Tuition & Financial Aid
Using your employer's tuition reimbursement benefit at WGU.
Get the most out of your employer's tuition reimbursement program: Use it at WGU.
WGU's highly respected, career-relevant, surprisingly affordable degree programs are popular among students using an employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement program—and they're a favorite among employers, too.
Tuition assistance or reimbursement may be used toward any WGU degree program (or a Teachers College post-baccalaureate or endorsement-preparation program). WGU is not the right school for students looking to take individual courses only.
The choice of working students and their employers.
As a nonprofit, accredited university with affordable tuition, WGU gives students—and employers—a greater return on their education investment. First, it's a remarkably small investment to begin with; in fact, with WGU's undergraduate tuition costing less than $7,200 per year for most programs, many companies' tuition reimbursement benefits cover most or all the costs. And the return is quite nice: WGU grads, on average, report making $21,800 more per year four years after graduation than they made when they enrolled (compared with a national average of $11,500).
Another major benefit to both students and their employers: We're competency-based, which means every course is organized around a set of skills and knowledge that employers are looking for in their workforce. In fact, we develop our competencies with employer input, so our students can be sure they are learning exactly what the industry demands.
Competency-based education also means that you complete courses and earn your degree by proving what you know, not by logging time in class or waiting for the semester to end. If you know a subject well because of work experience, or if you are a fast learner and a hard worker, you can finish courses—and graduate—well ahead of schedule.
In other words, WGU's competency-based approach to learning means that the skills you're learning at WGU can be applied at work the next day, and the things you're doing on the job will inform your studies. It's the perfect design for working adult students—and working adults are the perfect fit at WGU.
WGU grads add major value in the workplace—and their bosses notice.
WGU graduates are well-qualified for their jobs and make their employers very happy, as these data from a 2020 Harris Poll survey of 300 employers of WGU alumni show.
Beyond expectations.
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.
Top candidates.
96% said they would hire another WGU graduate.
Prepared for the job.
95% said that their WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.
Common questions about financial aid.
How do you select scholarship recipients?
It depends upon the scholarship. In general, we award scholarships based on the following factors:
Meeting the basic eligibility requirements
Answers you give on the scholarship application
An interview with a scholarship counselor
Some scholarships are also based upon evaluations of prior college transcripts and other tests. We encourage you to apply.
When will I find out if I’m selected?
WGU evaluates scholarship applications on a continual basis because we start new students in their programs every month. Often we are able to make an award decision within two to four weeks of receiving your application. In most cases, you will also need to have applied for admission and been accepted to the university. An Enrollment Counselor can help explain the process
Do I get the scholarship all at once?
No. Scholarship awards are divided into a set amount per term. This amount is credited against your tuition due for each term. The details are explained in the description for each scholarship.
Can I also apply for financial aid?
Yes. You probably should apply for federal financial aid, too. Scholarship awards will only cover a portion of your school expenses, and financial aid can help pay for the rest. You can apply for financial aid while you are waiting for a decision about your scholarship application. It will not hurt your chances to win a scholarship. Click here to learn more about or apply for financial aid.
Next Start Date
Start the 1st of any month—as soon as you complete enrollment!
Take the next step.
College can be affordable—and it's definitely worth it. We're here to help you make the best decisions on degree program, payment options, scholarship application, and more.