During the Disneyland Resort’s annual “State of the Resort” event last week, President Ken Potrock announced Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College would be joining the Disney Aspire program, through which the company picks up the entire cost of a college education for its hourly cast members.
The announcement marks a historic expansion of the Aspire program: the large number of CSUF students work at the Disneyland Resort that the school has long been nicknamed “Cal State Disney.”
Under Disney Aspire, cast members can pursue a variety of educational opportunities at 10 in-network schools, from a high school diploma to professional certification and undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Aspire program pays 100% of tuition up-front and reimburses for for book and fee expenses.
To date, these opportunities have been through online learning programs. The partnership with Cal State Fullerton and Fullerton College will be the first time Aspire will include in-person university study for its cast members.
Approximately 13,000 cast members have availed themselves of the Disney Aspire program was launched in August 2018, with an initial $150 million investment over five years, with a continued annual investment after that.
