LUMINA ISSUE PAPER - STUDY SHOWS THE BENEFITS OF WALMART EDUCATION EFFORT - Retail Giant’s Live Better U Program is Proving its Value

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Damian

LUMINA Issue Paper profiles Walmart’s Live Better U (LBU) program and how it supports associates’ education without the burden of education debt. The report highlights student stories, eligibility and coverage details, and key outcomes such as enrollment growth and credential completions. It also explains program design, including online delivery, partner support through Guild Education, and offerings spanning certifications, degrees, high school completion, and language learning aligned to workforce needs across the United States.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Live Better U: The basics

About Live Better U

Program design and educational offerings

LUMINA ISSUE PAPER STUDY SHOWS THE BENEFITS OF WALMART EDUCATION EFFORT Retail Giant’s Live Better U Program is Proving its Value by Haley Glover September 2021 Introduction Manuel Gongora is studying to earn his certification as a pharmacy technician through Walmart’s Live Better U program. A part-time associate at a store in Michigan, Manuel learned about the program in the breakroom and was encouraged by the store’s personnel department to learn more.“This is very important for me personally. I’m literally starting from the ground up again,” he said.“When I saw this program I thought,‘I’m getting up there in age. I better do something a little less physical that I can take anywhere with me.’” Shakoya Wilson is earning a certificate in people and business leadership from Bellevue University through Live Better U, and she’s doing it for her children.“Going back to school had been on my mind for 12 years. After I had my first child, it seemed almost impossible to return to school with working a full-time job and caring for an infant. Then I had another child. At that point, I just thought school wasn’t an option anymore, but something in me just couldn’t give up. To be more financially stable and to better care for my family and myself, I needed to further my education.” Paul Fowlkes is earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Southern New Hampshire University. When tragedy struck his family when he was just 17, Paul dropped out of high school and got his GED, working to raise his sisters. His supervisor told him about Live Better U.“After five months of being there, my co-manager approached meand asked,‘What if you could go to school?’ I love technology, but it was never a good time to just hop right into school because of the financing part—it’s expensive to go to college! After 17 days of being enrolled, I was promoted to supervisor. The education was a solidifying point in how hard I was working—both at work and outside of work.” These are just three of the thousands of students who are on a new path thanks to Walmart’s Live Better U program, which supports associates’ education. Live Better U: The basics • Who’s eligible? Approximately 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U. S. can earn college degrees or learn trade skills without the burden of education debt. • When? Associates are eligible to enroll on the first day of employment. • What’s covered? Walmart covers all tuition, fees, and materials. • What does it cost? As of mid-August 2021, the company pays the full cost of tuition and books for associates. Initially, Walmart associates contributed $1 per day to participate in the program. • Is it working? Nearly 30,000 students were active in the program as of April 30, 2021. So far, nearly 7,300 credentials have been earned, including those in high school, certificate, and degree programs. About Live Better U In 2018, Walmart announced Live Better U (LBU), a program designed to help the company’s nearly 1.6 million front-line employees (associates) pursue further education. LBU covers programs from industry certifications to degrees, as well as high school completion and language programs. Live Better U is unique by design and by circumstance. LBU supports Walmart’s long-term employee retention and promotion strategies, helping associates to grow within the company. Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, a champion of the program, started with the company as a teenager, unloading trucks. Three-fourths of the company’s store managers started as associates. Promotion and retention are key objectives of the Live Better U approach. LBU was specifically designed to support educational programs for Walmart’s diverse workforce, located in all 50 states and representing every background. The company partnered with Guild Education, a Denver-based organization that supports businesses to invest in employee educational benefits. Through Guild’s colle

FAQs

What is Walmart’s Live Better U program designed to do?

Live Better U is designed to help Walmart associates pursue further education, including industry certifications, degrees, high school completion, and language programs, aligned with company workforce needs.

Who is eligible for Live Better U and when can associates enroll?

Approximately 1.5 million part-time and full-time Walmart and Sam’s Club associates in the U.S. can earn degrees or trade skills. Associates are eligible to enroll on the first day of employment.

How does Walmart handle the costs of tuition and learning materials in Live Better U?

Walmart covers all tuition, fees, and materials. As of mid-August 2021, the company pays the full cost of tuition and books for associates, with an initial $1 per day contribution at the start of the program.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Damian