INDIANAPOLIS — Companies that bring you on board want you to stay awhile.
Instead of offering a dollar or two more an hour, they're offering bigger benefits to keep you for years to come.
Kimberly Wireman is splitting her college tuition with her employer, Kroger.
"This is cutting it almost in half," Wireman said.
Wireman is going to school online for a bachelor's degree in management and a minor in human relations.
"I'm a people person, I love to help. So, it was always something that I found kind of passionate about," Wireman said.
After six months of employment, Kroger will pay workers up to $3,500 a year for tuition, or $21,000 over the course of employment.
"I find that to be very beneficial with children and grandchildren. That money could go to so many more things, my children's education," Wireman said.
And Kroger isn't the only employer offering tuition assistance.
Shakeera Jenkins works at Chipotle, and she is going to college for free.
"It feels really, really good not to have to worry about that, especially because I'm on my own. I have to do everything for myself," Jenkins said.
Chipotle offers employees 100% of the tuition for select degrees, high school diplomas and college prep courses. They also offer up to $5,250 per year tuition covered or reimbursed for a wider selection of programs.
Companies offering tuition assistance
Walmart, Sam's Club and Target recently announced they too will offer employees full ride options for school.
Walmart's and Sam's Club will pay 100% of college tuition and books for associates through its Live Better U (LBU) program. Some of LBU's academic partners include Johnson & Wales University, Penn Foster, Purdue University Global, Southern New Hampshire University, University of Arizona and University of Denver.
A Target spokesperson said, in part, the company will offer "more than 250 debt-free programs from more than 40 schools, colleges and universities that are accessible to all U.S.-based full-time and part-time team members on their first day of work at Target. There will be both online and in-person options, so team members have the flexibility to choose programs that fit with their schedules and specific needs. For team members pursuing educational opportunities outside of the select 250 business-aligned programs within the Guild network of 40 schools, including master’s degrees, Target will provide direct payments to their academic institution of up to $5,250 for non-master's degrees and up to $10,000 for master’s degrees each year to reduce the burden of up-front, costly tuition payments."
These other companies also participate in tuition assistance:
Why are companies doing this?
Dr. Larry Belcher, the dean and professor of finance in the School of Business at University of Indianapolis, said employee retention is important because it's expensive to hire people.
"You have to think creatively about, 'How am I going to be able to hire people and keep them?'" Belcher said.
Belcher said tuition reimbursement benefits both parties, helping employers retain talent and employees avoid or better manage debt.
"Even if they don't give you the big salary, some of those other things can sort of whittle away at your monthly expenses and actually lower your cost of living," Belcher said.
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