Tuition Help for Restaurant Workers
The City of Boston is offering up to $5,000 in tuition help for eligible restaurant workers.
The City will pay up to $5,000 in tuition assistance for eligible restaurant workers to attend either:
- an accredited college, or
- one of the approved career training programs on this list.
The tuition assistance will be paid directly to a college or career training program via a one-time payment. This means the City will pay up to $5,000 for a single tuition bill. The tuition assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis. So the sooner you apply, the better.
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Have questions? Contact:
Small Business Development -
The Office of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion manages and administers this program.
How to apply
Program Eligibility
To be eligible for the tuition assistance, you must:
- Have worked part-time or full-time for a participating Restaurant Revitalization Program restaurant for at least three months (including some portion of the program’s pilot period, November 2021 – January 2022)
- Have earned the $900 retention bonus for three months of employment
- Be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in an accredited college or approved career training program
- Live in the City of Boston
- Have a household income that is less than Boston’s median household income
Apply for the program
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for the tuition assistance benefit. Be sure to apply as soon as possible: Tuition assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked QuestionsIf the college you want to attend is in New England, you can check the list of accredited institutions. If the college is outside of New England, you can find the website for the appropriate region.
Yes, as long as the school is accredited (see question above).
Generally, no. Remember that the tuition assistance will be paid to the college or career training program directly. Any expense covered by tuition assistance must come from the college or career training program.
Yes, but only if the ESOL class or classes are provided by an accredited college (see above) or an approved career training program.
The approved career training programs include courses of study in:
- commercial driving
- electronics
- finance and accounting
- health and healthcare, and
- technology.
No, but you do have to be a Boston resident at the time you apply. As part of the application process, we will verify your Boston address.
While we understand each person’s circumstances may change, we hope you stay and take advantage of the many other benefits of living in Boston.
No, but you do have to be an eligible employee at a participating Restaurant Revitalization Program restaurant at the time you apply. As part of the application process, we will verify your employment status.
While we understand each person’s circumstances may change, we hope you find that letting your talents shine at Boston’s restaurants is a rewarding experience.
Email us at RestaurantWorker@boston.gov
