do you need more program variety? The ASU Online path may be the better fit, but pay attention to eligibility, reimbursement steps, and out-of-pocket costs.

Either way, your best move is to confirm your exact eligibility and program list in the benefits portal before you enroll, so you don’t end up choosing a program that won’t qualify the way you expected.

Final Thoughts

Best Buy really does pay for college for many employees, and the February 2025 expansion of Degrees@Work made the benefit far more inclusive by extending no-cost degree pathways to both full-time and part-time U.S. employees from day one.

At the same time, the details matter. The Strayer pathway is strong for immediate access and low upfront cost, while ASU Online can offer broader program choice with scholarship and reimbursement rules that you’ll want to verify for your role. If you’re not eligible (or you want an employer-independent path), tuition-free models like UoPeople are worth comparing alongside these employer programs.

FAQs

Does Best Buy pay 100% of college tuition?

For eligible employees in the Degrees@Work Strayer pathway, Best Buy’s 2025 expansion describes no-cost-to-the-employee degree pathways with immediate access. For other programs (like ASU Online), coverage depends on the scholarship/reimbursement structure and your eligibility.

Can part-time Best Buy employees get tuition assistance?

Yes. Part-time U.S. employees have access starting on day one. ASU reimbursement eligibility is typically more restricted, so confirm through your portal.

Do I have to work at Best Buy for a certain amount of time before getting tuition help?

For Degrees@Work, access begins on your first day of employment. Other benefit components may require eligibility confirmation and additional requirements.

Does Best Buy cover graduate school costs?

Degrees@Work includes degree options up through master’s programs in the Strayer pathway. ASU Online also offers graduate programs, but benefit coverage depends on your eligibility and the program rules.

Does Best Buy’s tuition assistance cover books and fees?

Often, books, materials, and certain fees are not fully covered under employer programs. ASU’s Best Buy material explicitly notes you’re responsible for remaining costs, including fees and other expenses.

What happens to my education benefits if I leave Best Buy?

Because these programs are tied to being an active employee, leaving Best Buy can affect eligibility for future terms. Confirm the current rules in your benefits portal before you commit to a program timeline.