McDonald’s Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary of Archways to Opportunity Program

May 23, 2025 – For 10 years, the McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program – currently run in partnership with EdAssist by Bright Horizons – has provided its restaurant workers with the opportunity to learn English, get their high-school diploma, receive college tuition assistance, and access free career and education advising. For the 90,000+ restaurant employees who have taken part, this program has truly been transformative.  

 “We’re honored to have collaborated with McDonald’s on the Archways to Opportunity program, which has empowered thousands of crew members to achieve their personal and professional dreams over the last decade,” said Diane Bartoli, SVP of EdAssist by Bright Horizons. ”McDonald’s continues to set a powerful example of what it means to be a people-first employer, committed to empowering their crew and managers to unlock their greatest potential through access to education.”

To commemorate Archways decade of impact, McDonald’s conducted a survey of current and former Archways participants and highlighted the findings in this 10th Anniversary Report. Participants said Archways led to:

• Unlocked Economic Potential: 80% believed Archways created more economic opportunities for them

• Professional Advancement: 64% said Archways helped them get a promotion more quickly

• New Doors Opened: 72% said Archways created new job opportunities for them

• Generational Firsts: 46% of Archways participants who earned a college degree were first- generation college students

• Career Transformation: 75% said Archways helped them pursue careers in new fields or industries

Learn more about the program’s impact and hear from real crew members in their Anniversary Report here.