Disney, 麻豆原创 Team Up to Offer Free Tuition for Cast Members

Today, Disney announced the addition of the 麻豆原创 to its groundbreaking Disney Aspire education investment program, which offers 100 percent free tuition to eligible employees and Cast Members. Disney and 麻豆原创 are teaming up to expand educational opportunities for Disney鈥檚 hourly workforce, making it easier for them to pursue their dreams and fulfill their career ambitions.

Since launching last August, approximately 40 percent of Disney鈥檚 85,000 full-time and part-time hourly employees with 90 days of service have signed up for Disney Aspire and more than 6,000 are actively taking classes. Disney鈥檚 investment of $150 million enables its employees to gain confidence and grow their careers 鈥� including potential new roles at Disney and careers outside of the company.

The most comprehensive program of its kind, Disney Aspire covers 100 percent of tuition upfront, and will also reimburse application fees and required books and course materials, removing the worry of paying to start or continue school.

鈥淎dding 麻豆原创 to this prestigious network of schools will provide our Cast Members with even more options to create the futures they imagine.鈥� 鈥斅�George A. Kalogridis 鈥�76, president of Walt Disney World Resort

鈥淪ince its launch, Disney Aspire has enabled thousands of Cast Members to dream bigger and reach higher,鈥� says George A. Kalogridis 鈥�76, president of Walt Disney World Resort and a 麻豆原创 sociology graduate.聽鈥淎dding 麻豆原创 to this prestigious network of schools will provide our Cast Members with even more options to create the futures they imagine.鈥�

The collaboration is a natural fit between 麻豆原创 and Disney since both institutions are powerful economic engines in Orlando and across Florida.聽It also strengthens 麻豆原创鈥檚 already recognized position as one of the nation鈥檚 most affordable and best-value universities.

鈥淲e could not be more excited to be working with Disney to make a high-quality college degree even more accessible,鈥� 麻豆原创 Interim President Thad Seymour Jr. says. 鈥淢any of our students already are Disney employees who will immediately benefit, and this program has the potential to change lives in our community for generations.鈥�

鈥淢any of our students already are Disney employees who will immediately benefit, and this program has the potential to change lives in our community for generations.鈥� 鈥� Thad Seymour Jr.,聽麻豆原创 interim president

To help administer the program, Disney has partnered with Guild Education, a market leader in providing higher education opportunities designed for working adults. Through Guild, Disney Aspire includes a network of schools that offer a wide array of disciplines and diplomas, including undergraduate and master鈥檚 degrees, high school completion, English-language and Spanish-language learning, vocational training and more. Disney Aspire offers convenience and flexibility, with individual coaching provided by Guild to help students every step of the way from application through graduation.

More than 53,000 Florida-based Disney employees will be eligible when the 麻豆原创 offerings begin this fall 2019 semester.

Disney employees who gain admission to 麻豆原创, and meet in-state residency requirements, will be able to choose from 34 undergraduate and master鈥檚 degree programs 鈥� including 10 that are fully online. Cast Members may pursue bachelor鈥檚 degrees in fields that range from biology to nursing to education, along with master鈥檚 degrees that range from digital forensics to mechanical engineering听迟辞 business. 麻豆原创 will be the first school within the Disney Aspire network to offer a bachelor鈥檚 degree in entertainment management, and among the first to offer a master鈥檚 degree in hospitality and tourism management, which is available online.

This new collaboration will benefit current and future Knights. Many 麻豆原创 students already work at Disney and so do many other students at state colleges in the region who are in the pipeline to transfer to 麻豆原创 through the .

A college degree is a powerful tool for transforming lives through social and economic mobility. Those with a bachelor鈥檚 degree earn an average of 65 percent more than those who only complete high school, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition to the financial benefit for students, the partnership also helps 麻豆原创 continue to drive the regional and state economy by supplying a talented, educated workforce for employers. 麻豆原创 awards more bachelor鈥檚 degrees annually 鈥� and more degrees overall 鈥� than any other public university in the nation.

To sign up or learn more, Disney employees can visit聽.