tammy lopez wants a business degree. >> i always saw myself finishing school, but i just didn't know when, it's financially difficult. >> how much is this costing starbucks? the company isn't saying, but the average unit online is about $500. that's $160 million if starbucks is paying full retail. >> i accumulated more than $10,000 in debt. >> how many workers have had to put education on hold due to personal or financial reasons. and schultz told them this new program is no pr stun the. >> we have been taught constantly as business people that the primary role for a public company is to make money. and i'm here to tell you, i don't believe that's true. >> reporter: employee reaction bordered on the adoration steve jobs used to engender. >> i can tell you i've always been committed to only one man in my life, and that's you. >> reporter: the program will only be open to those who qualify for asu's online admission, and who don't already have bachelor's degrees. what do employees owe starbucks after graduating? apparently nothing. >> you can leave. we don't want you to leave. >> repor

. >> tammy lopez is one of those, working at starbucks for a year and a half. until now, couldn't afford it. >> i'm taking full advantage of it. >> she and other starbucks employee working at least 20 hours a week and accepted to arizona state university can participate. starbucks will cover a portion of tuition, in the second two years, baristas will get a full ride, no on bhi investigation to stay with starbucks. >> we just think it's amazing they care enough about us to give us an opportunity to get an education. >> calling it an important investment for the country. >> we can't continue to wait for washington. businesses and business leaders must recognize and must do more for our people in the communities we serve >> and the ceo says he expect it to impact the cost of your morning latte. >> target is trying to sort out a computer glitch yesterday maybe this happened to you. the glitch disabled check out registers in several stores, shoppers said employees scrambled to find a solution, refusing to accept payments except cash. one customer says everyone was

. >> starbucks employee tammie lopez personally thank the ceo to attend college for free. >> this is about pr. >> starting this fall, starbucks will help employees get an online bachelors degree at a discount. and they don't have to stay with the company after they finish. starbucks is partnering with arizona state university. eligible workers can choose from more than 40 undergraduate programs. sophomores can receive partial scholarships and full reimbursement. >> how important is a college degree these days? >> very important. >> she has been working part time while going to school for more than a year. she plans to study business. >> i never thought i would be getting the assistance and the help that starbucks is providing. it just never crossed my mind. >> dozens of corporations with hourly employees offer some kind of tuition discount, putin the starbucks plan is the most generous. >> we can't build a great company, and we can't build a great endure country if we're constantly leaving people behind. >> he says the starbucks were a 20 chapter book, the company would only be in ch

. >> reporter: star bucks employee tammy lopez personally thanked ceo harold schultz for the opportunity to attend college for free. >> thinks not about pr. this is about the future of our company which is doing right for our people. >> reporter: schultz was in new york to announce starting this fall star bucks will help employees get an on line bachelor's degree at a steep discount and they don't have to stay with the company after they finished. star bucks is partnering with arizona state university, eligible workers can choose from 40 under graduate on line programs, freshman and sophomore can receive partial scholarships and full tuition reimbursement as juniors and seniors. how important is a college degree these days to you. >> important. >> reporter: lopez has been working part-time while going to school for more than a year. she plans to apply for a new program to study business. >> i never thought i would be get the assistance and the help but star bucks is providing it, it just never crossed my mind. >> reporter: dozens of corporation was hourly employees offer tuition assistan