The WGU Student Experience
Our goal is to make sure students like you have everything they need to be successful. Everyone deserves the chance to pursue higher education and our focus is on making that education attainable for everyone.
How Learning Works at WGU
Flexible Education
Competency-based education is our unique learning model that allows you to be in the driver's seat of your own education. Students don't take traditional classes at a certain time—coursework is entirely online and you can move through the assignments at whatever pace works for you. Use your previous knowledge and experience to help you accelerate or spend more time on areas that are new. WGU is a school that actually fits within your busy life, not the other way around.
Affordable Tuition
Tuition at WGU is charged per six-month term instead of per credit. This means you can take as many classes as you want during a term without adding to your cost. There are also grants, scholarships, and federal aid opportunities that help you make college even more affordable. Our goal is to remove barriers so any student who wants to pursue higher education has that chance. That's why we work hard to keep our tuition costs low and offer many options to help students pay for college.
Regular Support
WGU isn't like a traditional school when it comes to faculty either. You will be assigned a Program Mentor who will work with you from the day you enroll to the day you graduate. They will help you map out your courses, answer any questions you have, and ensure you're making progress toward your degree. Our Course Instructors also work with you one-on-one to answer questions about a specific class. They are experts in their fields who are dedicated to helping you succeed.
Support for All Kinds of Students
Are you a single parent? In the military? A full-time employee? Whatever your situation is, WGU is designed to work for your life. Our flexible and affordable degree programs give you options, letting you work school into your busy schedule. We work with a variety of learners with specific programs including:
- Military support
- Employer partnerships
- Scholarships for diverse learners
- Flexible scheduling
- Federal financial aid
“Going back to school wasn’t easy, but I knew my WGU degree would open doors I wanted to walk through. Looking back, it was the best choice I could’ve made.” Spencer Wade
WGU graduate
Graduation Is Just the Beginning
When you graduate from WGU, your journey is really just beginning! While it's valuable to know how you will learn while you're in school, it's also valuable to understand what life will look like after graduation. Student debt, salary increases, career opportunities, networking, and alumni connections are all important elements of graduating from college. As you become a WGU student, you can start looking forward to graduation and know what to expect with your diploma in hand.
Our Mascot: Sage the Night Owl
WGU may not have sports teams, but we still have a mascot. There are lots of reasons WGU students are known as Night Owls: wisdom, persistence, and often an atypical schedule with "get stuff done" penciled in at odd hours of the day.
Not all Night Owls are night owls, but they’re all committed to doing whatever it takes to succeed in their academic and professional goals.
Four online colleges. 60+ flexible degree program options. One highly respected national university.
Our commitment to your success starts with our focus on four high-demand fields: K–12 teaching and education, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and business. Every degree program at WGU is designed to fit a high-growth, highly rewarding career path. Which college fits you?
What degrees does WGU have to offer? View all our online college degree programs.