Twenty years ago, we created an online university just for you.
Surprisingly Affordable
Graduate with less student debt—or none at all1.
By going faster, you save even more.
Student Obsessed
Personalized, one-on-one faculty support.
Online college education to fit modern life.
Unmatched Results
98% employer satisfaction with WGU grads2.
A degree that can pay for itself faster3.
Women in Leadership Scholarships: Apply by June 30.
True leaders don't wait for opportunity to come knocking. A degree from WGU can empower the leader in you to knock on opportunity's door. And with millions of dollars in scholarships available—including, for a limited time, our Women in Leadership Scholarships—you have the key. Come on in!
Accredited. Recognized. Respected.
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities first accredited WGU in 2003 and reaffirmed our accreditation in 2016, noting WGU's “institution-wide focus on helping students succeed.” NWCCU provides accreditation for major institutions like the University of Washington, University of Oregon, Gonzaga University, University of Utah, and Brigham Young University, to name a few.
University Research & Review has named WGU a Best Value School four years running, saying: “Every adult considering enrolling in an online degree program should take a close look at WGU, one of the most innovative schools we’ve seen. This is a school for those who are focused on attaining a respected credential and are willing to dive in and go get it.”
WGU's Teachers College degree programs are accredited by NCATE (CAEP), the premier specialized accrediting body for teacher preparation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It accredits colleges of education that produce more than two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher graduates annually.
The bachelor’s and master’s nursing degree programs at WGU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington, DC 20036, 202-887-6791).
WGU's College of Business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), a leading specialized accreditation association for business education. ACBSP accredits business, accounting, and business-related programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master, and doctorate degree levels worldwide.
“I’m impressed by the results in places like Western Governors University. Its low-cost online programs rely on competency-based progression, not class time or credit hours.”
—Bill Gates, Microsoft Founder
The Ellen DeGeneres Show surprises future WGU student.
Jordan is an outstanding 1st-grade teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina. She really, really wants to go back to school for her master’s degree so she can become an even more outstanding educator—but still buried in undergraduate student debt, her dream has seemed out of reach.
Jordan was recently an audience member on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, where Ellen and WGU gave her the surprise of a lifetime. The Ellen DeGeneres Show also helped spread the word about WGU's Women in Leadership Scholarship!
Watch Jordan on The Ellen DeGeneres Show >
Read more about Jordan’s story >
Join 97,771 students across America.
Four online colleges. 60+ flexible degree programs. One highly respected national university.
Our commitment to your success starts with our focus on four high-demand fields: K–12 teaching and education, nursing and healthcare, information technology, and business. Every degree program at WGU is designed to fit a high-growth, highly rewarding career path. Which college fits you?
What degrees does WGU have to offer? View all our online college degree programs.
Next Available Start Date
Jul 1
Start the 1st of any month—as soon as you complete enrollment!
Apply FREE this weekOur online college degree programs start on the first of every month, all year long.
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
¹ Since the launch of WGU's Responsible Borrowing Initiative in 2013, average borrowing per WGU student has decreased by more than 40%. Undergraduate students at WGU graduate with less than half the debt of the national average.
2 In a 2017 Harris Poll survey of 301 employers of WGU graduates, 98% said their WGU grads meet or exceed expectations; 91% said "exceed."
3 WGU graduates, on average, increase their annual income by $10,100 within two years of graduation. With an average cost of $15,000 for a bachelor's degree, the average return on investment for a WGU degree is less than two years. Source: 2017 Harris Poll Online survey.