AARP Foundation - WGU Educational Assistance Program
Western Governors University and the AARP Foundation are proud to offer the AARP Foundation—WGU Educational Assistance Program. This program offers scholarships valued up to $5,000 that are designed to help individuals attend college online to earn their degree and improve their education and opportunities for employment.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this scholarship, students must:
- Be age 40 or older (at the time of application).
- Complete an application for admission.
- Submit official transcripts of all prior college work. (The best candidates will be able to demonstrate that they have obtained the equivalent of 2 years of completed college experience.)
- Be officially admitted to WGU.
- Be able to demonstrate financial need. Each applicant’s financial situation will be reviewed individually. This will require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Interview with a WGU Scholarship Counselor prior to award decision.
Multiple scholarships will be awarded. However, this is a competitive program and scholarships will be awarded based upon a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency, plus other considerations.
NOTE: This scholarship is designed for new students only.
Financial Aid is Also Available
You may choose to pay for the remaining portion of your degree through federal financial aid (subject to your eligibility). Pell Grants are needs-based grants—meaning you do not have to pay them back—that are available only to students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree.
Federal Family Education Subsidized Loans, which are also needs-based, include subsidization of the interest while you are enrolled. Federal Family Education Unsubsidized Loans are NOT based upon financial need and are available to most WGU students.
Click here to learn more about financial aid.
Scholarship Policies
Before monies are distributed, the scholarship recipients must read the WGU Student Handbook and agree to and understand the academic progress, tuition, and refund policies. The student will also be required to sign a WGU Scholarship Agreement before monies will be awarded. The student must also meet the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements to maintain scholarship eligibility.
Scholarship Value: $5,000 maximum
This scholarship will be credited to your account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month, renewable for up to five terms.
Tuition for a six-month term is $2,890, less the $1,000 per term scholarship.
Eligible Programs
Programs for aspiring teachers looking for initial teacher licensure:
College of Information Technology Programs:
College of Business Programs:
College of Health Professions Programs:
About the Scholarship
An AARP Foundation—WGU Educational Assistance Program scholarship is designed to help individuals attend college online to earn their degree and improve their education and opportunities for employment. Although WGU’s competency-based approach makes it possible for students to accelerate the time it takes for them to complete their degree program, the scholarship awards are based on a reasonable experience of five six-month terms for completion. Actual time to completion will depend upon the incoming student’s prior experience, academic background, and time commitment to study.
Note: The scholarship will terminate at five terms if the student has not completed the degree program by then; If the student finishes in less than five terms, the scholarship will terminate and remaining funds will go toward scholarships for other students.
About the AARP Foundation
The AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Foundation programs provide security, protection, and empowerment for older persons in need, with a particular focus on women and people of color. Low-income older workers receive the job training and placement they need to re-join the workforce. Free tax preparation is provided for low- and moderate-income individuals, with special attention to those 60 and older. The Foundation’s litigation staff protects the legal rights of older Americans in critical health, long-term care, consumer, and employment situations. Additional programs provide information, education and services to ensure that people over 50 lead lives of independence, dignity, and purpose. Foundation programs are funded by grants, tax-deductible contributions, and the AARP. If you are an older (40+) worker, the AARP Foundation may have resources to help you with your job search. Click here for more information:
www.aarpworksearch.org
If you would like to discuss the scholarship program or WGU’s degrees before submitting an application for this scholarship, feel free to speak to an Enrollment Counselor toll-free at 1-866-225-5948.
Answers to your questions
Click a question, see the answer below.
- What can you tell me about WGU?
- What is WGU’s competency-based approach to education?
- Is WGU flexible?
What can you tell me about WGU?
Western Governors University is a regionally and nationally accredited non-profit university founded and supported by 19 U.S. governors and more than 20 corporations and foundations. The university awards degrees based completely on competencies—your ability to demonstrate your skills and knowledge on a series of assessments carefully selected to measure your knowledge on a field of study—rather than through required courses. At WGU you can—
- Obtain your degree online—from nearly any location.
- Use your prior work and academic experience to complete your assessments faster and accelerate your degree program.
- Study at times and places convenient to you—there are no classrooms or fixed course schedules.
Speak to an
Enrollment Counselor to learn more.
What is WGU’s competency-based approach to education?
WGU’s rigorous approach to education is ideally suited to self-directed learners anxious to advance their education and careers efficiently. Unlike traditional and even other online universities, WGU doesn’t award degrees based on seat time or on a certain number of required courses. Instead, you earn your degree by demonstrating your competence in your field. Through independent study, learning resources, and carefully designed assessments, you learn and master essential skills and knowledge necessary for success. Assessments take the form of essays, exams, research papers, and an assortment of projects, the majority of which can be completed online.
WGU’s competency-based approach measures your progress through successful completion of challenging assessments. If you have existing competencies from prior work and education, you may be able to draw upon this experience to complete your assessments faster and accelerate your degree program, saving you time and money.
Is WGU flexible?
If your schedule demands flexibility, WGU is for you. In most cases, you will access learning resources or study independently at the time and place you choose. You can progress at a pace that enables you to earn a college degree while managing career, family, and life’s other challenges. The competency-based approach allows for extensive personalization of your program to fit around your buys schedule.
When you become a student, you’ll study under the guidance of a dedicated mentor who will work with and support you from enrollment to graduation. Together, you and your mentor will develop your personalized Academic Action Plan—a roadmap and schedule for successfully completing your program.
