Northwood University and the National Automobile Dealers Association announced a new education partnership aimed at expanding access to undergraduate and graduate degree programs for franchised car and truck dealers, their employees and their families.

The partnership provides tuition discounts and scholarships designed to support leadership development in the auto retail industry, the organizations said.

“This partnership is about more than tuition assistance — it’s about strengthening the leadership pipeline for an industry that is central to the American economy,” said Matthew Bennett, Northwood University’s vice president of enrollment, strategic partnerships and the Center for Automotive and Mobility Studies. “NADA represents the backbone of the franchised dealership network, and Northwood exists to develop free-enterprise leaders who drive economic and social progress.

“Even as AI reshapes the economy, automotive retail remains a people-driven, capital-intensive, service-based industry that cannot be automated away — and that makes leadership development more important than ever.”

NADA dealer members can enroll in Northwood’s online undergraduate programs at a discounted tuition rate of $350 per credit hour for the 2026-27 academic year. Spouses and dependents of eligible NADA associates also qualify for that benefit.

Northwood’s DeVos Graduate School is offering 20% tuition scholarships for MBA programs. A discounted per-credit-hour tuition for Master of Science programs, and up to $15,000 in Doctor of Business Administration scholarships. Those benefits also extend to eligible spouses and dependents.

The university said it has also established the Premier Education Partnership Scholarship for dependents of NADA dealer members who enroll in programs at its Midland, Mich., campus. Those awards can total up to $36,000 over four years or $2,000 per year for students receiving other institutional aid, subject to eligibility and availability of funds.

“NADA exists to serve and represent America’s franchised new-car and -truck dealers, their management and their employees,” NADA vice president of education and training Camron Wilson said. “This partnership with Northwood University reflects our shared commitment to supporting dealership professionals through education and leadership development.”

Northwood University has long focused on automotive business education and works closely with dealers and manufacturers through academic programs and industry partnerships.

“All of our automotive programs and our student-led auto show are built on one idea: learning by doing,” said Northwood Subaru of New England professor of automotive strategy Dave Oventhal, director of the CAMS Research Institute. “That is only possible because of the extraordinary support of dealers, manufacturers and partners like NADA. This partnership reflects decades of shared values and mutual investment in the future of automotive leadership.”

The organizations said they will work together to promote the new education benefits ro dealers as part of an effort to support workforce development in automotive retail.

“We appreciate our collaboration with NADA and the mutual growth it represents,” Northwood associate professor and automotive industry chair Elgie Bright. “Together, we are not just preparing people for careers — we are preparing leaders who understand that mobility creates opportunity, and opportunity creates freedom.”

Information about the programs is available here.