AUSTIN, TX (February 11, 2020) – Created to increase access to high-quality higher education that meets students where they are, Western Governors University (WGU) has topped the 2020–2021 Military Friendly® Schools list in the online/vocational category. Learn about how WGU serves military students at www.wgu.edu/military.
Currently, WGU serves nearly 15,000 active-duty or veteran students and 900 military spouses or dependents. About 14 percent of WGU Texas’ student enrollment is active duty military and veterans. This is WGU’s 10th consecutive year receiving a Military Friendly Schools designation.
Competency-based, affordable, portable, and relevant to today’s workforce, WGU offers active-duty military personnel, their spouses and children, and veterans the opportunity to further their careers with higher education in a way that fits their unique and often unpredictable circumstances.
As a young soldier, 2017 WGU Texas graduate Michael Arias knew that education was the only way to achieve his dream of rising through the ranks to a leadership role. “I was the kid who was told I would not be able to achieve the goal of earning a college degree because I took the ‘easy’ way out by joining the Army,” said Arias. Now, I am the man who earned his MBA thanks to WGU Texas.”
Like many WGU Texas students, Arias’ path to higher education was not traditional. To fulfill his dream of higher education and his passion for a leadership role in the military, he enrolled in college while deployed in Iraq. After earning his associate degree, his family urged him to continue his education.
While serving as a full-time recruiter in the army, Arias earned his B.S. in Business Management from WGU Texas. Attending the commencement ceremony in Austin provided all the incentive he needed and within months, he had enrolled in the Master’s of Business Administration program. Now a two-time graduate, Arias credits WGU’s flexible programs for his success.
Now in its 19th year, the Military Friendly Schools list has come to set the standard for higher education institutions to provide the best opportunities for veterans and their spouses. This prestigious list provides a comprehensive guide for veterans and their families using data sources from federal agencies, veteran students, and proprietary survey information from participating organizations. More than 1,000 schools participated in the 2020–2021 survey, with 625 schools earning the designation.
Founded to increase access to high-quality education and designed to provide personalized learning experiences as the world’s most student-centric university, WGU specializes in serving nontraditional students, students from historically underserved populations, and students for whom traditional higher education may not be an option.
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About WGU Texas
WGU Texas is a nonprofit, online university designed to expand access to higher education for Texas residents. Established by the state of Texas through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Texas offers more than 60 accredited undergraduate and graduate degree programs in high-demand career fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. In 2018, WGU Texas awarded degrees to 2,445 students across the state. Since the university’s launch in 2011, more than 14,000 graduates have earned their undergraduate or graduate degrees through a variety of academic offerings. To learn more, visit texas.wgu.edu.
