ADMISSIONS
Enrollment checklist: It's easy to get started.
Next Start Date
Start the 1st of any month—as soon as you complete enrollment!
Take the next step.
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time now. You could be on your way to your degree—sooner than you might think!
1. Apply for admission and pay the application fee.
The first step is to complete and submit the online application form. WGU does not have application deadlines, so you can apply at any time. Note: You are required to meet the admissions requirements for the WGU program you select. Click on the links below to see program-specific admissions requirements:
Teachers College admissions requirements
College of Business admissions requirements
College of Information Technology admissions requirements
College of Health Professions admissions requirements
Completing your application requires a non-refundable $65 application fee. You can pay online on the application form by submitting your credit card information (the site is secure) or by mailing a check or money order to WGU. Checks and money orders should be made out to Western Governors University. (All returned checks will be assessed a service charge of $25 for insufficient funds. Service charge is due within 14 days of notice of nonpayment.)
NOTE: WGU does not “profit” from application fees, as they help offset only a small portion of enrollment and admissions costs.
2. Request and submit official transcripts.
At WGU, our goal is to reward you with as much transfer credit as possible, which reduces your time to graduation and the cost of obtaining your degree. To do so, we need to review official transcripts for all possible transferable credit you have earned at a college or university, or via college-level testing (e.g., AP, CLEP, Dante [DSST], etc.).
Requesting your transcripts is easy, but students who wait to make the request risk delaying their start date because their prior school(s) may take up to a few weeks to process the request. Requesting your transcripts today will help you get information about transfer credit and enable you to start at WGU sooner. You can typically request your transcripts online—try doing a quick Google search for “transcript request” and the name of your prior university or college. You should find school-specific instructions for one or both of the following options:
If your prior school offers official electronic (secure PDF) transcripts, this will be your fastest method.
Request that a copy be sent to:
transcriptinfo@wgu.edu
If mailing a hard copy is the only option offered, have your official transcript sent to:
Western Governors University
ATTN: Transcripts Department
4001 South 700 East, Suite 300
Salt Lake City, UT 84107-2533
3. Create your WGU student account and apply for financial aid.
Once you have paid your application fee, you’re ready to create your WGU account. This will give you access to the WGU Student Portal, which you will need to access in order to complete the financial aid process and/or make your first tuition payment.
If you plan to use financial aid, you need to start the financial aid process right after you pay your application fee.
You’ll need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and go through the financial aid steps.
Code 033394
When you complete the FAFSA be sure to list WGU's school code.
4. Take the WGU Readiness Assessment.
The WGU Readiness Assessment is an online admission assessment designed to help both you and the university determine your readiness for college level study in WGU’s online learning environment. Successful completion of this multi-part assessment is required for:
- Students entering WGU Teachers College bachelor’s degree programs who do not possess an AA or AS degree.
- Students entering WGU College of Business programs who do not possess a bachelor's degree or higher.
- Students entering a WGU IT bachelor’s degree program who do not possess one of the IT certifications that WGU recognizes for competency credit. See more about transferable IT certifications.
- Students entering the B.S. Health Information Management program who do not possess an associate’s degree or an associate's of applied science degree in one of the following: Health Information Technology, Health Information Management, Health Information System Technology, Health Information System Management, or Medical Record Technology.
5. Interview with your Enrollment Counselor.
Once your official transcripts have been received and your Readiness Assessment is complete, an admission decision will be made. If you have not already done so, it’s important that you interview with a WGU Enrollment Counselor whose role is to answer your questions, explain the requirements and expectations of a rigorous WGU degree program, discuss your prior academic background, and help you determine if WGU is a good “fit” for your academic goals and your level of determination and time available for study. This interview will likely take about 20-30 minutes.
6. Satisfy your first tuition obligation.
Your first tuition payment is due by the 22nd of the month prior to your intended start date. We strongly encourage you to make tuition arrangements or finish the financial aid process sooner.
7. Complete orientation.
Once you have completed the steps on this checklist, you will be ready to begin your WGU orientation. This course is designed to help you:
- Understand WGU’s competency-based approach to education.
- Identify your learning style.
- Gain skills in online research.
- Review time management and study skills.
- Gain practice using online communication tools such as threaded discussions and chat.
- Connect with peers and mentors online.
8. Begin your personalized WGU experience.
During orientation, you will begin working with your Program Mentor to draft your individualized degree plan. This plan charts your path toward earning your degree. It will include timelines, benchmarks, and learning opportunities.