Western Governors University
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private online university based in Millcreek, Utah, United States. The university uses an online competency-based learning model, providing advanced education for working professionals. Degrees awarded by WGU are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The university was founded by 19 U.S. governors in 1997, after the idea was formulated at a 1995 meeting of the Western Governors Association to expand education offerings to the internet.
At a glance
- Acceptance rate: 100%
- Average net price: $12,548
- Undergraduate enrollment: 201,091
- Graduation rate (150%): 46%
- Graduation rate (200%): 67%
- 8-year Outcome Measures award rate: 51%
- Student to faculty ratio: 42:1
- Median earnings (10 years): $60,615
- Median earnings (8 years): $68,924
- Median earnings (6 years): $69,572
- Control: Private nonprofit
- Locale: Suburb, large
- Calendar: Other
- City: Salt Lake City, UT
Majors and programs
The most common programs at Western Governors University include Nursing, Learning Sciences, Business Administration and Management.
- Nursing (5,592 bachelor's) · median earnings $97,114 4 years after graduation · median debt $9,470
- Learning Sciences (2,871 bachelor's) · median earnings $52,284 4 years after graduation · median debt $16,991
- Business Administration and Management (2,586 bachelor's) · median earnings $83,654 4 years after graduation · median debt $14,816
- Computer and Information Systems Security (2,218 bachelor's) · median earnings $129,303 4 years after graduation · median debt $10,110
- Elementary Education and Teaching (1,612 bachelor's)
- Accounting (1,310 bachelor's) · median earnings $75,767 4 years after graduation · median debt $15,915
- Computer Science (1,096 bachelor's) · median earnings $83,860 1 year after graduation · median debt $7,044
- Information Technology (984 bachelor's) · median earnings $108,836 4 years after graduation · median debt $16,625
- Human Resources Management (796 bachelor's) · median earnings $107,585 4 years after graduation · median debt $20,671
- Health (765 bachelor's) · median earnings $82,644 4 years after graduation · median debt $14,909
Degree mix: Business 37%, Engineering 1%, Computer Science 25%, Health 36%, Other 1%.
Award levels offered: Certificates, Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, Doctoral.
Cost
Western Governors University students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $9,358 a year after aid.
- Net price, $0 to $30,000: $9,358
- Net price, $30,001 to $48,000: $9,848
- Net price, $48,001 to $75,000: $10,666
- Net price, $75,001 to $110,000: $13,731
- Net price, $110,001 and above: $14,297
- In-state tuition and fees: $8,658
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $8,658
- Books and supplies: $200
- Off-campus room and board: $8,100
- Off-campus with family: $4,300
- Typical cost of attendance: $8,858
- Sticker vs net gap: -4166%
- Students receiving any aid: 100%
- Pell Grant recipients: 39%
- Federal loan recipients: 43%
- Average institutional grant: $1,289
- Average federal loan: $5,947
- Median debt at graduation: $11,116
Admissions
Western Governors University has open admissions. Every applicant who applies is admitted.
Who actually goes here
- Undergraduates: 201,091
- Women: 59%
- Part-time undergraduates: 0%
- Age 25 and older: 84%
- Graduate students: 44,081
- Graduation rate: 46%
- Come back after freshman year: 65%
- First-generation: 47%
Faculty and campus
- Full-time faculty: 73%
- Student to faculty: 42:1
- Study abroad: Not available
- Online programs: Available
Common questions
What is the Western Governors University acceptance rate? Western Governors University has open admissions, so the acceptance rate is 100%.
How much does Western Governors University cost? Students from families earning $0 to $30,000 pay about $9,358 a year after aid. Average net price is $12,548.
What majors does Western Governors University offer? Popular programs include Nursing, Learning Sciences, Business Administration and Management, Computer and Information Systems Security, Elementary Education and Teaching.
What is the average salary after Western Governors University? Median earnings 10 years after entry are $60,615 for Title IV aid recipients in College Scorecard.
What is the Western Governors University graduation rate? In the IPEDS Outcome Measures cohort, 51% earned an award within eight years. The first-time, full-time 150% graduation rate is 46%.
Scorecard earnings and debt cover Title IV aid recipients, not cash-pay or private-loan students. Western Governors University official site: https://wgu.edu.