There’s never been a better time to be a student with a part-time job at Walmart. Walmart, the largest private employer in the US, has pledged to help its associates obtain post-secondary education without the stress of student loan debt through its Live Better U education program.
If you are one of the 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the US, Walmart promises to pay for 100 percent of your tuition and textbook fees at certain partner institutions. The multinational retail corporation will also invest one billion dollars in career-driven training and development over the next five years.
Walmart previously offered associates the chance to attend college for the low cost of a dollar a day for the duration of their college program. Now, in the spirit of allowing their associates the opportunity to pursue higher education without worrying about the financial cost, Walmart has removed even that small financial hurdle.
While some educational institutions are discussing canceling student debt, Walmart is one step ahead by taking care of costs before students must borrow money to pay them.
According to Lorraine Stomski, senior vice president of learning and leadership at Walmart, the corporation is “creating a path of opportunity for [their] associates to grow their careers at Walmart, so they can continue to build better lives for themselves and their families.”
If students employed at Walmart don’t have the stress of borrowing money to pay for their degree, the aggregate amount of future student loan debt is reduced, which provides a path to financial freedom for thousands and thousands of people.
However, students aren’t the only ones to benefit from Walmart’s generosity. By removing its workers’ tuition and textbook costs, Walmart will attract and retain high-quality and educated employees in the long run. Hopefully, more companies will consider relieving their employees of student debt woes for the benefit of all.
While working at Walmart, associates are welcome to earn certificates and degrees online, at no cost from:
- Brandman University
- Johnson & Wales University
- Pathstream
- Penn Foster
- Purdue University Global
- Southern New Hampshire University
- The University of Arizona
- The University of Denver
- Voxy EnGen
- Wilmington University
