Anthem Offers Free College Tuition to Qualified Employees

Indianapolis-based Anthem announced Tuesday that it is offering free tuition to qualified employees through Southern New Hampshire University.

The school has expanded its online programs in recent years, the growth fueled in part by its “College for America” program. These so-called “competency-based programs” enable students to get credit for what they already know and earn credit by showing mastery of a subject. Jose Tomas, Anthem’s chief human resources officer, says the program will cost Anthem $2,500 a year per student and is open to any of its 55,000 employees who have been with the company for at least six months and work 20 hours a week or more.

“This particular program has a series of degrees that are aligned to us,”  Tomas said. “Their work life experiences that are gained here at Anthem are applied to their degrees."

It’s an expansion of a program that had been available only to Anthem’s employees in New Hampshire. The pilot and its success was what led to rolling it out companywide, Tomas says. 

"We believe that once they receive their degrees they’ll have an opportunity for advancement. One of the biggest factors to develop this program is the retention of our associates. We do believe in promoting from within,” Tomas said.

College for America's six degree programs are:

•         Associate of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in Business
•         Associate of Arts in General Studies for Non-clinical Healthcare
•         Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Business
•         Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in Healthcare
•         Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Global Perspectives
•         Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Management with a concentration in Communications