WGU Washington Partners with Holland America

For many working adults, getting to a brick-and-mortar campus in time for class is hard enough. Now imagine earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree while working on a cruise ship! For many employees of the Holland America Group – the organization best known for its leisure cruise lines, including Holland America Lines and Princess Cruises – online programs are the only option to achieve their education goals. 

For that reason, Holland America Group and WGU Washington have formed a strategic partnership. That partnership provides Holland America Group employees with access to high-quality educational programs aligned with current workforce needs. Furthermore, those employees can apply for exclusive scholarship opportunities provided by the online, nonprofit university. 

WGU Washington’s degree programs are developed in consultation with the nation’s top employers to ensure its graduates are trained to meet the demands of the 21st-century economy. The university offers career-ready bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business, IT, health professions, and teaching. The degree programs – plus WGU Washington’s innovative learning model – are well-suited and purposeful to the career development of Holland America Group employees.  

“The Holland America Group employs roughly 2,000 women and men here in Washington state and 5,000 total worldwide,” said Jeanie Belcher, manager of strategic partnerships at WGU Washington. “For those who want to advance in their careers, WGU Washington is a great option. Students can learn at their own pace and anywhere there is internet access – even on a cruise ship.”  

Designed to meet the needs of working adults, WGU Washington’s competency-based learning model makes it possible for students to fit studying into their busy lives. While the university’s online programs are rigorous and challenging, students can earn in-demand degrees without sacrificing work, family, and financial obligations. Students complete courses as soon as they demonstrate they have mastered the materials, enabling them to move quickly through material they already know and spend more time on what they still need to learn. 

As a result, many students accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money – the average time to complete a bachelor’s degree is about two and half years. WGU Washington’s tuition is charged at a flat rate each term and covers all coursework completed in that time.