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RetailChipotle

Chipotle Will Offer Free College Tuition to All Employees

By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
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By
Chris Morris
Chris Morris
Former Contributing Writer
Down Arrow Button Icon
October 15, 2019, 11:40 AM ET
chipotle-free-college
Chipotle

Chipotle is taking a page from Walmart and Disney’s books.

The restaurant chain has launched a program that will allow all employees who have worked at the company for 120 days or more to attend college for free.

The Mexican chain says it will cover 100% of tuition costs for 75 business and technology degrees. Workers can choose between several schools, including The University of Arizona, Bellevue University, Brandman University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Wilmington University.

“Chipotle recognizes that financial barriers can be one of the biggest obstacles that impede our employees from achieving their fullest potential,” said Marissa Andrada, chief people officer at Chipotle in a statement. “We are proud to launch this opportunity for debt-free degrees by providing free tuition to help our employees excel in all areas in their lives, both in and out of Chipotle.”

Chipotle is the latest retailer to use tuition reimbursement as a lure for workers. Walmart, in June, announced it would pay for the SAT prep and cover college tuition of high school students who join its staff.

Disney, last August, offered to pay school tuition for tens of thousands of hourly workers.

Companies are having to increase incentives amid low unemployment nationwide as young people find they have a bigger selection of potential jobs available to them. That has resulted in a hiring crunch at many businesses that have traditionally leaned on that demographic.

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About the Author
By Chris MorrisFormer Contributing Writer

Chris Morris is a former contributing writer at Fortune, covering everything from general business news to the video game and theme park industries.

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