How One ASU Student Got His Tuition Paid By Starbucks

When Travis Iden came across the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, he was at a challenging point in his life. But within weeks of discovering the program, everything changed. The Starbucks College Achievement Plan (SCAP) partners with Arizona State University (ASU) to offer eligible employees full tuition coverage for ASU’s four-year degree programs. Employees receive support from a team of dedicated advisors and a choice of more than 50 undergraduate degrees.

With the tuition reimbursement he received from Starbucks, Travis was able to complete his degree (with zero debt!) while working as a shift supervisor in his native town of Houston, Texas. Now a recent graduate, he’s looking forward to a long career with Starbucks and to making the most of all the opportunities he’s offered. Here’s his amazing story.

Why did you decide to apply for SCAP?

I remember watching the videos on the Starbucks website and thinking, “Wow, this is it! I need to buckle down and do this.” I was at a low point in my life because about a year before this, I had moved back home for the second time after an unsuccessful semester at my previous university. It was during this time that I started working for Starbucks. I was struggling to find purpose in my life after I had labeled myself a “college dropout.” When the Starbucks College Achievement Plan came around, I knew I was witnessing something special.

What are the greatest benefits of the SCAP program?

The Starbucks College Achievement Plan is one of those things that seems too good to be true. When I would tell people that I’m receiving full tuition reimbursement while working part-time at Starbucks, many of them would be waiting for some kind of catch. There was no catch. I am now a proud alumnus of Arizona State University (as a new graduate this May!). There’s no other way to put it: the Starbucks College Achievement Plan is just one big benefit.

Do you feel that ASU was the right school for you?

I had a wonderful experience with ASU online. In fact, I navigated through my last semester with an underlying sense of nostalgia as many college seniors do. I found a lot of value in the way ASU’s online infrastructure is set up. I felt like it was tailored specifically for online learning and not just as an afterthought to the physical institution.

What type of support system did you have while you were in school?

My manager at Starbucks worked with my schedule so that during the semester I only worked four days a week for roughly 25-30 hours. This was extremely helpful for me in keeping up with my studies, especially in my last two semesters when I was taking mostly upper-division courses. Multiple times as an online student I received care packages from the Starbucks College Achievement Plan team in Seattle. They sent things like a pound of coffee during finals week and ASU stickers. It was neat that I had a team that supported my decision to become an online student. And of course, my mom played a huge role in my success as a student. Thanks mom!

Was it difficult to have a work/life/school balance? How were you able to balance all the different demands?

Once I had my schedule planned out for school, my approach was to take it one day at a time. Of course I got overwhelmed on certain days (especially while writing essays), but as long as I logged into my classes on a daily basis and did the work, it was manageable. Now that I’ve had a couple weeks off from school as a graduate, I realize how much time I devoted to it!

How has SCAP helped to prepare you for your career?

Earning my degree through Starbucks and ASU has opened up career possibilities that weren’t available to me before. Although staying part of the Starbucks team after graduation isn’t required, my goal is to continue to grow with the company and explore some of the other career opportunities Starbucks has to offer. Looking at the bigger picture, attending class online taught me how to meet deadlines. Being an online student means you have the opportunity to make your own schedule. This allowed me to take the initiative to set goals and accomplish them over a fixed period of time.

What advice would you give to students considering the SCAP program?

Don’t psych yourself out of it! Taking on school while already working can be a big responsibility. My strategy was to print off each class’s syllabus, create a calendar for each big due date, and then take it on one day at a time. I would also suggest that new students take into consideration that reimbursement happens every semester. So take a few classes, see how you like it, and make the decision to carry on once you’ve completed a semester. There’s no obligation to stay if it’s not the right fit for you, although I’m confident prospective students would not second guess it once they experience the program.

If you had to do it again, would you apply to ASU through the SCAP program?

Totally! I enjoyed it so much. Plus, the enrollment counselors streamline the application process in a way that makes it very manageable to apply.

If you want to have some of the same awesome experiences as Travis, explore job opportunities at Starbucks so you can take advantage of the Starbucks College Achievement Plan too.

Barista Application Tip!

Did you know you can submit your application to up to 5 stores at one time? In order to stand out after submitting your application, stop by the store(s) you applied to and introduce yourself to the manager or shift supervisor. Let them know you recently applied and what excites you about the opportunity. If you don’t get a call for an interview within 60 days, you can re-apply to the same or different stores. Good luck!