WGU’s Impact in Tennessee Over the Past 12 Years
Twelve years ago, in July of 2013, I watched then-Governor Bill Haslam sign a memorandum of understanding that solidified Western Governors University’s strong partnership with the state of Tennessee through official recognition. This formalized relationship provided the foundation for rapid growth in enrollment among Tennesseans, which continues to this day.
Haslam’s goal for Tennessee was the same as the 19 governors that started WGU in 1997: to fill workforce needs and achieve a more educated workforce for their states.
Before we had an office in Tennessee, WGU’s official presence in the state was basically me and my Honda Civic. I would drive from Johnson City to Memphis, introducing WGU to employers, school systems, civic groups and anyone else who would listen. In that first year I added nearly 30,000 miles on my sedan’s odometer spreading the word.
In the early years of WGU in Tennessee, online learning was still met with skepticism. As the world has turned to a more digital age, especially after the pandemic, online education has become commonplace. Today our enrollment of more than 5,600 active students in Tennessee would make us the equivalent of the fourth-largest private university in the state.
As our nonprofit, online university has grown in the Volunteer State over the past dozen years, I’m proud to reflect on the impact it’s made on the state’s workforce.
Governor Bill Haslam sign a memorandum of understanding officially establishing Western Governors University in the state of Tennessee in July of 2013
WGU’s focus on degree programs in health care, business, education and technology continue to help fill growing needs in Tennessee's workforce.
We’ve developed partnerships across the state with employers to help their workers go back to school, become leaders and get promoted. We’ve also partnered with all 13 Tennessee community colleges to provide a great second step for those earning an associate degree.
We’ve awarded more than 13,500 degrees to more than 12,000 graduates in Tennessee alone, including more than 4,100 degrees in education and 3,300 degrees in healthcare. Our competency-based education model allowed many of these students to balance earning their degree with managing a full-time job or raising a family.
Seventy-five percent of WGU graduates nationwide say they gained job-relevant skills as part of their studies, according to the 2024 Gallup Alumni Survey. The 2024 Harris Poll Employers Study shows 94% of employers surveyed say WGU graduates met or exceeded their expectations.
Harris Poll also shows WGU alumni across the country who graduated with a bachelor’s degree report an average income increase of nearly $22,000 just two years after graduating and incur significantly less debt than the national average.
Governor Haslam’s one-time, $5 million investment in WGU back in 2013 has turned into more than $9.4 million in scholarships distributed across Tennessee, nearly doubling the original outlay.
However, there is still much work to do. According to the Tennessee Hospital Association, the state faces a shortfall of 8,500 registered nurses through 2035. As the school year begins, Tennessee is also facing a shortage of more than 1,400 teaching positions across the state. WGU can help upskill adults to meet these workforce needs, especially in rural areas.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on achieving a more educated workforce to better meet the needs of the state of Tennessee. We’re launching new degrees and certificate programs as industries change and career focuses shift. WGU recently acquired Nashville-based Craft Education, a technology platform that integrates work-based learning experiences to expand degree apprenticeship programs
In the next 12 years and beyond, we will strive to increase our impact in Tennessee and always continue innovating to better serve our students and local employers.
