How McDonald’s is Flipping Careers with Education and Opportunity
Hey everyone, let’s talk about something you might not expect from the world’s most famous fast-food chain—McDonald’s is not just serving up fries, it’s serving up futures.
Right now, McDonald’s and its franchisees are on a major hiring spree, planning to bring on about 375,000 new employees across the U.S. this summer. But the real story isn’t just about job numbers—it’s about how McDonald’s is changing lives with a program called Archways to Opportunity .
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If you haven’t heard of it, Archways to Opportunity is McDonald’s educational and training initiative that’s celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. It’s already helped more than 90,000 employees by providing over $240 million in high school and college tuition assistance. That’s a huge investment in people who may have thought education or career growth wasn’t in the cards for them.
What makes this program so powerful is that it meets people where they are. Whether it’s finishing a high school diploma, getting a college degree, learning English, or earning a professional certificate, McDonald’s gives crew members the chance to grow while still earning a paycheck . And it's not just about the money. Participants get guidance, flexibility, and something that can be even more valuable—confidence.
One thing that really stands out is how many of these employees end up not just staying longer with McDonald’s, but going on to build entirely new careers. Some move up the ranks internally, while others use the skills they’ve gained to pursue careers in healthcare, engineering, business, and more. One former crew member is now an environmental engineer. Another used the program to get certified in HR and now works in corporate compensation.
And it works for McDonald’s too. The company has found that employees who take advantage of Archways tend to stay longer and are more engaged. That’s critical in an industry that typically struggles with high turnover. In fact, around 75% of Archways participants said they stayed at McDonald’s longer because of the program.
But here’s the bigger picture: McDonald’s is showing what’s possible when companies really invest in their workforce. They’re not afraid that employees will leave after getting an education—instead, they’re proud of it. They know that building people up, whether they stay or go, is good for everyone. It's good for business, it’s good for communities, and it’s good for society.
This kind of thinking could—and should—serve as a model for other companies. Because when you unlock someone’s potential, you’re not just changing their job. You’re changing their life.
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