Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, will help its employees pursue more affordable college degrees in a new partnership with American Public University (APU).
Marco’s says the program will enable franchisees, their employees and eligible family members to attend college with a 15% tuition grant toward 200-plus online degrees and certificate programs offered by APU.
APU’s coursework is designed for working adults and features monthly start dates and no set lecture times, making it easier to balance education with work and other life commitments, the institution says.
Along with APU, the benefits provided by Marco’s will be honored by American Military University (AMU), which is part of the American Public University System.
Despite 200,000 anticipated restaurant job openings in 2025, 70% of restaurant owners said the jobs were hard to fill, the National Restaurant Association reported earlier this year. Sixty-five percent of restaurateurs said they had cut back on their operating hours, and 56% said staffing shortages hurt their ability to be successful.
According to Auguste Escoffier Global Solutions, offering education perks—such as tuition assistance, self-directed training and scholarships—can help attract, retain and upskill team members. In a 2021 survey of 22,000 tuition assistance recipients, 84% said the perk was an important factor in their decision to take a job at a company.
That might explain Marco’s eagerness to help its employees earn college degrees while staying on the job. The program was championed by two AMU alumni serving in leadership roles at Marco’s: Rod Sanders, the senior VP and chief people officer, and Director of Culture Kelly Robinson.
In a press release, Robinson said the program offers a “meaningful opportunity for franchisees and their employees to build new skills, help advance their careers, and invest in their own futures while still working in a dynamic workplace. Marco’s Pizza is a firm believer in empowering our franchisees and their teams to pursue their personal and professional goals.”
Founded in Toledo, Ohio, in 1978, Marco’s Pizza has more than 1,200 locations in 35 states, each with employees eligible to participate in the tuition assistance program. That means more than 18,000 franchisees, their employees and eligible family members, as well as Marco’s support center employees, may benefit from the new perk.
“Supporting our people means providing meaningful opportunities for growth, both inside and outside the workplace,” Sanders said. “We know firsthand the power of higher education, and this affiliation reaffirms our commitment.”
