InStride funders expect more colleges to tap corporate tuition benefit market

More than 30 million adults in the U.S. have some college credit but no degree — a massive chunk of the potential market for postsecondary education that more institutions are turning their attention to. Meanwhile, employers are doubling down on education benefits, in some cases giving their workers ways to earn full degrees or certificates for free or at a steep discount. It reflects the burgeoning sentiment that corporations should invest in their workers' futures. In recent months, employers including Walmart, Chipotle, JetBlue and Uber have expanded or bolstered their corporate education benefits.  And universities are finding ways to tap into that demand, whether through third-party brokers or by connecting directly with employers. "The challenge is not presenting a benefit," but rather ensuring that students who partake in it achieve educational outcomes that can "meaningfully change the trajectory of their lifetime earnings," said Steve Ellis, co-managing partner of The Rise Fund.