Western Governors University

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About

Western Governors University

What They're Known For:

WGU is a private, nonprofit, online university founded by 19 U.S. governors to expand access to quality online education. WGU offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in high-demand career fields, including education, business, health professions, and information technology.

Featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in their "What Works" segment, WGU is the recipient of the USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2011, awarded in recognition of their success in expanding access to higher education.

Unique Opportunities:

WGU’s distinctive, competency-based approach to education measures your learning, giving you the flexibility to personalize your degree program (and be rewarded for your skills, knowledge, and prior work experience).

You pay affordable tuition at a flat rate per six-month term, so the faster you finish your courses, the more money you can save!
You, like every WGU student, will be paired with a dedicated faculty mentor to answer your questions, give you advice, and help you develop your personalized Degree Plan.
Your Degree Plan maps out the details of your program, outlines the courses and learning resources you’ll be taking and utilizing, and takes into account your existing competencies.

Why We Love WGU:

WGU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
The university’s Teachers College is the first exclusively online teacher education institution to receive accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
WGU’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, 202-887-6791).
The university has won the United States Distance Learning Association’s 21^st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning in three out of the last four years.

Accreditation

Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU's "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

WGU's Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.

Financial Aid

WGU was one of the first institutions selected by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal financial aid to distance education students. Aid includes federal Pell Grants and both subsidized and unsubsidized federal Direct Student Loans.

Program Listings

General Information

Facts & Figures

Institutional Accrediting Agency:

Northwest Association of Schools and of Colleges and Universities, Commission on Colleges and Universities
Institution Type:

Private, not-for-profit, Higher Education
Calendar Type:

WGU programs are based on six-month terms (not traditional semesters). New students may begin their program on the first day of any month.
Delivery Format:

As a WGU student, you will prepare for your assessments by accessing online learning resources, studying independently, or using other alternative methods of learning.
Carnegie Classification:

Baccalaureate College—General
Technical Requirements:

Minimum: Windows--Pentium II 266 MHz with 64MB RAM, 800x600 monitor with 256 colors, 56Kb TCP/IP Internet connection, Microsoft Windows 98, 98 SE, ME; Macintosh--PowerPC with 32MB RAM, Mac OS 8.1 or later, 56Kb (or better) TCP/IP Internet connection.
Geographic Restrictions:

WGU only accepts inquiries and applications from individuals living in the U.S., Guam, and from U.S. military personnel and their spouses at overseas installations.
On-Campus Requirement:

Programs are delivered online and there are no on-campus requirements. However, students in teacher certification programs must complete their teaching practicum in a real K-12 classroom in their geographic area, working with real students.
Loans Offered:

WGU was one of the first institutions selected by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal financial aid to distance education students. Aid includes federal Pell Grants and both subsidized and unsubsidized federal Direct Student Loans.
Registration Details:

Enrollment Counselors are available to answer questions and provide assistance with the application process. They may be reached by clicking the "Request Information" button and completing the Information Request form.

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Western Governors University

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