VA and Military

One of the "Top 20 Military Friendly" schools

WGU was honored as a “Top 20 Military Friendly School” for 2008 by Advanced Military Education Magazine.

GI Bill Benefits

Western Governors University offers online degree programs approved for Veterans Administration (VA) education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill. Reserve and National Guard members may be entitled to education benefits under the GI Bill for Reserve and Guard Members.

Eligibility for benefits and the amounts available depend upon the veteran’s period of military service, years of services, and other factors. To determine your own eligibility, visit the Veterans Affairs website at www.gibill.va.gov.

Because WGU’s tuition rates are quite modest, veterans will generally be eligible for benefits that more than cover the full cost of tuition, fees, and books..

After you are admitted to WGU, your Enrollment Counselor can direct you to WGU’s VA department for specific instructions on completing the necessary paperwork.

Tuition Assistance

The competency-based degree programs at WGU are approved for Tuition Assistance for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard servicepersons. This approval was granted after a rigorous review by the Department of Defense that affirms the substantive quality of WGU programs and the comparability of WGU’s competency units to traditional credits.

Military personnel may apply for Tuition Assistance through their base education office or other standard methods. (Click here if you are a base education officer.) A WGU Enrollment Counselor or the WGU VA department can help explain the process.

Learn more about how WGU serves the military student through Tuition Assistance.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

Western Governors University is proud to work in conjunction with the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program which provides up to $6,000 in financial assistance for military spouses of active duty and activated Guard and Reserve service members. This assistance can be used in preparation for and development of a career in a high-growth, high-demand “portable” field.

• Licensing fees
• Certification fees
• Tuition for education programs (including master’s degrees)

Click here to learn more about Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts

Scholarships

WGU offers a variety of scholarships specifically designed for active-duty military personnel and military veterans, as well as spouses of military personnel. Click here to learn more about military-specific scholarships.

Current Eligible Programs for GI Bill and VA Benefits

Teachers College:

• B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
• B.A. Special Education (PK-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)
• B.A. Social Science (5-12)
• Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Prep (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
• M.A. Teaching, Science (5-9)
• M.A. Teaching, Social Science
• M.A. Mathematics Education
• M.A. Science Education (5-9)
• M.A. Science Education (Chemistry, 5-12)
• M.A. Science Education (Physics, 5-12)
• M.A. Science Education (Biological Sciences, 5-12)
• M.A. Science Education (Geosciences, 5-12)
• M.A. English Language Learning/English as a Second Language
• M.S. Educational Leadership
• M.S. Special Education
• M.Ed. Learning and Technology
• M.Ed. Measurement and Evaluation
• M.Ed. Instructional Design
• Endorsement Preparation Program in English Language Learning (ELL/ESL) (PK-12)

College of Business:

• B.S. Business Management
• B.S. Business—Human Resource Management
• B.S. Marketing Management
• B.S. Accounting
• B.S. Finance
• Master of Business Administration
• M.B.A. Information Technology Management
• M.B.A. Healthcare Management
• M.B.A. Strategic Leadership

College of Information Technology:

• B.S. Information Technology
• B.S. Information Technology—Networks Administration
• B.S. Information Technology—Networks Design and Management
• B.S. Information Technology—Databases
• B.S. Information Technology—Security
• B.S. Information Technology—Software
• M.S. Information Security and Assurance

College of Health Professions:

• B.S. Health Informatics
• B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN)
• M.S. Nursing—Education
• M.S. Nursing—Leadership and Management

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

• Will I qualify for full-time or ¾-time VA benefits?
• Can I also get financial aid?
• How quickly can I get my VA money?
• Will I get credit for my military experience?

Will I qualify for full-time or ¾-time VA benefits?

The GI Bill is very generous for WGU students. As a WGU student, you may choose to qualify for either full-time, 3/4-time, or half-time benefits in an undergraduate program. (Half-time benefits are considered to be 12 competency units, a standard full-time load for undergraduate students at WGU.) You can vary your attendance time from term to term. Graduate students will always qualify for full-time benefits.

Can I also get financial aid?

Maybe. You can apply for federal financial aid, but the amount of your federal aid award will be influenced by any military benefits you receive. It may be possible for you to apply for and receive a Pell Grant. The WGU Financial Aid Office will just need to know if you apply for or have been awarded VA education benefits. Click here to learn more about or apply for financial aid.

How quickly can I get my VA money?

After you have started your degree program and developed your personalized Academic Action Plan (AAP), the VA department at WGU will certify your program of study to the VA. Within 3-6 weeks, you should begin receiving monthly benefit payments paid directly to you. But first, you must apply to WGU and be admitted. And you will need to have received notice of your VA education benefit eligibility. WGU’s VA department can help you complete the necessary steps for attendance certification.

Will I get credit for my military experience?

WGU does not award traditional “credits” directly for military experience, but an incoming student may have certain requirements waived when the military experience has been ACE-reviewed and applied directly to the WGU degree program. WGU can also waive requirements based upon DANTES and CLEP exams that match with WGU program requirements and meet minimum grading standards. A transcript review is required to determine exactly what can be waived. More importantly, everything you’ve learned that’s relevant to your degree program can potentially help you accelerate your degree. Talk to an Enrollment Counselor to get a detailed explanation.