Juggling Life and School

Working full-time shouldn't keep you from earning a valuable degree. In fact, in 2020, 70% of our enrolled students worked full-time. Here's how WGU makes it possible: 

• A flexible schedule means you don't have to log in to class at a certain time, allowing you to maintain your current work schedule.
• Flexibility also means you can be a full-time student and a full-time employee. You shouldn't have to choose between meeting your financial needs and investing in yourself. We make it possible for you to keep working and earning money while earning your degree.
• Competency-based education means you can use experience and knowledge from your current job to advance through material you know, letting you graduate more quickly.
• Since you're working full-time, it's easy to apply what you're learning in your courses to your daily work. Use the new skills you acquire right away instead of waiting until you graduate.
• Program Mentors listen to and understand your needs to help you balance work and school and stay on track to graduate in a timely manner.

Parenting or caring for other family members is a full-time job. Whether you're a single parent, a stay-at-home parent, a working parent, a caregiver to your own parents, or living with other loved ones, WGU is built around your needs. Here's how we make it easier to balance school with family responsibilities: 

• A flexible schedule means you can take the kids to school, check in on an aging parent, or schedule needed medical appointments. You're free to do coursework on a schedule that works for your family.
• Cohorts of other parents and caregivers help you feel motivated and give tips and strategies for success.
• Competency-based education lets you accelerate through courses using your existing experience and knowledge, enabling you to graduate sooner so you can spend time with your family members or handle daily challenges that arise.
• Program Mentors understand your family's needs and help you stay on track to graduate while ensuring you are able to take time off when needed.

Personal and family health come first. In addition to helping you maintain your mental health while handling your course load, we also understand any current health challenges and work to accommodate them. Here's how: 

• A flexible schedule means you can go to the doctor or to treatment appointments. Our course format means you don't have to log in to class at a certain time.
• We make it easy to take time off to address your health needs. Complete your work on your own time without needing to make special arrangements.
• Your personal Program Mentor works individually with you to understand your health needs and ensure your education fits with your life.
• Affordable tuition and scholarships lessen the financial strain so you can have enough funds to deal with current and future health expenses.

Your personal life is important, and it's different than anyone else's. We understand that each student has different circumstances and give you the autonomy to pursue personal interests, take care of family, and find time for yourself. Here's how a WGU education gives you the autonomy to complete coursework whenever works for you:

• A flexible schedule lets you take personal time whenever needed. See a movie during the day and work late at night. Total flexibility puts you in charge of your schedule.
• Competency-based education enables you to accelerate through courses where you already know the material, allowing you to finish your degree more quickly and spend time enjoying what matters most in your life.
• Online programs are accessible anywhere you have internet access. This frees you up to travel and do what you want with your time.

Service members, veterans, and their families always have a place at WGU. We make it easy to work around rigorous military schedules and responsibilities. Here's how we do it:

• Military members can qualify for specific tuition benefits and scholarships that supplement our already-affordable tuition.
• A flexible schedule means your education can evolve around your military routine. We know how busy and ever-changing a service member's schedule can be, and our model lets you focus on your important work instead of worrying about logging in at a specific time.
  
• Online education means you can work anywhere you have internet access. If you're transferred or deployed, it's still possible to work on your schooling.
• Competency-based education lets you advance in your coursework. Use the skills and understanding you possess to finish your degree more quickly.
• Our flexible programs and part-time options make a WGU education convenient for service members, veterans, and spouses—that's why we've been designated as a top Military Friendly® university year after year. 

Do you work hard to make ends meet, but lack funds to focus on your own education? We know how hard you work and we focus on making quality education affordable for all. Here's how we put a degree within reach: 

• Tuition is charged per six-month term instead of per credit. This means you can take as many courses as you want in a term, at a term rate you know beforehand.
• Competency-based education lets you use your knowledge to move through courses faster, ultimately saving you money. 
• We offer many financial aid opportunities, scholarships, and grants to help you afford a valuable degree. In 2020, we offered $19.8 million in needs-based scholarships.
• During the pandemic, our graduates were five times less likely than bachelor's degree holders nationally to have been permanently let go from their jobs.