Chipotle workers can earn a business degree in 18 months in new program

Denver, CO – Chipotle Mexican Grill has launched a customized bachelor’s degree in business for its employees to help them advance within the company and broaden their horizons.

The degree, which is available through Bellevue University in Nebraska and open to Chipotle employees only, integrates hands-on, applied learning with theory to help employees with career growth within the restaurant, the restaurant chain said in a news release. Bellevue University, a private, non-profit, regionally accredited institution and trailblazer in higher education, worked closely with Chipotle to develop the curriculum.

“This degree enables our employees to apply what they learn in the classroom to their work at Chipotle and vice versa,” said Steve Ells, founder, chairman and chief executive officer at Chipotle. “Employees will gain a solid understanding of business operations including people development, marketing, and decision making. The new degree program extends a series of education benefits we’ve been putting in place over the last couple of years to help better equip our employees for success at Chipotle and beyond.”

The degree is designed around a Chipotle employee’s schedule. When combined with credit from a previous school and credits earned through Chipotle’s internal training, it can be completed in as little as 18 months. This program also has a cohort format, which allows Chipotle students to share and learn from their own organizational and real-world experiences.

“One of the best ways we can help working students succeed is to leverage their real-life experiences and skills,” said Rebecca Murdock, dean of the College of Business at Bellevue University. “With Chipotle’s help, we have built a truly best in class business degree program.”

This customized degree is one of more than 30 degrees offered through Chipotle’s educational assistance program in partnership with Guild Education. The program gives Chipotle employees an opportunity to earn college credits and pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees while working at the company.

Students who enrol in the new bachelor’s program are eligible for up to $5,250 a year in tuition assistance from Chipotle as well as other benefits, including a personal success coach who will assist in the program enrollment and application for federal financial aid.