Best Buy offering free online higher education to all employees
Best Buy Co Inc. is expanding a longtime partnership with an online university.
The consumer electronics giant is partnering with online educational institution Stayer University to provide no-debt, no-cost-to-the-employee college degree options for all full- and part-time U.S. employees through Strayer’s Degrees@Work program.
Workers will have immediate access to the program on their first day of employment. Best Buy has been partnering with Strayer University, a private, for-profit institution specializing in providing higher learning for working adult students, to provide employees with tuition discounts and reduced fees for more than a decade.
The Degrees@Work program offers eligible employees the opportunity to take coursework or earn a certificate, associate, bachelor’s or master’s degree from Strayer University.
"Best Buy has always prioritized the growth and development of our employees, and this expanded agreement covering Strayer’s Degrees@Work program underscores that commitment while also complementing our existing lineup of education benefits," said Charlie Montreuil, Best Buy senior VP of HR rewards. "At Best Buy, we believe that fostering continuous learning not only enhances personal and professional growth but also contributes to an inclusive and thriving workplace where everyone can succeed."
Best Buy employees will have the opportunity to select from programs in areas such as business and IT and have programs paid for directly by Best Buy. Workers will also have access, through Strayer University, to the Sophia Learning online, on-demand, self-paced learning platform.
Sophia Learning provides college-level general education courses that are American Council on Education (ACE)-recommended for college credit. Employees can apply these courses toward their Strayer University degrees.
"We are proud to enhance our partnership with Best Buy, providing their U.S. employees with the opportunity to earn a college degree through the Degrees@Work program," said Strayer University president Dr. Toni Farmer-Thompson. "Tuition benefits are a critical tool to help workers advance in their career and employers stay competitive. This enhanced program may help more Best Buy employees grow their professional skills, while pursuing their educational goals."
Retailers help employees go to college
A number of other Tier I retailers also offer reduced or free college tuition benefits to employees. For example, Amazon has invested $1.2 billion during the past three years in Career Choice, a program for Amazon hourly employees with at least three months’ tenure.
[READ MORE: Amazon to pay full employee tuition as part of $1.2 billion plan]
Through its Career Choice program, Amazon full college tuition, as well as high school diplomas, GEDs, and English as a Second Language (ESL) proficiency certifications for frontline employees.
Other examples include the Walmart LBU (Live Better U) employee education benefit focusing on skills that will make its employees more hirable for key roles within the company. The discounter also offers “college start” classes so employees can earn an initial semester of credit in a low-pressure environment.
And Target offers its more than 340,000 part-time and full-time employees debt-free college education, complete with free textbooks and more. It will also help cover graduate school costs.
