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Western Governors University Find out what makes WGU different.

WGU is not your typical university. Discover why we're a better fit.

You can afford it. Our surprisingly low tuition is charged per term, not per credit— so graduating faster costs less. And a scholarship from WGU can make our already low tuition even more affordable.

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You won't waste time. Pass courses by proving what you know. Competency-based education means your previous experience, ability to learn quickly, and extra time spent studying can help you graduate ahead of schedule.

Your degree can change your career. Your degree comes with tangible benefits for your career and your bottom line. Plus, 96% of employers say they would hire another WGU grad1.

You're online, but never alone. You will be successful at WGU. Your dedicated faculty members have your back from enrollment to graduation.

1 Harris Poll 2020 survey of 300 employers of WGU graduates.

Industry and academic respect add value to your degree.

WGU is an innovator receiving praise from every sector. When your alma mater is respected, so is your degree.

USDLA award
Online Learning Consortium award
Microsoft IT Academy
Military Advanced Education & Transition Top College/University
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WGU grads tell their story.

“Enrollment was perfectly easy for me. I was able to submit online and somebody called me within a day to start the whole process. Within two or three weeks I was ready to go for my first term.” Bryon Denton
M.S. Nursing – Education
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FASTER

Learn, prove it, move on.

Competency-based education focuses on learning rather than seat time. You’re in the driver’s seat. Each course is a collection of defined competencies—knowledge and skills that employers are looking for from successful graduates. You study on your schedule. As soon as you can prove you’ve mastered the competencies, you take an assessment, pass it, and move on. You spend your time learning new concepts, not rehashing subjects you already know. You can set the pace to graduate early. And in the end, your degree is proof you’ve shown that you’re what employers are looking for!

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MORE SUPPORT

Your success is our job.

From before you enroll to after you graduate, our #1 job is a better life for you and your family. Think of it as the best of both worlds: a program that offers complete independence and more support than you ever knew you needed—at exactly the moment you need it! From the enrollment counselor who helps you decide if WGU is the right fit for you, to the faculty mentors who are obsessed with your academic progress, to the student and tech support teams who are eager to help you solve any issues you might encounter as a student, you’re never alone—even though you’re online. And even after you’ve graduated, career and alumni support is just a call away.

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GREATER VALUE

Smaller investment, bigger returns.

At WGU, affordability means cutting-edge programs at tuition rates that are about half* what you’d pay at other online universities. It means graduating with little to no student debt. It means scholarship and financial aid opportunities and minimal, transparent fees. It means a flat-rate per-term tuition so that when you save time you also save money. And it means understanding that value includes quality, flexibility, relevance, and results, not just cost.

*WGU average annual bachelor’s tuition rates are 57% the national average, compared to national rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science, Nursing Prelicensure program.

WGU alumni shine on the job.

They're Prepared

95% said that their WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs

95% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.

They're Top Candidates

96% said they would hire another WGU graduate

96% of employers said they would hire another WGU graduate.

They Wow

98% of employers said WGU graduates meet or exceed expectations

98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.

Source: 2020 Harris Poll survey of 300 employers

Our faculty members have one job: helping you succeed.

Program Mentors.

Personally assigned to you from the day you enroll to the day you graduate, your Program Mentor is your faculty member. They will meet with you on a regular basis to provide program instruction, advice, coaching, support, goal-setting—and a healthy dose of cheerleading to make sure you’re celebrating the little and big wins along the way!

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Course Instructors.

Learning independently doesn’t mean learning on your own. Course Instructors are subject-matter experts who work with you regularly to ensure you’re mastering course material. They tailor learning to your needs, and the type and intensity of instructional support you receive varies based on your performance in any particular course.

Tuition rates, per 6-month term

College of Business

College of Business undergraduate programs: $3,575

College of Business graduate programs: $4,530

Teachers College

Teachers College undergraduate programs: $3,475

Teachers College graduate programs: $3,490

College of Information Technology

College of Information Technology undergraduate programs (except B.S. Cloud & Systems Admin and B.S. Cybersecurity and Info Assurance): $3,625

College of Information Technology graduate programs (except M.S. Cybersecurity and Info Assurance): $3,940

College of Health Professions

College of Health Professions undergraduate degrees (excluding BSN prelicensure): $3,475

BSN prelicensure: $5,930

College of Health Professions graduate programs: $4,240

Tuition rates effective August 1, 2021. Tuition covers unlimited courses per term. 
All programs: $145 per-term Resource Fee covers e-textbooks and learning resources, saving you thousands. Non-refundable $65 one-time application fee. Program fees and other fees: Some programs have small per-term or one-time fees specific to that program's costs. Your Enrollment Counselor can provide more information.

Control the cost of your program.

Our tuition connects cost to time.
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. (The interactive illustration uses a standard undergraduate program as an example—actual tuition and fee amounts may vary in other programs.)

Flat-rate tuition of $3,770 per term links cost to time.

By charging per 6-month term rather than per credit hour—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or can learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees.

Adjust the time and see your costs change

Your time

2 yrs

Your cost

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  • 1.5 yrs
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  • 3 yrs
  • 1 yr
  • 1.5 yrs
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A WGU degree pays for itself faster and adds little to no new debt.

By providing useful information and advice on responsible borrowing before enrollment, keeping tuition low while you’re enrolled, and providing programs that lead to better jobs after graduation, WGU packs a one-two-three punch designed to keep your debt low and your return on investment quick.

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Recent WGU grads reported earning, on average, $12,300 more within two years of graduation, compared with income prior to enrollment...

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...and by four years after graduation, that salary increase averaged $21,800, compared with the national average of just $11,500.

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With an average cost of $15,165 for a bachelor’s degree, the return on investment of a WGU degree is less than two years.

Based on 2020 Harris Poll salary data and internal WGU data for undergraduates who earned a bachelor's degree in 2020.

Explore all our programs.

We offer degree programs in four in-demand fields. What industry will your leadership role be in?