The world’s most student-centric university.
Bridging the gap between talent and opportunity.
Here at WGU, we believe that talent is universal—even if opportunity isn’t. Higher education is the best way to bridge that gap, but traditional higher ed wasn't built for the realities facing many of today’s students. So we created a university focused on expanding access to education around the country. We've innovated with students in mind, giving them the flexibility and freedom they need to succeed in today’s workplace.
We’re the first university where all bachelor’s and master’s degrees are competency-based, with online courses designed in partnership with leading employers. We’re nonprofit, driven entirely by a mission to serve students—in fact, it’s right there in our name. We’re called Western Governors University because we were created by a group of U.S. governors, an innovative solution to their states’ demand for high-quality, outcomes-oriented higher education.
Our promise.
We help our students achieve their dreams for a degree and career success by providing a personal, flexible, and affordable education based on real-world competencies.
Satisfied students, successful grads: It's our purpose.
WGU exists to change lives. By bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, we make it possible for today’s worker to also be today’s learner—and tomorrow’s success story. Stories like these:
2019 Annual Report
See what kind of marks we received, how we compare, and how we are working to help bridge the gap between talent and access to opportunity.
An accredited university that fosters successful grads.
When it comes to choosing a university, accreditation is crucial. Our regional accreditation (the gold standard in higher education) assures you of the quality and transferability of our degree programs. Additional program-specific accreditations add to our respect in the industries where our alumni work.
WGU pioneered competency-based learning—and it’s redefining higher education.
We were designed to break the mold of traditional higher education with something new, something innovative: something that harnesses technology to teach in new ways, focuses on measuring learning rather than time, and provides more Americans the opportunity to build their careers and better their lives by finally finishing that bachelor's or master's degree they need to achieve their goals.
"WGU gives students the ability to really assemble the complete package, from the subject matter to the specific skills to the certification that gives employers confidence when they're making a hiring decision." Brad Smith
President and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft
Respect and recognition.
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, your degree benefits from the added clout of their endorsement. WGU is a pioneer in higher education for the 21st century, and the organizations below—along with many others—have taken notice. Click or tap the logos to reveal more.
Supporting students is our faculty's #1 job.
Supportive
Our faculty members have one focus: the individual student. Your needs, your questions, your goals. Instead of spending their time lecturing, they spend their time helping you learn the material and reach full competency.
Experienced
Our faculty members are seasoned professionals in the online courses they instruct. They know their industries, and their knowledge is more than just academic: It’s practical.
Focused
As one of the best online colleges, WGU’s faculty don't wear many hats, and structured in a way that allows them to really focus on student success. Program Mentors instruct students throughout their programs. Course Instructors are subject-matter experts on specific topics. Curriculum development, assessment evaluation, and other faculty roles are handled by other specialized faculty members.
What we're up to.
The Atlantic celebrates "A College without Classes."
Competency-based education is changing the way students think about education in the 21st century—and WGU pioneered it more than two decades ago. The Atlantic takes a look at how this innovation is improving opportunities for more students.
WGU's uniquely supportive faculty model scores high.
The Chronicle of Higher Education examines WGU's track record of extraordinarily high marks for providing students with personalized faculty support and the way WGU "connects students and mentors with surprising success."
Changing higher ed by changing individual lives.
"Disruptive innovation" is all about rethinking the way we've always done things—and offering something better. LinkedIn observes that WGU is doing that in the higher education industry by "helping people disrupt themselves."
Four distinct colleges, one university.
All of our degree programs are carefully chosen with employment and success in mind. Our special model of online learning is designed for the working adult, and our commitment to keep costs down means better ROI for our graduates.
