Prime Opportunities: How Amazon Employees Can Earn a Degree From SNHU

As a working adult, a few questions might be standing between you and your decision to enroll in a degree program. Like how will it fit into your schedule — and how will you pay for it?

You might be pleasantly surprised by some of the opportunities available to you. Certain online programs offer more flexibility than you may realize, and many students are able to earn degrees while working full time.

If you're an employee at Amazon, you also have options to help finance your education, according to Beneatha Barkley, a director of corporate strategic partnerships at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) who works to create meaningful opportunities for employees and organizations.

“Together, Amazon and SNHU provide financial support, academic guidance and career resources to help employees succeed,” she said.

Beyond Career Choice

Amazon Career Choice, sometimes just referred to as Career Choice, is one educational benefit program available to certain Amazon employees. If you're eligible, Career Choice can cover up to six courses per year in an approved undergraduate-level program of your choice at SNHU.

But there are also other opportunities to help with the cost of your degree at SNHU, according to Barkley, including:

• Discounts for Amazon employees: As an Amazon employee, you might be eligible for a 15% discount at SNHU.
• Discounts for family members of employees: Spouses, children and immediate family of employees may be eligible for a 15% discount on SNHU courses, too.
• Financial aid: You might also consider applying for student loans, grants and scholarships to help finance your college education.
• Military tuition assistance, discounts and benefits: If you have certain military affiliations, you could be eligible for even more educational benefits.
• Transfer credit opportunities: At a transfer-friendly school, like SNHU, you could transfer up to 45 of the 60 credits required for an associate degree or up to 90 of the 120 credits required for a bachelor's degree.

"SNHU can help each learner identify the best option," Barkley said.

While Amazon Career Choice is only available for undergraduate programs, Scott Borgnis '23G, who currently works as an aviation security risk manager with Amazon Air, used his military benefits to help with the cost of his master's degree.

"The GI Bill(®) covered most of it," he said.*

When he applied to SNHU's master's program, Borgnis was still in his bachelor's. "I applied to the program there, and they said, 'Hey, you can actually start your master's course during your bachelor's,'" Borgnis said.

Through an accelerated master's program at SNHU, he said he was able to "fly through" his degree.

Explore options for Amazon employees and family at SNHU.

Flexibility and Support: The Total Package

For many working adults, earning a degree wouldn't be possible without a flexible course schedule.

Remy Twine ’25 fit school into her life while working night shifts at Amazon thanks to SNHU's asynchronous program without set class times. She said she focused on school on her days off from work: Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Twine appreciated the school's student support services, too, noting that her academic advisor was especially helpful while she earned her associate degree in marketing. “I had the best advisor,” she said. “She made sure I had everything I needed.”

At SNHU, you’ll have dedicated support to help you choose a program aligned with your long-term goals and guide your career development. From the moment you enroll, you'll also have access to dedicated career services to help you identify skills to build, create a professional development plan and navigate your job search.

In addition to academic advising and career services, students enrolled in degree programs have access to:

• Academic support services
• Financial services
• Mental health services
• Student involvement opportunities

Your instructors are also there for you, according to Borgins. He said the online environment at SNHU was a supportive one, which made everything easier while earning his master's.

"During my classwork, if you had an issue and you reached out, everyone was super helpful," he said.

Learn more about how you can earn an online degree at your own pace through a supportive and flexible program with weekly due dates.

Earn Trust Through Education

According to Borgnis, one of Amazon's 16 leadership principles is "Earn Trust." He said furthering your education is a way to earn trust in others in a professional setting by proving knowledge and competence in your field.

Working in security, Borgnis said a master's in criminal justice made sense for him, and this background also supports his long-term aspirations.

"The ultimate goal is to become a director of a company in the future," he said. "So that just sets me up for success within that line."

Today, Borgnis noted that he feels people take him more seriously now that he has a master's degree — exemplifying how education can help earn trust. "Overall, the confidence level is higher," he said.

That's why he recommends earning a degree if you have the option, noting that he has multiple coworkers who are currently earning degrees from SNHU.

Where do you want to build your knowledge?

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by the VA is available at the official U.S. government website.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor’s and master’s, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon’s short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.