Walmart’s Live Better U offers free tuition, fast tracks careers

Walmart operates Live Better U as a central pathway for associates seeking education and internal advancement. The program covers 100 percent of tuition and required books for eligible part time and full time associates through approved partner schools and programs. Short form certificates and degrees are aligned to roles the company identifies as in demand, and paid training can translate into college credit that speeds progress toward credential completion.

The company presents Live Better U as a skills first approach intended to move associates into higher paying roles within Walmart and Sam’s Club. Participation metrics and program goals are tracked, and materials highlight aggregate savings in tuition for associates, the number of associates served, and an explicit aim to fast track employees into in demand positions. For workers, those features reduce a major barrier to further education by removing out of pocket costs and by connecting specific courses and credentials to defined jobs inside the company.

The program affects workplace dynamics in several ways. By offering a tuition paid route to credentials that map directly to internal openings, Live Better U can increase internal mobility and create clearer career pathways for hourly employees. That alignment may help managers fill vacancies with employees who already understand company operations, and it may shift recruitment and retention strategies toward developing talent from within. For associates, the ability to receive college credit for paid training compresses the time between starting education and qualifying for a new role, which can translate into faster wage gains and upward movement.

Live Better U also serves an informational role for associates. It lists eligibility rules, partner schools, and how education connects to internal career pathways, making it an authoritative resource for employees weighing whether to enroll. As employers nationwide reassess how to build skills and retain staff, Walmart’s program demonstrates an employer led model that combines tuition coverage, credential alignment, and credit for workplace learning to meet hiring needs while offering a tangible benefit to workers.