HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Amazon employees are getting the chance to go to college for free in northern Kentucky, through a partnership between Northern Kentucky University and one of the biggest companies in the world.

It could end up being beneficial, not just to Amazon, but also to the northern Kentucky region and the entire state.

Inside the Amazon Air Hub at KCVG, hundreds of human employees work alongside robots to ensure packages ordered by people all over the country arrive where they’re supposed to in a timely fashion.

However, not all of them plan to stay with the company forever. One Amazon spokesperson said the company is not only at peace with that, but is actively encouraging employees to explore their options.

“We know that making a career change is not easy. And we definitely want to make sure that our employees have the best in-class support in their path to finding new roles,” said spokesperson Andre Woodson.

Amazon’s Career Choice Program is a benefit that includes full college tuition and industry certification with partnering educational institutes. NKU just joined the growing list of them.

The university announced it had been selected as an education partner for the program, providing Amazon’s hourly employees access to nearly all undergraduate opportunities at NKU. 

The program provides access to over 80 undergraduate degree programs and stackable micro-credentials with options for in-person, hybrid, and online classes. Full-time employees are eligible for up to $5,250 in tuition, fees and course materials, while part-time employees are eligible for up to $2,625. Employees are eligible for the benefit after 90 days of employment with Amazon.

NKU Assistant Vice President of Economic Engagement and Government Relationships, Carmen Hickerson, helped spearhead the partnership.

“A lot of our students are working while they’re getting their education. And they’re always concerned about affordability and flexibility, and the ability to work while they go to school,” Hickerson said.

Hickerson said there are no limits to the tuition benefit, other than it has to be an undergraduate degree, and classes have to be four credits.

Both NKU and Amazon will provide flexible schedules so both full time and part-time employees can work toward a degree, or even just take a few classes.

“More and more, employees are demanding this of their employers. They want the ability to have continuing education, professional development,” Hickerson said.

Woodson confirmed this is true with many Amazon employees.

“I think by working with educational partners who are committed to student success and providing flexible schedules to students, our employees can accommodate schedules in their jobs,” he said.

Amazon’s Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party partner educators, choosing partners that are focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting them with job placements and offering an education that leads to overall career success.

The idea fits into NKU’s goal of partnering with companies around the region to churn out more educated employees, whom the university hopes stick around and contribute to a stronger economy in northern Kentucky. 

He said, of course, Amazon wants its employees to stick around, too, and grow with the company, but helping them have more options is beneficial to employees, a good selling point to future employees for the company, and potentially good for other businesses outside of Amazon.

Woodson said Amazon has 25,000 employees across Kentucky. NKU has already had Amazon employees reach out, which Hickerson said will impact fall enrollment.

Anyone interested in signing up can visit NKU.edu\Amazon. For more information on Amazon’s Career Choice, click here.