Lockheed Martin Tuition Assistance 2026: Benefits & STEM Degrees

January 30, 2026

Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the United States, employing approximately 114,000 to 122,000 people worldwide, including roughly 65,000 engineers, scientists, and information technology professionals. The company’s tuition assistance program reflects this engineering-heavy workforce: annual reimbursement caps that differentiate by degree level (higher for graduate work than undergraduate), a partner school network weighted toward technical and engineering institutions, and coverage that prioritizes programs clearly aligned with job function. For employees pursuing degrees that support aerospace, defense, engineering, computer science, or cybersecurity careers, the benefit is among the most substantial in American manufacturing and technology.

The headline numbers are notable. Most Lockheed Martin employees access up to $7,500 per year for undergraduate coursework and up to $10,000 per year for graduate coursework, with some specialized technical reimbursement tracks reaching higher caps for engineering and technical programs. The program is administered by Bright Horizons EdAssist, which also provides access to an educational partner network including Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Stevens Institute of Technology, Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business, and other institutions with corporate partnership agreements that provide tuition discounts to Lockheed Martin employees beyond the direct reimbursement.

Alongside the direct employee benefit, Lockheed Martin has historically operated external scholarship programs for college students pursuing STEM degrees, including family members of Lockheed Martin employees. The STEM Scholarship Program, launched in 2018, provided $10,000 per year renewable up to four times for a total potential value of $40,000 per recipient. The program is currently paused for 2025 while Lockheed Martin evaluates new approaches to supporting the technical talent pipeline, but existing scholarship recipients continue to receive renewals. This guide covers both the employee tuition reimbursement structure and the broader STEM scholarship ecosystem. For the broader framework on earning an accredited online degree as an adult learner, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

How the Tuition Assistance Benefit Works

Lockheed Martin’s tuition assistance is structured as a reimbursement program rather than a direct-pay program, meaning employees pay tuition upfront and receive reimbursement after completing coursework with a qualifying grade. The benefit differs from many large-employer tuition programs in three important ways: the annual funding cap is tiered by degree level, the job-alignment requirement is applied more strictly than at most non-defense employers, and the administrator’s partner school network is more narrowly focused on technical and engineering institutions.

Annual funding caps

The standard reimbursement caps at Lockheed Martin are approximately $7,500 per year for undergraduate coursework and $10,000 per year for graduate coursework, with variation by employee role and category. Engineering-specific reimbursement tracks have been reported as high as $12,500 to $15,000 per year for engineering management or technical graduate programs at specific partner schools, though these higher caps typically require additional manager approval and are not available to all employees uniformly.

Program Type	Typical Annual Cap	Tax Treatment	Approval
Undergraduate degrees (job-aligned)	Up to $7,500	Non-taxable (Section 127)	Manager + HR
Graduate degrees (job-aligned)	Up to $10,000	Taxable above $5,250	Manager + HR
Engineering-specific technical programs	$12,500 to $15,000 (reported)	Taxable above $5,250	Manager + HR + specialized approval
Certifications and professional development	Varies by program	Typically non-taxable	Manager approval
Non-job-aligned degrees (liberal arts, general)	Typically $0	Not applicable	Typically denied

The tax treatment matters because reimbursement above $5,250 per calendar year is treated as taxable income under IRS Section 127 rules. Employees receiving the full $10,000 graduate cap or $12,500-$15,000 engineering cap will see the portion above $5,250 reported on their W-2 as additional compensation. For authoritative guidance on Section 127 eligibility and tax treatment, see IRS Publication 970 at irs.gov/publications/p970. Even after accounting for tax liability, net value substantially exceeds what a typical $5,250 benefit provides.

Job alignment requirement

Lockheed Martin’s tuition assistance program has a more stringent job-alignment requirement than most non-defense employer tuition programs. Coursework must support the employee’s current role or a role the employee is actively preparing for within the company, and manager approval is required before enrollment. This is consistent with the defense industry’s workforce development orientation: the benefit is designed to strengthen Lockheed Martin’s engineering and technical capabilities rather than to fund general personal education interests.

The practical implication is that certain degree categories are typically not covered. Law school, medical school, and liberal arts programs are generally denied unless the employee’s specific job code requires that credential (for example, a patent attorney role that requires law school, or a medical program administration role that requires a medical degree). Business degrees are usually covered when the employee is in or moving toward a management track. Engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, systems engineering, and related technical disciplines are covered broadly because they align directly with Lockheed Martin’s core workforce needs.

Academic performance requirements

Like most employer tuition programs, Lockheed Martin requires employees to complete coursework with a qualifying grade to receive reimbursement. Typical minimum thresholds are C or higher for undergraduate courses and B or higher for graduate courses. Grades below the qualifying threshold may result in partial or denied reimbursement depending on specific program terms. Reimbursement is only paid after course completion and submission of the final grade, which means employees should plan for tuition cash flow during the term.

EdAssist Administration and the Application Process

Lockheed Martin’s tuition assistance is administered through Bright Horizons EdAssist, a third-party employer tuition administration platform used by many large employers including Aetna, State Farm, and CommonSpirit Health. Employees access EdAssist through a dedicated Lockheed Martin portal, and EdAssist handles pre-approval, documentation, grade verification, and reimbursement processing.

Accessing EdAssist

Lockheed Martin employees access EdAssist through the internal LM People portal or by calling the EdAssist tuition assistance administrator directly at 866-539-2235. First-time users create an EdAssist account tied to their Lockheed Martin employee credentials. The platform displays the employee’s specific benefit cap, eligible program categories, and pre-approval requirements based on their role and business unit.

Step one: program pre-approval

Before enrolling at any institution, employees submit a pre-approval request through EdAssist. The request includes program name, school name, expected start date, estimated cost, and a written justification explaining how the coursework aligns with the employee’s current or prospective role. Manager endorsement is required as part of the pre-approval. Pre-approval processing time varies but typically completes within one to two weeks. Employees should not pay tuition until pre-approval is confirmed.

Step two: enrollment and coursework

After pre-approval, employees enroll directly at the chosen institution, pay tuition upfront, and complete coursework. Lockheed Martin does not provide direct-pay arrangements for most programs (unlike Boeing’s Learning Together Program or Providence’s Guild direct-pay), so employees must have savings or financing to cover tuition costs during the term.

Step three: reimbursement request

After course completion, employees submit final grade documentation and tuition payment receipts through EdAssist. Approved reimbursement typically processes within 30 to 45 days and is paid via payroll or direct deposit. EdAssist maintains a record of reimbursements across the employee’s tenure, which is useful for tracking against annual caps and for reviewing lifetime education investment.

The EdAssist Partner School Network

One of the strongest features of Lockheed Martin’s tuition assistance program is access to the EdAssist Educational Partner network, which includes universities that have negotiated discounted tuition rates, waived application fees, and streamlined admission processes for Lockheed Martin employees. The partner network is heavily weighted toward technical and engineering institutions, which aligns with Lockheed Martin’s engineering-dominant workforce.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)

WPI is one of the most prominent EdAssist Educational Partners for Lockheed Martin employees. WPI offers graduate programs heavily oriented toward technical fields including aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, systems engineering, cybersecurity, data science, and robotics engineering. Lockheed Martin employees receive WPI tuition discounts through the EdAssist partnership, and WPI operates a dedicated Lockheed Martin student resource site with information about how the tuition assistance administration works in combination with WPI enrollment.

The WPI partnership is particularly valuable for engineers pursuing master’s or doctoral-level technical specialization. WPI’s graduate programs are offered in both on-campus and online formats, with evening and weekend scheduling that accommodates working professionals. Combined with Lockheed Martin’s $10,000 graduate reimbursement cap, the WPI discount can substantially reduce out-of-pocket tuition for technical graduate degrees.

Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey is another major EdAssist partner, offering a discount to all Lockheed Martin employees across all programs on part-time study (three to six credits per semester). The Stevens partnership includes application fee waivers and a no-cost deferred tuition bridge plan that addresses the reimbursement timing gap. Stevens offers strong programs in engineering management, computer science, cybersecurity, systems engineering, and technology management that align well with Lockheed Martin career paths.

The Stevens deferred tuition bridge plan is specifically designed for employees using tuition reimbursement. Rather than requiring students to pay tuition upfront and wait for reimbursement, Stevens defers payment until after the term ends, which aligns with the reimbursement timing from Lockheed Martin’s EdAssist program. This eliminates the cash flow burden that would otherwise require employees to self-finance tuition during the term.

Rowan University Rohrer College of Business

Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business partners with Lockheed Martin to offer a streamlined application process for Lockheed Martin employees pursuing MBA, Master of Science in Finance, and graduate business certificates. The Lockheed Martin partnership includes application fee waivers, letter of recommendation waivers (once tuition assistance approval is confirmed), and custom virtual information sessions for Lockheed Martin employees throughout the year.

The Rowan partnership addresses a specific Lockheed Martin workforce need: technical professionals moving into management, program management, and executive roles often benefit from an MBA or specialized business master’s degree. Rowan’s online and hybrid formats support working professionals, and the partnership’s administrative simplifications (application fee waivers, LOR waivers) reduce the practical friction of applying while working full-time.

Additional EdAssist network access

Beyond these three specific partnerships, the broader EdAssist Educational Partner network includes hundreds of schools nationwide that offer discounts and waived fees to employees of EdAssist-administered tuition programs. Lockheed Martin employees can access the full partner network through their EdAssist portal, which displays specific discount rates and application benefits for each partner institution.

How to identify partner school advantages

Before choosing a graduate program, Lockheed Martin employees should compare total cost across partner versus non-partner schools. A partner school’s 10 to 20 percent tuition discount combined with the Lockheed Martin reimbursement often produces substantially lower out-of-pocket cost than a non-partner school at full retail tuition. For broader context on evaluating graduate programs, see: The Best Online MBA Programs.

The STEM Scholarship Program for Family Members and the Broader Community

Alongside the employee tuition reimbursement benefit, Lockheed Martin has historically operated the STEM Scholarship Program, an external-facing scholarship that provides substantial funding to students pursuing engineering or computer science degrees. The program is structured differently from the employee benefit because it serves students who are not Lockheed Martin employees, including family members of employees and students from the broader community.

Program structure (historical)

The STEM Scholarship Program was launched in 2018 and administered by Scholarship America. The program awarded $10,000 per year to 200 recipients annually, with renewal eligibility for up to three additional years, producing a potential lifetime value of $40,000 per student. Eligibility requirements included US citizenship, enrollment or planned enrollment at an accredited four-year US college or university, declared major in engineering or computer science, demonstrated financial need, and representation from underserved or underrepresented backgrounds including women, racial and ethnic minorities, first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, and military-connected students.

Current status

Lockheed Martin paused new STEM Scholarship Program awards in 2025 while the company evaluates new approaches to supporting the technical talent pipeline. Existing recipients continue to receive renewals in accordance with program eligibility requirements. Lockheed Martin has indicated that the scholarship structure will be replaced or updated, though as of this writing, the specific replacement program has not been announced. Students and families interested in Lockheed Martin’s evolving scholarship approach should monitor lockheedmartin.com/stem for announcements.

Family member eligibility

Family members of Lockheed Martin employees have been explicitly eligible to apply for the STEM Scholarship Program if they meet the standard eligibility requirements. The program was not restricted to employee families, which is a distinctive feature: Lockheed Martin positioned it as a broader community investment in STEM talent rather than a traditional employee dependent scholarship. This means Lockheed Martin employees whose children pursue engineering or computer science degrees at eligible four-year US institutions could apply for the STEM Scholarship alongside general applicants, though awards were competitive and not guaranteed.

Vocational Scholarship Program

A parallel Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship Program supported students pursuing skills-based training in advanced manufacturing, aerospace technology, and related technical fields. The Vocational Scholarship Program was similarly paused in 2025. Like the STEM Scholarship, it was structured as a broader community investment rather than an employee-family-exclusive benefit.

Typical Career Pathways Supported by the Benefit

Lockheed Martin’s engineering-forward workforce produces predictable patterns in how employees use the tuition assistance benefit. Understanding these patterns helps employees plan their degree pursuits strategically.

Engineer to senior engineer to engineering manager

The most common pathway involves engineers pursuing master’s degrees in engineering management, systems engineering, or specialized technical domains while continuing to work at Lockheed Martin. An engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering often pursues a Master of Science in Systems Engineering, Master of Engineering Management, or specialized technical master’s at WPI, Stevens, Purdue, Penn State, or other engineering-focused schools. The master’s degree positions the engineer for senior engineering and engineering management roles, often with substantial salary increases.

For this pathway, Lockheed Martin’s $10,000 graduate cap covers a meaningful portion of most master’s programs. Combined with the EdAssist partner school discount (if enrolling at WPI, Stevens, or another partner), the out-of-pocket cost is often manageable across two to three years of part-time enrollment. Many engineers complete master’s degrees within three to four years while working full-time.

Technical professional to program management

A second common pathway involves technical professionals (engineers, scientists, IT specialists) moving into program management, project management, or contract management roles. For this pathway, an MBA, Master of Science in Project Management, Master of Science in Finance, or similar business-focused graduate degree is often the credential that enables the transition.

The Rowan University partnership is particularly relevant for this pathway, because Rowan’s Rohrer College of Business offers an MBA and Master of Science in Finance with a Lockheed Martin streamlined application process. Other options include online MBA programs at schools like Arizona State University, Indiana University Kelley, or University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler, all of which rank well for working professionals and have robust online delivery.

Cybersecurity specialization

Lockheed Martin’s cybersecurity workforce is substantial, reflecting the company’s role as a major defense cybersecurity contractor. The tuition assistance benefit supports cybersecurity specialization pathways including Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Master of Science in Information Assurance, and specialized graduate certificates. WPI, Stevens, and several other partner schools offer cybersecurity master’s programs specifically designed for working defense industry professionals.

For employees interested in cybersecurity specifically, the combination of Lockheed Martin’s $10,000 graduate cap plus partner school discounts plus Lockheed Martin’s role providing cybersecurity practitioner experience creates a strong career development pathway. Technical certifications (Security+, CISSP, CEH, GSEC) are also typically covered under the certification benefit. For context on cybersecurity program options, see: Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs.

Technical to doctoral pathway

A smaller but meaningful population of Lockheed Martin engineers and scientists pursue doctoral degrees (PhD or Doctor of Engineering) while working, supported by the tuition assistance benefit. This pathway is most common for technical staff working in Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center, Advanced Technology Laboratories, or other research-focused organizations. Doctoral pursuit typically requires extended timelines (five to seven years part-time) and often benefits from Lockheed Martin’s flexibility with sabbatical or reduced-schedule arrangements.

What the Benefit Does Not Cover

Honest understanding of the benefit’s limits helps employees plan realistically.

Non-job-aligned degrees: Liberal arts, humanities, social sciences, and other degrees without clear connection to Lockheed Martin career paths are typically denied approval. The benefit is structured as workforce development support, not open-ended college funding.
Law and medical degrees: Unless the employee’s specific job code requires the credential (rare exceptions like patent attorney or medical program administration roles), law school and medical school are not covered.
Retroactive reimbursement: Coursework completed before pre-approval is generally not reimbursable. Retroactive approval requests are typically denied.
Books, fees, and incidental costs: The benefit primarily covers tuition. Some programs may reimburse required books, but technology, housing, transportation, child care, and living expenses are not covered.
Courses with grades below thresholds: Grades below C (undergraduate) or B (graduate) may result in partial or denied reimbursement.
Coursework taken during approved leave without pay: Employees on extended unpaid leave may not be eligible to accrue new tuition benefits during the leave period.
Non-accredited institutions: The benefit requires regional or national accreditation of the educational institution. Diploma mills and unaccredited schools are not eligible.
Programs that exceed the annual cap without plan: Graduate programs costing more than $10,000 per year require supplemental funding. Employees need a funding plan for the gap between the Lockheed Martin cap and total program cost.

Stacking the Benefit With Other Funding Sources

For employees whose target programs cost more than the annual reimbursement cap, stacking the Lockheed Martin benefit with other funding sources is essential for keeping out-of-pocket costs manageable.

Federal Pell Grant (undergraduate only)

Pell Grant eligibility is income-based and typically most relevant for Lockheed Martin employees in lower-wage support roles, early-career technicians, or single-income households. The maximum Pell Grant for the current award year is $7,395, which stacks with the Lockheed Martin undergraduate reimbursement benefit. Pell does not apply to graduate programs. Employees should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually regardless of whether they expect to qualify, because federal aid also includes subsidized loans and work-study programs. For authoritative Pell guidance, see: studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/grants/pell.

Partner school discounts

The EdAssist partner school discounts (WPI, Stevens, Rowan, and others in the EdAssist network) functionally increase the value of the Lockheed Martin benefit by reducing the cost of each credit hour. A 15 percent tuition discount at a partner school means more of the reimbursement cap stretches further. Employees should compare total program cost including any partner discount when selecting schools, rather than comparing retail prices only.

GI Bill and military benefits

Lockheed Martin has a substantial veteran workforce, and veterans using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits can stack those benefits with the Lockheed Martin tuition assistance program. The combination can produce near-zero out-of-pocket costs for veterans pursuing technical graduate degrees. Yellow Ribbon Program participation at specific schools further extends GI Bill coverage, and many of Lockheed Martin’s partner schools participate in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Federal student loans for gaps

For employees whose total program cost exceeds the combination of Lockheed Martin reimbursement and any partner discounts, federal student loans may cover the gap. Graduate employees can access federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans up to $20,500 per year with a lifetime limit of $138,500. Graduate PLUS Loans can cover additional costs up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. Employees should be cautious about taking on significant student loan debt when the benefit only partially covers program costs.

Pre-Enrollment Verification Checklist

Before committing to a degree program, Lockheed Martin employees should complete these verification steps.

Confirm your specific annual benefit cap through EdAssist or LM People. The $7,500 undergraduate and $10,000 graduate figures are typical but vary by employee category and business unit.
Confirm your eligibility start date. Some Lockheed Martin business units have tenure requirements before tuition assistance eligibility begins.
Verify that your target degree aligns with your current or prospective role at Lockheed Martin. The job-alignment requirement is applied more strictly than at most employers.
Identify whether your target school is an EdAssist Educational Partner. Partner schools (WPI, Stevens, Rowan, and others) offer discounts that stack with the reimbursement benefit.
For engineering or technical graduate programs, verify ABET accreditation status for the specific degree program. ABET accreditation is the gold standard for engineering credential credibility.
Complete pre-approval through EdAssist BEFORE enrolling or paying tuition. Retroactive approval is typically denied.
Confirm manager endorsement in writing. The manager’s endorsement of job alignment is a required component of pre-approval.
File the FAFSA annually if pursuing an undergraduate program, even if you do not expect to qualify for Pell. Federal aid recalculates annually and can include subsidized loans.
For graduate programs, plan for the tax implication of reimbursement above $5,250 per calendar year. The portion above $5,250 is reported on your W-2 as taxable income.
Plan for the cash flow gap between paying tuition upfront and receiving reimbursement. Lockheed Martin’s program is reimbursement-based, not direct-pay, which means you need savings or financing to cover tuition during the term.
For veterans, coordinate Post-9/11 GI Bill usage with the Lockheed Martin benefit. Stacking GI Bill benefits with tuition reimbursement can produce near-zero out-of-pocket costs.

Final Assessment

Lockheed Martin’s tuition assistance benefit is among the strongest in American defense, aerospace, and manufacturing industries, and for engineers and technical professionals specifically, the benefit’s value is hard to match outside of direct competitors like Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and RTX. The combination of differentiated caps (higher for graduate than undergraduate), engineering-forward partner school network (WPI, Stevens, Rowan), dedicated EdAssist administration, and alignment with the defense industry’s preference for advanced technical credentials creates meaningful career development opportunities for employees who plan strategically.

The benefit’s highest return goes to engineers and technical staff pursuing master’s degrees in their specialty domain. The $10,000 graduate cap covers a substantial portion of most master’s program costs, partner school discounts stretch the benefit further, and the business case is clear for Lockheed Martin: the company retains and advances its engineering workforce rather than losing talent to competitors. The pathway from entry-level engineer to senior engineer to engineering manager to program manager frequently passes through a master’s degree funded largely by Lockheed Martin.

For employees in non-engineering roles (business operations, finance, human resources, communications, legal), the benefit is still useful but requires more careful planning because job-alignment scrutiny is typically higher. These employees typically use the benefit for business-focused graduate degrees (MBA, Master of Science in Finance, Master of Science in Project Management) that clearly support their Lockheed Martin role. The Rowan University partnership specifically addresses this pathway with streamlined application processes.

The benefit’s honest limits are worth acknowledging. The reimbursement model (pay upfront, wait for reimbursement) creates cash flow barriers that direct-pay programs at some competitors avoid. The job-alignment requirement precludes personal interest education pursuits that some non-defense employer programs allow. The annual cap is substantial but does not cover the full cost of many master’s programs, particularly at private universities without partner discounts. And the paused STEM Scholarship Program means that employee families pursuing engineering or computer science degrees have lost access to the $40,000 lifetime scholarship until Lockheed Martin announces replacement funding.

To identify the online programs best matched to your Lockheed Martin benefit structure and career goals, start here: See Your Best-Fit Online Programs in 60 Seconds. For the complete framework on earning an accredited online degree as an adult learner, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.