TGT Target Corp

By Michael Dabaie

Target Corp. said it will offer its U.S.-based part-time and full-time frontline employees a debt-free education assistance program.

The retailer said that beginning this fall, all part-time and full-time employees working in Target stores, distribution centers and headquarters locations in the U.S. will be eligible for debt-free assistance for select undergraduate degrees, certificates, certifications, free textbooks with no out-of-pocket costs on their first day of work at Target.

Target said it will invest $200 million over the next four years in the program.

Target said employees will have options for assistance through a program it has been building for several months with education platform Guild Education.

Target will support employees taking courses for high school completion, college prep, English language learning and select certificates, certifications, bootcamps, associate and undergraduate degrees. Employees can attend classes at more than 40 schools, colleges and universities and choosing from 250 business-aligned programs. Employees who opt into this program won't have any out-of-pocket costs, the company said.

Academic institutions include the University of Arizona, Oregon State University, University of Denver, eCornell and HBCUs Morehouse College and Paul Quinn College.

For employees pursuing education outside of the business-aligned programs within the Guild network, Target said it will provide direct payments to their academic institution of up to $5,250 for non-master's degrees and up to $10,000 for master's degrees each year. Target will also cover smaller out-of-pocket expenses and fees, such as textbooks and course fees.

Write to Michael Dabaie at michael.dabaie@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 04, 2021 11:06 ET (15:06 GMT)

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