Southern New Hampshire University is working with Walmart to offer employees a pathway to debt-free college. On Tuesday, the company announced its expansion of Live Better U. The program, which launched one year ago, now include degrees in computer science, cybersecurity and IT.
Walmart is offering to cover tuition for its 1.4 million workers. Employees are expected to pay $1 a day. Students can also apply for financial aid from SNHU to help with the additional costs of going to school.
SNHU, one of six universities in the program, is offering six options of Bachelor's and Associate's degrees.
Amelia Manning, the Chief Operating Officer at Southern New Hampshire University, says Walmart chose to partner with SNHU because the school specializes in educating working adult students.
"That is in our DNA, says Manning. "That is where we started back in 1932 as a university and continue to be committed to that today.”
The program, which previously only offered degrees in Business and Supply Chain Management, is putting emphasis on tech skills.
“Skills in the area of technology are in significant demand," said Manning. "So certainly expanding into this area is a real benefit not only to Walmart but to the whole of the workforce.”
The program will be capped at 5,000 participants each year. SNHU will start enrolling Walmart students for its online program in September.
