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 The Workforce Education Benefit Built for Operators & Franchise Owners

 Centered on 120+ fully online degree programs through University of the Cumberlands and supported by Kaplan-powered GED and ACT/SAT pathways plus doctoral programs for Operators.  Designed to help team members enroll and graduate. 

 Fully Covered Tuition | Free Textbooks | No Graduation Fee | Year-Round Enrollment

 Degrees at the Core. Growth at Every Level. 

 Ficus partners with University of the Cumberlands to deliver accredited, online Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral degree programs built for working adults. GED preparation and ACT/SAT course licenses through Kaplan. This benefit removes financial barriers while creating visible advancement pathways inside your restaurant. 

 Trusted by Chick-fil-A Operators & Franchise Owners Nationwide 

 500+ Operators | 400+ Graduates | $11M Student Loan Debt Avoided | Now Delivered Through Cumberlands

 Three Connected Pathways. One Growth Strategy. 

 College Readiness 

GED and ACT/SAT test prep licenses from Kaplan allocated annually to participating Operators. 

120+ Online Degree Pathways Through Cumberlands 

Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s programs delivered fully online with 8-week enrollment cycles.

 Executive & Doctoral Leadership 

 Doctoral programs are exclusive to Operators. Leadership development pathways are available for other approved leaders. 

No out-of-pocket tuition. Required books included. No graduation fee.

A Structured Education Pipeline for Your Entire Team

  Education is not a perk. It is a leadership strategy. Ficus helps employers implement a complete education ecosystem that supports team members at every stage of advancement, from college readiness to executive leadership. When team members see a real pathway, they stay longer, engage deeper and grow inside your organization.

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 Increase Retention Through Visible Pathways 

Create visible advancement pathways that increase commitment and reduce turnover.

 Differentiate in Competitive Hiring Markets 

Strengthen recruitment positioning and differentiate your restaurant in competitive labor markets.

Build Leaders Internally

Support advancement from team member to management and executive roles.

Reduce Administrative Burden

Ficus manages implementation and billing while Cumberlands delivers accredited instruction.

 Simple to Implement 

 A Structured Partnership. Clear Roles. Proven Delivery. 

  • Operators Subscribe to the Ficus Workforce Education Program

    Ficus provides onboarding, communication materials and ongoing support designed specifically for Chick-fil-A Operators, Franchise Owners and their teams.

  • Team Members Access College Readiness Pathways 

    Kaplan-powered GED preparation supports those who need a credential to pursue degree programs through Cumberlands. ACT and SAT preparation licenses are also available for team members pursuing college opportunities more broadly. 

  • Cumberlands Delivers Accredited Online Degrees

    Associate, Bachelor’s and Master’s programs are delivered fully online through Cumberlands, with 8-week enrollment cycles structured for working adults. 

CFA

Powered by Cumberlands. Built for Working Adults. 

Cumberlands serves approximately 22,000 online students nationwide and is recognized for supporting working adults and first-generation learners. Their scale provides the academic infrastructure, student support systems and operational stability necessary to deliver consistent, high-quality online programs. 

Programs are delivered fully online through structured 8-week enrollment cycles, with multiple start dates throughout the year to support working adults balancing professional responsibilities.

Tuition is fully covered for eligible Team Members. Required textbooks are included and there is no graduation fee, removing financial barriers and allowing students to focus on progress and completion.

Chick-fil-A Operators and Team Members

Designed Specifically for Chick-fil-A Operators and Franchise Owners

Ficus Education exists to help Chick-fil-A Operators and franchise owners create real advancement pathways for their teams.

Through fully online degree programs delivered by Cumberlands and supported by Kaplan-powered readiness pathways, the Ficus model removes financial barriers and turns education into a practical leadership strategy inside the restaurant.

Ficus coordinates the structure. Cumberlands delivers the academics. Operators lead the culture.

Together, the partnership creates debt-free access to accredited degrees, stronger engagement and long-term team investment.

 "I saw that for one flat rate, I could send unlimited team members to college, helping them graduate debt-free. To me, it's a pretty cool bang for my buck." 
Independent Chick-fil-A Operator

Ready to Build a Debt-Free Pathway for Your Team? 

Book an overview to explore how Ficus can support your restaurant. 

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