Affordable Accredited Online University | WGU Tuition and Fees

Tuition that’s affordable

Pay for the Time, Not the Courses.

WGU charges tuition at a flat rate every term. A WGU term is six months in length and can begin on the first of any month. Unlike other schools, you aren’t charged per course or per credit.

Tuition Rates and Fees:

As of May 1, 2009

Nursing Programs (MSN and BSN):
B.S. Nursing (Prelicensure):
MBA Programs:
Business Bachelor’s Programs:
IT Bachelor’s Programs:
All Teachers College Programs:
Library Fee:
Application Fee:

$3,250 per term
$4,250 per term
$3,250 per term
$2,890 per term
$2,890 per term
$2,890 per term
$45 per term
$65

NOTE: WGU does not “profit” from application fees, as they help offset only a small portion of enrollment and admissions costs.

Special Fees:

(apply to select programs)

Science Lab Fee: $350 (one time)
Individuals pursuing either of the science bachelor’s degrees or science master’s degrees that require a home science lab will be assessed this one-time charge (billed separately along with the first term’s tuition).
Consolidated Nursing Program Fee: $350 (one time)
Individuals pursuing a nursing degree will be assessed a one-time charge (billed separately along with the first term's tuition).
Demonstration Teaching (standard): $1,000
Individuals in a Teachers College program that includes student teaching must pay a $100 application fee, plus a $900 demonstration teaching fee prior to their in-classroom teaching practicum.
Internship Teaching Model: $1,900 (one time)
Individuals in a Teachers College program that includes student teaching will be assessed a one-time charge for the Demonstration Teaching fee, either the standard fee or the Internship Model fee. The Internship Model fee applies only to those individuals who will student teach under the internship model for an entire school year.
Educational Leadership Practicum: $1,000 (one time)
Individuals pursuing the M.S. in Educational Leadership will be assessed this one-time fee in their last term as they complete their practicum experience.

How Tuition Works

WGU treats all students as "full-time" and charges tuition at a flat rate regardless of the number of competency units (credit equivalents) attempted or completed by the student. The "standard term" is based upon a full-time enrollment of at least 12 competency units for undergraduate (bachelor’s) students and 8 competency units for graduate (master’s) students. Students who complete more or fewer units are charged the same tuition rates (see above).

Tuition covers:

All coursework attempted and completed, as well as learning resources, excluding textbooks, which are scheduled in the student’s personalized Academic Action Plan (AAP).
All assessments (subject to guidelines for individual assessments and the number of "re-takes" allowed).
An in-depth introduction to distance and competency-based learning: WGU’s introductory assessment called Education Without Boundaries (EWB).
Ongoing advising from a dedicated mentor.

Note: Tuition does not cover the cost of textbooks or select other materials required for courses.

When and How to Pay Tuition

For students who plan to pay for tuition themselves (self pay), payments or payment arrangements must be completed and received by the Bursar’s Office by:

New students for first term tuition: 25th day of the month prior to program start date.
Renewal term tuition: 1st day of the new term.
Two-Payment Plan: Must be arranged and confirmed by the Bursar’s office. First payment must be at least one half of regular tuition and fees, plus full convenience fee, plus any select fees such as Science Lab fee or Nursing Program fee, etc. applicable to your program. This payment option also requires a signed WGU Tuition Installment Agreement (TIA). Agreements may be requested from the Bursar’s office. Please contact the Bursar’s office for additional information. The second installment is due by the 1st day of the 4th month of the term. Only students not using financial aid are eligible to use this payment arrangement.

Note: The two payment plan can only be used by self-paying students.

Paying with Financial Aid

If you wish to use federal financial aid to cover your tuition obligations, it is your responsibility to apply for financial aid and submit all forms required by the Financial Aid Office and to be aware of the following deadlines for submission:

Financial Aid: The Financial Aid Application Process for first-term financial aid students must be completed no later than the 25^th of the month prior to program start date.
Renewal term financial aid students: The process must be completed by the 30th day of the term.

To learn more about the financial aid process, visit the Financial Aid section.

Payment Methods

WGU accepts cash, checks, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express), and check by phone payments at no additional cost to the student. WGU does not accept post-dated checks. WGU will not hold any check for deposit past the date of the receipt of the check. WGU will not be responsible for any bank fees associated with the deposit of said check.

WGU Financial Policy
Please read all about WGU’s financial policies.

Consumer Information

Answers to your questions
Click a question, see the answer below.

When do new terms begin?
Is tuition refundable if I withdraw?

When do new terms begin?

New terms begin on roughly the first day of every month (some exceptions apply) for most programs. After you have applied and been accepted for admission, you must complete an Intake Interview—generally by the 15^th of the month prior to when you plan to start. You’ll also be required to make arrangements to pay your first term’s tuition (either self-pay or through financial aid) by the 25^th of the month prior to when you plan to start. An Enrollment Counselor can help you complete the admission process.