It could help you too. Apply today.
A bachelor’s or master’s degree can do great things for your career—and for your family’s future. With WGU’s commitment to student success and low tuition, higher education is accessible to busy working adults. We believe that you have what it takes to be a successful student—even if it’s been years or decades since you last opened a textbook.
And thanks to the Back to School Scholarship, you may be able get your education for less.
Valued at up to $2,500 ($625 per term, for up to four terms), the Back to School Scholarship is open to new students in any of the more than 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offered at WGU—in business, information technology, education, and health professions, including nursing.
WGU is a nationally recognized, regionally accredited, nonprofit university that has been named a Best Value School year after year, and with a 92% overall satisfaction rate1, our students enjoy their time at WGU. Just four years after graduation, WGU grads make an average of $21,800 more per year than when they enrolled (compared with a national average of $11,500)2. That’s just one of the many reasons 77% of WGU grads say their education was worth the cost3, and why 96% have recommended WGU to others4.
1 WGU Student Satisfaction Survey, December 2020, polling students with November term end date.
2 2020 Harris Poll
3 Gallup WGU Alumni Survey, January 15-29, 2021.
4 2020 Harris Poll of 1,320 WGU graduates.
Scholarship details:
Scholarship valued up to:
$2,500
This scholarship will be credited to your account at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms.
Interested in this scholarship? The first step is to apply for admission.
Deadline for application:
9/30/21
Before you can apply for this scholarship, you must first apply for admission.
Already applied for admission? Apply for scholarships on the Scholarship Portal.
Other scholarships available:
20+
This scholarship is one of many. Through the generosity of numerous corporations and foundations, plus special federal government appropriations, WGU maintains a robust program of scholarships made available to qualified students.
Eligibility requirements.
Degrees and programs eligible for this scholarship
Bachelor's and master’s programs:
WGU Teachers College
College of Business
College of Information Technology
College of Health Professions
Scholarship policies
Multiple scholarships will be awarded. However, this is a competitive program and scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency, plus other considerations.
Before monies are distributed, the scholarship recipients must read the WGU Student Handbook and agree to and understand the academic progress, tuition, and refund policies. The student will also be required to agree to the WGU Scholarship Terms and Conditions before monies will be awarded. The student must also meet the university’s On Time Progress requirements to maintain scholarship eligibility. Each student can only be awarded one scholarship that is funded or administered through WGU during their degree program. Recipients must be U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens.
This scholarship can be used in addition to any tuition discounts for which you may be eligible.
3 Steps to Apply For WGU Scholarships
Now that you've looked at scholarship requirements and found one to apply for, here are the steps to apply.
1. Complete the admissions application.
To be considered for any WGU scholarships, you must be provisionally accepted as a WGU student. Complete the admissions application and work with your enrollment counselor to move through the admissions process. NOTE: Returning WGU graduates should complete the Returning Graduate Application.
Apply to WGU2. Complete the general scholarship application.
The general application is required for all WGU scholarships and lets us learn more about you and which scholarships you may be eligible for. To access the application, you will need your MyWGU student portal credentials, which will be sent to you shortly after Step 1. NOTE: You are eligible to apply for scholarships within 90 days of starting a degree program, either before or after. You must complete the application within 90 days of your intended start date.
General Scholarship Application3. Log in to the scholarship portal and apply.
Based on what you tell us in Step 2, we’ll let you know which scholarships you might be eligible for. Finish up by reviewing the recommended opportunities and completing the supplemental application for each scholarship you’d like to be considered for by logging into the Scholarship Portal. These additional applications need to be submitted within 5 days of submitting the general application.
Common Questions About Scholarships
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 8–10 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.
Thank you to our donors.
Scholarship opportunities are made possible in part by the generous support of many companies, foundations, partner organizations, and individuals, including WGU alumni, faculty, and staff.
Financial Aid Is Also Available
You may choose to pay for the remaining portion of your degree through federal financial aid (subject to your eligibility). Pell Grants, which do not have to be repaid, are granted based on financial need. Federal Direct Student Loans are available to all students. Subsidized loans, which are dependent on financial need, reduce the interest due on loans.
