By YOUNG MONEY Staff
9 June 2010

Having a higher education can help boost a person's personal finances and earning potential, while also giving them a leg up in their careers.

Recently, Walmart announced it is offering its workers the chance to use their experience toward earning a degree from American Public University through the Lifelong Learning Program. Depending on the lessons they have learned through working for the company, employees could gain as much as 45 percent of the credits needed for an associate's or bachelor's degree.

Eduardo Castro-Write, a vice chairman with the company, recently wrote a memo to employees explaining that the program will be presented in phases throughout the year and includes Walmart stores, Sam's Club locations and distribution centers.

"More positions will be included in this program each quarter as we move through the year and beyond," Castro-Write said.

Employees who take part in the program will also qualify for a grant that could cover 15 percent of the tuition costs at APU. The degrees are portable, meaning those who earn them will keep them even if they leave the company.

The largest retailer in the world, Walmart has more than 2.1 million employees. For fiscal year 2010, the company reported $405 billion in sales.