Chipotle Mexican Grill is expanding on a retention-boosting free college degree program it launched in 2019, the fast casual announced Thursday.
The expanded “debt-free degree” offerings include programs in agriculture, culinary, hospitality and supply chain, joining a roster of 75 different business and technology degrees available through Chipotle’s partnership with Guild Education.
Since Chipotle started its Cultivate Education program in 2016, nearly 10,000 employees have enrolled in classes and have taken advantage of either tuition reimbursement or debt-free degrees, the company said.
The chain so far has seen strong retention and professional development metrics among employees participating in the free-tuition program, it said. Those enrolled in the program have a retention rate 3.5 times higher than the typical Chipotle worker. And workers who take advantage of the benefit have proven 7.5 times more likely to move into management at Chipotle than those who do not.
Among the workers who are studying under the free tuition program, 85% are at the hourly “crew member” level at Chipotle, the chain said in a statement.
“Diversifying our debt-free degree program with new majors and partner universities makes our educational benefits even more inclusive,” said Marissa Andrada, chief diversity, inclusion and people officer at Chipotle. “Through our partnership with Guild, we are committed to accelerating our employees’ professional growth and helping them achieve personal success by offering opportunities to pursue career paths in their particular area of interest.”
Under the expanded program options, people who have worked at Chipotle for at least 120 days can pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences or Rangeland Sciences online from Oregon State University, associate and bachelor's culinary arts degrees online from Johnson & Wales University, bachelor’s degree programs in hospitality from several universities, and supply chain degree programs from Oregon State University and the University of Denver.
Starting in November 2019, Chipotle began offering all upfront tuition costs for employees enrolled in 75 different business and technology and degree programs at select universities.
The debt-free tuition program was an expansion of Chipotle’s Cultivate Education initiative, which provided $20 million in employee tuition assistance from 2017 to 2019.
In addition to the selected areas of study, eligible Chipotle employees can be reimbursed for up to $5,250 a year in tuition at the school of their choice.
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