AUSTIN – Western Governors University (WGU) once again has been named one of the best universities in the nation by Military Friendly® Schools, earning Top Ten status for 2021–2022 and ranking third in the online/vocational category. Created to increase access to high-quality postsecondary education that meets students where they are, WGU has ranked on the nationwide list 11 consecutive years.
Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over 1,200 schools participated in the 2021-2022 survey, with 747 earning the designation.
Competency-based, affordable, portable, and relevant to today’s workforce, WGU offers student-centered, personalized support, giving students—including veterans, active-duty military personnel, their spouses, and their children—the opportunity to further their careers with higher education in a way that fits their unique and often unpredictable circumstances.
15% of WGU Texas’ enrolled students are military members, veterans, spouses, or dependents. WGU Texas graduates U.S. Air Force Reservist Cesar Zayas and U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Sarah “Mic” Merritt credit the university for their career success.
With the help of WGU and the discipline gained from his military service, Cesar Zayas was able to fit coursework into his busy life. In 2020, he earned a B.S. in Business Management—Information Technology, a degree which helped him advance his Air Force career. He’s now a senior airman. “Thanks to WGU and having earned my degree, I will be getting commissioned as a lieutenant in 2021,” Zayas said.
After working for many years in the military and cyber security industry, Sarah “Mic” Merritt decided to pursue her master’s degree. In a field like cyber security, continual education is crucial for success. After earning her master’s degree from WGU Texas, she says she feels confident and authoritative in her work. From her high-profile work with cyber warfare, to her crucial time spent teaching the next generations about security, her degree enhanced her abilities. “I was able to put a degree together with 20 years of experience, so I now have both the education and the employment background to take on any role I want,” she says.
Learn about how WGU serves military students at wgu.edu/military. To see WGU’s Military Friendly listing, visit militaryfriendly.com/western-governors-university. Learn about Zayas https://www.wgu.edu/blog/earning-wings-bacheors-degree2101.html and Sarah “Mic” Merritt’s story, https://www.wgu.edu/inspire/sarah-merritt.html.
About Military Friendly® Schools.
The Military Friendly® Schools list is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for more than 8,800 schools nationwide, input from student veterans, and responses to the proprietary, data-driven Military Friendly® Schools survey from participating institutions. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weighting were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. The survey is administered for free and is open to all postsecondary schools that wish to participate. Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.
About Viqtory.
Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its G.I. Jobs® and Military Friendly® brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at viqtory.com.
