WGU-AMEX Excellence in Education Scholarships
WGU is pleased to offer the WGU-AMEX Excellence in Education Scholarship. These scholarships, each valued up to $5,000, are designed to help teachers and those looking to become licensed teachers living in San Juan or Tooele County (Utah). Teachers who work in schools with a high “refugee” enrollment in Salt Lake County are also eligible.
These scholarships are made available through a generous grant from the American Express Center for Community Development.
Who the Scholarship is for
This scholarship is for:
- Those enrolling in teachers degrees who live in Tooele or San Juan County (Utah).
- Teachers who work in schools with a high “refugee” enrollment in Salt Lake County (Utah).
Who is considered a Refugee?
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for this scholarship, students must:
- Meet the minimum residence or political “refugee” status requirements.
- Show proof of earning a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or DETC-accredited institution.
- Complete an application for admission.
- Submit official transcripts of all prior college work.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Be officially admitted to WGU.
- 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, readiness for online study at WGU, and current competency, plus other considerations.
NOTE: This scholarship is designed for new WGU students only. Students are eligible to apply for these scholarships during the enrollment process and up to 60 days after starting a degree program. WGU employees and their spouses are not eligible to receive this scholarship.
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, which do not have to be repaid, are granted based upon financial need. Federal Direct Student Loans are available to all students. Subsidized loans, which are dependent on financial need, reduce the interest due on loans.
Click here to learn more about financial aid.
Scholarship Value: $5,000 maximum
This scholarship will be credited to your account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to five terms.
Tuition for a six-month term is $2,890, less the $1,000 per term scholarship.
Eligible Programs
- B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- B.A. Early Childhood Education
- B.A. Special Education (K-12)
- B.A. Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- B.A. Science (5-9)
- B.A. Science (Chemistry, 5-12)
- B.A. Science (Physics, 5-12)
- B.A. Science (Biological Sciences (5-12)
- B.A. Science (Geosciences, 5-12)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Prep, Elem Ed (K-8)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Prep, Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Prep, Science (5-9 or 5-12)
- Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Prep, Social Science (5-12)
- M.A. Teaching (K-8)
- M.A. Teaching, Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- M.A. Teaching, Science (5-9 or 5-12)
- M.A. Teaching, Social Science (5-12)
For already-licensed teachers:
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.
Note: Before you can apply for this scholarship, you must first apply for admission.
About the Scholarship
The WGU-AMEX Excellence in Education Scholarship is designed to help teachers who live in the San Juan (Utah) or Toole County school districts or those who meet “refugee” status living in Salt Lake County earn degrees in education. 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.
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.
Note: Before you can apply for this scholarship, you must first apply for admission.
Answers to your questions
Click a question, see the answer below.
- How do you select scholarship winners?
- When will I find out if I’m selected?
- Do I get the scholarship all at once?
- Can I also apply for financial aid?
How do you select scholarship winners?
It depends upon the scholarship. In general, we award scholarships based on the
following factors:
- Meeting the basic eligibility requirements
- Answers you give on the scholarship application
- An interview with a scholarship counselor
Some scholarships are also based upon evaluations of prior college transcripts and
other tests. We encourage you to apply.
When will I find out if I’m selected?
WGU evaluates scholarship applications on a continual basis because we start new students in their programs every month. Often we are able to make an award decision within two to four weeks of receiving your application. In most cases, you will also need to have applied for admission and been accepted to the university. An
Enrollment Counselor can help explain the process.
Do I get the scholarship all at once?
No. Scholarship awards are divided into a set amount per term. This amount is credited against your tuition due for each term. The details are explained in the description for each scholarship.
Can I also apply for financial aid?
Yes. You probably should apply for federal financial aid, too. Scholarship awards will only cover a portion of your school expenses, and financial aid can help pay for the rest. You can apply for financial aid while you are waiting for a decision about your scholarship application. It will not hurt your chances to win a scholarship. Click here to learn more about or apply
for financial aid.
