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Waste Management — now commonly called WM — employs approximately 50,000 full-time workers in the United States, most of them in roles that are physically demanding, shift-based, and essential: truck drivers, technicians, equipment operators, landfill staff, and the maintenance and logistics personnel who keep the largest environmental services company in North America operating every day. In 2021, WM launched Your Tomorrow, a free education program through Guild Education that has since become one of the most discussed employer education benefits in any industry — not because of its scale (other larger companies offer similar programs) but because of a feature no other major employer had offered before: WM extended the free education benefit to employees’ spouses and dependent children.

For a WM driver with a teenager heading to college, that benefit could be worth tens of thousands of dollars in avoided tuition costs. WM’s own data reflects this: employees who have at least one dependent enrolled in the Your Tomorrow program are 88% less likely to leave the company — a retention impact nearly double that of enrolled employees themselves (who are 60% less likely to leave). The dependent coverage is not an add-on footnote. It is the most distinctive thing about WM’s education program in the entire landscape of employer education benefits.

This guide covers the complete Your Tomorrow program — what it covers for employees, what it covers for dependents, which partner schools are in the catalog, how to use it alongside FAFSA, and which online degree programs make the most sense for WM employees by career goal.

Your Tomorrow: The Complete Program

Component	Benefit	Who Is Eligible	Key Details
Employee undergraduate education	100% free tuition, books, and fees at 170+ fully-funded programs including undergraduate degrees, certificates, technology bootcamps, GED/high school completion, college prep, and English language learning	Benefits-eligible full-time WM employees	Guild Education direct payment to school; no upfront cost to employee; catalog available at wm.guildeducation.com
Employee master’s degrees	Up to $12,000 annually for 40+ master’s degree programs	Benefits-eligible full-time WM employees only (dependents excluded from master’s programs)	$12,000/year is among the highest employer master’s degree cap in the retail/industrial sector; covers business, technology, and related fields
Dependent education (spouses and children)	Free tuition for benefits-eligible dependents — spouses and children — to pursue college degrees and programs at partner schools; WM was the first employer to offer this at scale through Guild	Benefits-eligible dependents of full-time WM employees; enrolled beginning January 2022	The single most distinctive feature of the program; no other major employer had extended Guild-powered education benefits to dependents at WM’s scale before this launched
Certificates and bootcamps	Short-form technology and business certificates, data analytics, digital transformation, and professional development programs	Employees and dependents (where applicable)	eCornell certificate programs (Cornell University’s online arm) explicitly included — one of the most prestigious certificate partners in any employer education catalog

The Dependent Coverage: What Makes WM Unique

Most employer education programs in the United States cover the employee. Some offer tuition discounts for family members at partner schools. A small number offer nominal scholarship programs for children. WM’s Your Tomorrow program, as launched in 2022, did something categorically different: it extended the same free education benefit available to employees — fully funded degrees and programs at Guild partner schools — to employees’ benefits-eligible spouses and dependent children.

The practical meaning of this is significant. An adult child of a WM employee who wants to attend college can enroll in a program at one of WM’s Guild partner schools — Purdue Global, SNHU, University of Arizona, Wilmington University, and others — at no cost. This isn’t a partial scholarship or a tuition discount. For covered programs, WM pays the tuition directly through Guild just as it does for employees.

The retention data tells the story: WM employees who have at least one dependent enrolled in Your Tomorrow are 88% less likely to leave the company than non-enrolled peers. Enrolled employees themselves are 60% less likely to leave, and 3.3 times more likely to receive a promotion. These numbers, drawn from WM’s own internal data reported in a Fortune interview with WM’s chief human resources officer, make the program one of the most demonstrably effective retention tools documented in the employer education benefits space.

Who Qualifies as a Dependent

Benefits-eligible dependents include spouses/domestic partners and children of benefits-eligible WM employees. The dependent must be benefits-eligible under WM’s standard benefits enrollment — not all family relationships qualify under every employer’s benefits definition. Confirm your specific dependents’ eligibility through WM’s HR portal or benefits team when exploring the program.

What Dependents Can Study

Dependents have access to the undergraduate program catalog through Guild — the same partner schools and programs available to employees for undergraduate credentials. The $12,000/year master’s degree benefit is for employees only; dependents are not covered for master’s programs. Dependents can pursue associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, certificates, and other undergraduate-level programs at Guild partner schools at no cost.

For WM employees with a college-age child who would otherwise be taking on significant student debt, having them enroll at Purdue Global, SNHU, or another Guild partner school through the Your Tomorrow benefit eliminates that tuition cost entirely. The child would still be responsible for living expenses, transportation, and personal costs — but tuition at the partner school is covered.

Partner Schools and Programs

WM’s official program launch announced the following learning providers as confirmed partners, with more added over time through the Guild catalog:

Partner School/Provider	Type	Programs Available	Accreditation	Notable Distinction
eCornell (Cornell University)	Online professional certificate programs	Business, data analytics, leadership, technology, project management, supply chain, HR management, and more	Cornell University — Ivy League (eCornell is Cornell’s online certificate arm)	The most prestigious name in WM’s education catalog; eCornell certificates carry Cornell University’s name and reputation; particularly relevant for WM employees targeting management or corporate advancement
Purdue University Global	Fully online degrees	BS Business Administration; BS IT; BS Healthcare Administration; BS Criminal Justice; AS/BS various; MS programs	HLC (regional)	Purdue University system name recognition; WM’s catalog makes Purdue Global degrees available to both employees and dependents; textbooks included in undergraduate tuition
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)	Fully online degrees	BS Business Administration; BS IT; BS Criminal Justice; BS Healthcare Administration; MBA; MS various	NECHE (regional)	One of the most enrolled online universities in the country; 8-week terms; 6 annual start dates; fully asynchronous; strong adult learner infrastructure
University of Arizona	Online degrees and programs	Business, technology, STEM, and professional programs through UA Online	HLC (regional)	Flagship public research university; Hispanic-Serving Institution; UA’s Eller College of Management is nationally ranked
Spelman College	Historically Black College and University	Liberal arts and sciences programs	SACSCOC (regional)	One of the nation’s most celebrated HBCUs; ranked highly among liberal arts colleges nationally; inclusion reflects WM’s commitment to HBCU partnerships
Morehouse College	Historically Black College and University	Programs through Guild partnership	SACSCOC (regional)	A top HBCU producing more Black male doctoral graduates than any other undergraduate institution; WM employees (or their dependents) who want an HBCU education can access Morehouse at no cost
University of Massachusetts	Public research university	Online programs through UMass system	NEASC (regional)	UMass flagship programs with strong academic reputation; public university cost structure aligned to Guild partnership
Paul Quinn College	Historically Black College and University	Programs through Guild partnership	SACSCOC (regional)	HBCU with a distinctive work-college model; included in WM’s HBCU partnership roster
Wilmington University	Fully online degrees	BS Business; BS Communications; BS IT; BS Healthcare Administration; MS programs	Middle States (regional)	Fully online; flexible schedule; frequently documented in employer education benefit success stories including WM
Pathstream	Short-form career certificates	Data analytics, project management, digital marketing, business intelligence	Industry-aligned (not degree-granting)	Accelerated professional certificate programs typically 3-6 months; practical skills for immediate career application

The current full program catalog is available through the Guild portal. Partner school lists and available programs evolve; confirm current options before enrolling.

Access WM’s Guild Education portal at:

For information about eCornell certificate programs:

The eCornell Angle: A Genuinely Unusual Partner

Most employer education programs partner with online-focused universities — Purdue Global, SNHU, University of Phoenix, and similar institutions that have built curricula specifically for working adults. WM’s inclusion of eCornell stands out because Cornell University is an Ivy League institution, and eCornell is its professional and executive education arm offering certificates in dozens of fields to working professionals.

An eCornell certificate is not a Cornell bachelor’s degree — it is a professional certificate program, typically completed in weeks to months, that carries Cornell University’s name and is particularly valued by employers in business, leadership, technology, and management fields. For a WM supervisor or operations manager seeking credentials for internal advancement to corporate roles, an eCornell certificate in leadership, data analytics, or supply chain management is a meaningfully different credential from a generic online business certificate.

The fact that WM provides this as part of a free employee education benefit — alongside traditional bachelor’s and master’s degree programs — reflects the ‘choose your own adventure’ philosophy WM’s chief people officer described: some employees want a full four-year degree, some want a focused certificate to move into the next role, and some want to explore a single course. The catalog accommodates all of it.

The Master’s Degree Benefit: $12,000/Year

WM’s contribution of up to $12,000 annually for master’s degree programs is one of the highest employer master’s degree caps documented in the broader employer education landscape. For comparison: Disney Aspire eliminated master’s degree enrollment in 2024. Target supports master’s degrees at up to $10,000/year. Starbucks supports only bachelor’s degrees. WM’s $12,000 master’s cap — for more than 40 master’s programs — makes it one of the most generous graduate degree programs available from a large employer.

Master’s programs are available to employees only, not to dependents. The catalog includes programs in business, technology, and related fields aligned with WM’s operational needs. The most likely graduate programs in the catalog include MBAs from SNHU, Purdue Global, and similar partner institutions; master’s programs in IT, cybersecurity, data analytics, and operations management; and professional master’s credentials in supply chain and logistics.

For a WM supervisor, area manager, or operations specialist who has an undergraduate degree and wants to move into corporate or regional management, a company-funded MBA is one of the clearest career-advancement investments available. At $12,000/year — enough to fully fund many online MBA programs over 18-24 months — the master’s benefit makes programs that might otherwise cost $20,000-$40,000 either free or nearly free.

WM’s Workforce: Who Uses Your Tomorrow

WM’s approximately 50,000 full-time US employees include a workforce that is primarily operational and frontline: collection truck drivers, technicians who maintain vehicles and equipment, landfill operators, materials recovery facility (MRF) workers, transfer station staff, and the administrative and operational personnel who manage collection routes and customer accounts. Many have high school diplomas and years of trade experience but no college credential.

Your Tomorrow was explicitly designed for this population. The program’s high school completion option acknowledges that some WM employees do not have a high school diploma. The eCornell certificates and technology bootcamps serve employees who want to build specific professional skills quickly. The bachelor’s degree programs serve employees who want the credential that typically separates hourly workers from salaried management roles. The master’s programs serve supervisors and managers who want to move further into corporate operations, regional management, or sustainability and environmental management roles.

The environmental services context: WM operates in one of the most complex and growth-oriented sectors of the economy. Environmental services, recycling and materials recovery, landfill gas-to-energy, and sustainability consulting are all growing areas driven by regulatory requirements and ESG priorities. WM employees with credentials in environmental science, sustainability management, data analytics, and supply chain operations are increasingly competitive for roles inside and outside the company as the environmental services sector grows.

Best Online Degree Programs for WM Employees

For WM employees and their dependents using the Your Tomorrow benefit, the program choice depends on whether the goal is career advancement within WM, transition to a different employer or industry, or — for dependents — building a credential independent of the parent’s career.

School	Key Programs	Benefit Path	Annual Cost After WM Benefit	Accreditor	Best For
Purdue Global (partner)	BS Business Administration; BS IT; BS Healthcare Administration; BS Criminal Justice; AS/BS in various; MBA/MS programs	Your Tomorrow (free for employees; free for dependents at undergraduate level)	$0 tuition (books included in UG programs)	HLC (regional)	WM employees and dependents wanting Purdue University system name recognition at $0; business, IT, healthcare administration credentials for management advancement
SNHU (partner)	BS Business Administration; BS IT; BS Criminal Justice; BS Healthcare Administration; MBA; MS	Your Tomorrow (employees and dependents at undergraduate; employees at master’s level)	$0 undergraduate; up to $12,000/year toward master’s	NECHE (regional)	Employees wanting the widest program selection within the Your Tomorrow catalog; dependents pursuing bachelor’s degrees at a widely recognized institution; 8-week terms, 6 annual starts
Wilmington University (partner)	BS Business; BS Communications; BS IT; BS Healthcare Administration; MS programs	Your Tomorrow (employees and dependents)	$0 tuition	Middle States (regional)	Employees and dependents who want a flexible, fully online program; multiple fields of study; documented in WM program success stories
University of Arizona (partner)	Business, technology, STEM programs through UA Online	Your Tomorrow (employees and dependents)	$0 tuition	HLC (regional)	Employees and dependents who want a flagship public university credential; Eller College of Management is nationally ranked
Spelman / Morehouse (HBCU partners)	Liberal arts, sciences, and professional programs	Your Tomorrow (employees and dependents)	$0 tuition	SACSCOC (regional)	Black WM employees and their dependents who want to attend a historically significant HBCU with strong academic standing at no cost — one of the most distinctive features of the WM catalog
eCornell (partner)	Certificates in data analytics, leadership, supply chain, project management, digital marketing, HR	Your Tomorrow (employees; confirm dependent eligibility for certificates)	$0 for covered certificate programs	Cornell University professional education	WM supervisors and operations managers seeking Ivy League-branded professional credentials for corporate advancement without committing to a full degree program
WGU (standard aid + FAFSA)	BS Business; BS Supply Chain; BS IT/Cybersecurity; BS Healthcare Management	Standard federal financial aid; WM’s direct program may not list WGU; confirm through Guild	Primarily FAFSA-funded; WGU ~$9,000/year with FAFSA gap covered at low income levels	NWCCU (regional)	WM employees who want WGU’s competency-based model and cannot find their target field in the Your Tomorrow catalog; shift-work compatible; no class times

For a full review of Purdue Global, see: Purdue Global Online College Review

For a full review of SNHU, see: Southern New Hampshire University Online College Review

For a full review of WGU, see: Is WGU Accredited? A Complete Review

Best Degree Fields for WM Employees

Business Administration and Operations Management

WM’s internal career ladder from frontline operations roles to supervisor to area manager to district manager to regional director is a management track that values business credentials. Operations management, business analytics, and general business administration all connect directly to WM’s core management development pathway. An MBA from a partner school at up to $12,000/year — potentially free or close to it across 18-24 months — is the most direct investment for WM employees targeting senior management.

BLS May 2024: general and operations managers earned $102,450 median. WM’s operations at the district and regional level involve significant management complexity: fleet management, regulatory compliance, customer contracts, employee relations, and capital planning.

Environmental Science and Sustainability Management

WM’s business is environmental services. The company is one of the largest operators of landfills in the United States, one of the largest recyclers, and a growing developer of landfill gas-to-energy facilities. Environmental science, sustainability management, and related credentials position WM employees for specialist and management roles in WM’s growing sustainability and environmental compliance functions. As ESG reporting requirements expand and environmental regulation intensifies, WM’s need for technically credentialed environmental professionals grows.

This is not a field heavily represented in the initial partner school program catalog — the catalog focuses on business and technology. WM employees interested in environmental science and sustainability may need to look at schools outside the standard partner list, applying WM’s benefits through the Guild portal or supplementing with FAFSA-funded programs.

Information Technology and Data Analytics

WM explicitly lists data analytics, digital transformation, and systems thinking as focus areas for Your Tomorrow. WM’s operations generate massive amounts of data: route optimization, equipment maintenance scheduling, waste volume forecasting, customer billing, and regulatory compliance reporting all depend on data systems. IT and data analytics credentials open career paths within WM’s growing technology operations, as well as providing transferable credentials for the broader tech economy.

eCornell’s data analytics certificates are particularly relevant here — providing Cornell-branded credentials in data skills without a multi-year degree commitment. For a WM operations employee with strong quantitative instincts, an eCornell data analytics certificate might open internal analyst or operations technology roles faster than a full business degree.

Supply Chain and Logistics

WM’s collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling operations constitute one of the largest private supply chains in North America. Logistics and supply chain management credentials connect directly to WM’s core operational needs and to the broader logistics and transportation industry, which is experiencing sustained demand for credentialed professionals. BLS May 2024: logisticians earned $79,400 median.

Healthcare Administration (For Dependents Considering Healthcare Careers)

Healthcare administration is frequently the degree field chosen by dependents of WM employees who want a stable, high-demand career in the healthcare sector rather than following their parent into environmental services. Purdue Global and SNHU both offer online healthcare administration bachelor’s degrees available at $0 through the Your Tomorrow dependent benefit. Healthcare administration leads to roles as practice managers, health systems administrators, and clinic operations managers — careers with strong growth projections (23% through 2034 per BLS) and median salaries well above entry-level positions.

Using Your Tomorrow With FAFSA

Your Tomorrow through Guild applies federal financial aid before WM’s contribution for fully-funded programs. This means FAFSA filing is required where applicable, and grants — including Pell Grants of up to $7,395 for 2025-26 — are applied first, reducing what WM needs to cover.

For employees and dependents with financial need who qualify for Pell Grant awards, the stacking works entirely in the student’s favor: grant money covers part of the cost, WM covers the rest, and the student pays nothing for tuition. The FAFSA filing requirement is not a bureaucratic hurdle — it is a mechanism that ensures any available grant money is captured and used before employer funds are drawn down.

For dependents: College-age children of WM employees who are enrolled in the Your Tomorrow program should file their own FAFSA as independent applications. Their grant eligibility is determined by their own financial information (as they are students at partner schools), and any Pell Grant they receive reduces what WM needs to cover for their tuition.

For complete FAFSA guidance for working adult students, see: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply

How to Apply to Your Tomorrow

• Step 1 — Confirm benefits eligibility: Your Tomorrow is available to benefits-eligible full-time WM employees. Confirm your benefits status through HR or WM’s benefits portal. For dependents, confirm that your spouse or child is enrolled as a benefits-eligible dependent in WM’s benefits system.
• Step 2 — Create a Guild account: Go to wm.guildeducation.com and create an account using your personal email address. Verify employment through the Guild platform.
• Step 3 — Browse the program catalog: Use the Guild catalog to find programs in your field of interest. The catalog identifies which programs are fully funded (tuition, books, and fees covered) and what the coverage details are. Use the program recommendation quiz if you are uncertain where to start. A Guild Specialist is available to assist with program selection.
• Step 4 — Confirm school and program details: Review the specific partner school’s program — delivery format, term structure, start dates, and any admissions requirements. Fully online, asynchronous programs are the standard for the WM Guild catalog given the shift-work schedules of most WM employees.
• Step 5 — File FAFSA: File FAFSA for the upcoming academic year (opens October 1). Students attending Guild partner schools are eligible for federal financial aid. Grant money is applied before WM’s contribution.
• Step 6 — Apply to the school through Guild: Guild coordinates the application and enrollment process with partner schools. You do not apply directly to the school independently for programs within the Your Tomorrow catalog.
• Step 7 — Maintain active employment: Your Tomorrow requires continued benefits-eligible employment at WM. If you leave the company, coverage for future terms ends.
• For dependents: The enrollment process for dependents follows a similar path through Guild’s dependent portal. WM created a new Guild platform to support dependent enrollment — the first such system built by Guild for any employer. Contact HR or Guild for the current dependent enrollment process.

WM vs. Other Major Employers on Education Benefits

Feature	Waste Management (WM)	Target	Starbucks	Disney Aspire	Chipotle
Dependent/family coverage	Yes — spouses and dependent children at no cost; first major employer to do this through Guild	No (employee only)	Yes — veterans can extend SCAP benefit to one family member	No (employee only)	No (employee only)
Master’s degree support	Up to $12,000/year for 40+ programs (employees only)	Up to $10,000/year for master’s	No (bachelor’s only)	No new enrollment as of Nov 2024	Some graduate programs through Guild
Prestigious partner schools	eCornell (Cornell Ivy League); Spelman; Morehouse; UMass; Purdue; SNHU	Guild network (Target, Morehouse, UA, others)	Arizona State University only	Guild network at $5,250 cap	Guild network
Full tuition model	Yes — 170+ programs at 100% cost	Yes — 100% at Guild partners	Yes — 100% at ASU Online	$5,250 annual cap (since Nov 2024)	Yes — 100% at Guild partner programs
Certificate programs	Yes — eCornell, Pathstream, short-form tech	Some within Guild catalog	No	Yes	Some
Primary workforce	Essential services (drivers, technicians, landfill workers)	Retail associates	Baristas and retail staff	Theme park cast members	Restaurant crew and managers

WM’s dependent coverage and $12,000 master’s cap are the two features that most distinguish it from peer programs. No other employer in this comparison covers dependents’ college education, and WM’s master’s degree cap exceeds all competitors except Target ($10,000). The eCornell partnership also stands alone — Ivy League-branded professional certificates are not available through any other retail or services employer’s education program reviewed in this series.

For the complete guide to Target’s education benefits, see: Target Education Assistance and Guild Education: A Complete Guide

For the complete guide to Chipotle’s education benefits, see: Chipotle Debt-Free Degrees: A Complete Guide

For the complete guide to Disney’s education benefits, see: Disney Aspire Program: Online Degrees for Disney Employees

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Your Tomorrow available to part-time WM employees?

Your Tomorrow is available to benefits-eligible full-time WM employees and their benefits-eligible dependents. Part-time employees who are not enrolled in WM’s benefits program may not qualify. Confirm your benefits eligibility status through WM HR before attempting to access the program.

Can my college-age child use my WM education benefit if they live away from home?

Yes, as long as your child is enrolled as a benefits-eligible dependent in WM’s benefits system. The dependent does not need to live at home to access the education benefit. The benefit follows the dependent’s eligibility status under WM’s benefits enrollment, not their residence. Confirm the specific definition of dependent eligibility with WM HR or benefits team.

Do my children compete for the same tuition funding as me?

No. The education benefit is not a shared pool where employees and dependents compete for the same dollars. WM funds both the employee’s education and the dependent’s education, administered through Guild’s platform. The $12,000/year master’s degree cap applies to the employee’s master’s degree pursuit and is separate from what is available to dependents.

What if the program I want is not in the Your Tomorrow catalog?

If your target program or school is not in the fully-funded Guild catalog, you may still be able to access financial aid through FAFSA for that program. Filing FAFSA and enrolling at a FAFSA-eligible institution gives you access to Pell Grants, subsidized loans, and other federal aid independent of WM’s Guild program. WM’s Your Tomorrow benefit is the best option for programs within the catalog; for programs outside it, federal financial aid is the primary tool.

Does WM’s education benefit affect my income taxes?

Under current IRS rules, employer-paid educational assistance up to $5,250 per year is excluded from an employee’s taxable income under Section 127. WM’s contribution to master’s degree programs can reach $12,000 annually, which means the amount above $5,250 could be treated as taxable compensation. WM’s benefits team and your personal tax advisor can help you understand the tax treatment for your specific situation. For fully-funded undergraduate programs, tuition coverage may be structured to minimize taxable impact.

How does the Your Tomorrow program benefit WM employees in terms of career advancement?

WM’s own data shows enrolled employees are 3.3 times more likely to receive a promotion than non-enrolled peers. The combination of credentials earned and demonstrated commitment to professional development appears to meaningfully improve internal promotion prospects. WM has also explicitly designed the program to create pathways into the company’s supply chain, technology, data analytics, and environmental management functions — areas with higher compensation and more defined career ladders than frontline collection and operations roles.

The Bottom Line

Waste Management’s Your Tomorrow program is the most family-oriented employer education benefit in the landscape of large U.S. employers. The dependent coverage — free college for employees’ spouses and children at Guild partner schools — is genuinely unique, was the first of its kind at scale, and produces the strongest retention effects WM has documented from any component of the program. For a WM employee with a college-age child, this benefit could represent $30,000-$60,000 or more in avoided tuition costs over four years, depending on the program and school.

For employees themselves, the combination of 170+ fully funded programs, eCornell certificate access, and a $12,000/year master’s degree cap creates one of the more generous education benefit structures in the industrial and essential services sector. WM’s workforce — essential, shift-based, and often without existing college credentials — is exactly the population for whom free undergraduate education can meaningfully change long-term career and earnings trajectories.

The starting point for any WM employee or dependent is the Guild portal at wm.guildeducation.com. Create an account, confirm eligibility, use the program recommendation quiz, and talk to a Guild Specialist before committing to any school. The programs in the fully-funded catalog are the priority — if your career goal aligns with what’s available there, the path to a free degree starts immediately.

• For the complete guide to earning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner
• For an estimate of how long a degree takes while working, see: Online Degree Completion Calculator: How Long Will It Take?
• For salary data on online degrees, see: Do Online Degrees Increase Salary?
• For FAFSA guidance for working adults, see: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply
• Browse all online college content: Online Colleges category
• Start the Your Tomorrow enrollment process: