PNC Bank To Offer Tuition-Free College Education To Its Employees

PNC Bank, one of the largest banks in the nation, will provide access to tuition-free education and related career services for its employees through a just-announced partnership with Guild, one of the nation’s leading on-line education and upskilling platforms for employers.

PNC’s 62,000 employees will be able to enroll in on-line degree programs with fully-funded tuition in fields such as accounting, business administration, cybersecurity, information technology, business analytics, and software development, as well as in individual courses and certificate programs in areas such as fintech, digital marketing, and people business leadership.

Over 400 programs in more than 20 subject areas will be included, according to the PNC website describing the benefits.

The educational programs will be offered by accredited providers in Guild’s learning network including eCornell, Louisiana State University Online, Oregon State University Ecampus, the University of Denver, Southern New Hampshire University, and Wilmington University, among others.

PNC employees are eligible for the new tuition benefit after 90 days of employment with the company. In addition to the fully-funded options, PNC will pay up to $5,250 per year for other undergraduate and master’s degrees found within the Guild catalog. Books and fees are also reimbursable for eligible programs up to the annual funding limit.

Employees wanting to take advantage of the education benefits can also receive 1:1 support from Guild education specialists who will help them with applications, program selection, and other advice.

“As a talent-focused company, we’re committed to investing in education and skills training that eliminates barriers and helps advance career growth. This new collaboration with Guild is part of PNC’s broader effort to attract top talent while helping employees realize their potential and allowing PNC to better meet the needs of our businesses and customers,” said Megan Schulenburg, Senior Director of Learning and Development for PNC.

In addition to the new tuition benefit, PNC also announced that it’s expanding its PartnerUp initiative to Cleveland, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama. That program, which helps guide high school graduates into well-paying careers in high-growth industries, had been successfully introduced first in the Pittsburgh area, which is the home of PNC Bank headquarters.

“With PartnerUp’s expansion, we’re working with more employers and local education partners to provide local high school graduates with the skills needed to land entry-level careers in high-demand industries like healthcare and financial services, without the burden of student loan debt,” said Vicki Henn, PNC chief human resources officer. “As a talent-focused company, we’re committed to investing in impactful skills development programs and educational initiatives that help drive career growth and economic opportunity in the communities we serve.”

PNC Bank now joins an ever-lengthening list of major employers – including Amazon, Macy’s, Target, Walmart, Disney and Starbucks – that will pay for their workers’ college education, industry certificates or other re-skilling opportunities in an attempt to attract and retain employees in what continues to be a challenging labor market.

“We’re honored to partner with PNC to bring career opportunities to its workforce,” said Natalie McCullough, Guild President and Chief Commercial Officer. “As a leading financial services organization, PNC is supporting career mobility in high-demand areas such as data science and cybersecurity and taking an intentional approach to create career pathways for its existing employees.”