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DEGREES & PROGRAMS

Online Degrees From an Accredited University, in Less Time

An Online School Built for Students Like You

WGU is an online school with career-aligned bachelor's and master's degrees in—IT, teaching, business, and healthcare—designed to help working professionals fit an online university education into their busy lives. Find the degree that's the perfect fit for you.

WGU College of Business

Expand your skill set for the 21st century with a respected business degree from WGU. Our online degrees and programs offer online schooling options for both experienced business professionals and motivated learners driven to advance their careers. WGU makes business school more attainable than ever before by utilizing competency-based education so students can progress in their courses as quickly as they master the material. Students don't have to log into classes, so they can do their coursework any time, day or night. This means they can keep their job, maintain their personal lives, and get a degree at the same time.


WGU School of Education.

Whether you're an aspiring teacher or an experienced educator ready to advance your career, WGU's CAEP-accredited Teachers College has a teaching degree for you. Choose from more than 30 bachelor's, post-baccalaureate, endorsement-preparation, and master's degree programs in education. WGU prepares you for teacher licensure in all 50 states and will help ensure that you are ready for the classroom. For online degrees in education, WGU is a great fit.


WGU College of Information Technology.

Today's complex, ever-changing field of information technology requires you to demonstrate superior IT knowledge, keep up-to-date with certifications, and hold a relevant degree from an accredited online university. Out of many online education options, WGU is a smarter way for IT professionals to earn that online degree—with certifications included in most programs, at no extra cost. Enhance your résumé with a degree and certs at WGU.


WGU Leavitt School of Health.

Earn a nursing or healthcare degree at WGU and fill a vital role in today's dynamic healthcare environment. Despite a changing economy, healthcare and nursing continue to experience strong job growth. This growth represents a great opportunity for you to further your career by completing a bachelor's or master's degree in a field like nursing, health information management, or healthcare management.

This online university was made for you.

At WGU, our focus is on your success—as an online student and a graduate. WGU has been one-of-a-kind from the start.

We’re the first university where all bachelor’s and master’s degrees are competency-based. It’s an innovative approach that measures learning, not class time, and it works particularly well for adult learners. Plus, our online college courses are designed with input and guidance from industry leaders and employers, so you know you're learning what you need to know to be successful. It will be rigorous, hard work—and it will be worth it!

We are the nation’s only university created by 19 U.S. governors. Their vision: Help change the lives of working adults by giving them access to a high-quality, affordable higher education that fits into their busy lives.

We believe higher education should be affordable for everyone. WGU is a nonprofit university with tuition well below what other reputable universities charge—about $7,452 per year for most bachelor's programs. Our flat-rate tuition model means you complete as many courses as you can in a term without paying more, so graduating faster also means graduating for less.

"WGU is upending the traditional college experience, and has the potential to change the way universities—both new and old—think about learning.”

-The Atlantic

It’s not about class time. It’s about learning.

WGU’s approach to learning is designed to fit your learning style, your schedule, your life. All of our online degree programs are competency-based, which means you’ll earn your online degree as soon as you can demonstrate that you’ve mastered the material. Competency-based education (CBE) measures actual knowledge, not time spent in class.

Finish courses by proving what you know, as soon as you're ready.

With competency-based education at WGU, success is measured by actual learning, not class time. You advance by demonstrating that you've mastered the course subject matter—whether you learned it here or picked it up through years of work experience.

Your progress through a course is driven by you.

How quickly you learn.

The time you are able to devote to studying.

How much previous knowledge you bring.

You’ll read, complete assignments, write papers, and take tests, just as you would at other universities. But, in most cases, your online learning progress won’t be tied to a class schedule—you can move quickly through material you already know and take the time you need to learn the things that don’t come as easily to you.

Have questions about WGU or online universities?

Check out our online colleges FAQ or online university guide to get the full picture of choosing an online education pathway.


Programs begin the 1st of any month.

WGU enrolls new students at the beginning of each month, launching a new term for those students. A term at WGU is 6 months long. What does this mean for you? You can start when you’re ready, rather than rushing (or waiting) for fall or spring enrollment. So, it’s back-to-school time year-round at WGU! Just enroll by the 15th to be eligible to begin next month.

A fast-track career begins with a first-rate education.

To advance in your career—or to start a new one—you don’t just need a degree. You also need respected credentials and real-world skills. Our curriculum does that by taking learning to a new level.

Our courses are designed in collaboration with major employers and industry experts in healthcare, business, information technology, and education. What you’ll learn is what the marketplace wants. Our competency-based approach to learning ensures that you’ll master the material—making you better prepared to succeed in your career.

Employers appreciate WGU grads. We’ve been endorsed by corporations such as AT&T, HP, Hospital Corporation of America, and Microsoft. We’ve also been praised by the likes of Harvard Business ReviewForbesTimeFast Company, CNN, MSNBC, and Bloomberg Businessweek—as well as officials and elected leaders all the way up to the White House.

Prepared for Success
on the Job

*From a 2021 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.

97% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*

95% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*

98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*

WGU “is consummately focused on actual student learning far more so than almost any other university in the world.”

-Forbes Magazine

Frequently Asked Questions at WGU

The $65 application fee is waived for Per Scholas alumni and employees. Use the waiver code "PERSCHOLAS".

 All Per Scholas alumni and employees will receive a 5% discount on tuition by communicating with your Enrollment Counselor that you are a Per Scholas alumni.


Per Scholas and WGU are actively working to secure scholarships for Per Scholas alumni. See general WGU scholarships here. Per Scholas employees should inquire about tuition benefits packages within their company’s Human Resources department.

If you carry debt from any previous college or defaulted student loans, this does not necessarily preclude you from enrolling at WGU. Speak to an Enrollment Counselor at WGU about financial considerations as you move forward with your application.

There is a one-time program fee and resource fee that students pay upon enrollment at WGU. There are no additional book or lab fees associated with the courses. Students will need to have stable internet access in order to do the coursework. Please refer to the applicable WGU program page for more information.

Per Scholas has partnered with Western Governors University (WGU) to offer graduates an opportunity to continue their education and apply Per Scholas coursework and certifications to one of seven bachelor of science degree programs in WGU's College of Information Technology. WGU is committed to helping Per Scholas alumni reach their goals with this partnership, providing a pathway for those that want to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

  • To support graduates as they navigate their careers. Their goals may involve degree completion or degree attainment and this aligns to our mission to ensure equity of advancement along an IT career pathway.
  • To deepen engagement with employers who are looking to upskill talent and support their employees’ advancement in their careers.
  • To provide opportunities for Per Scholas’ employee advancement—Per Scholas staff are also eligible for the program benefits.

  • WGU is the nation's leading competency-based nonprofit online university. It is fully accredited and reputable as an online university. Its programs are designed to maximize flexibility and accommodate student needs. Being nongeographic affords all Per Scholas alumni an opportunity to enroll.
  • Like Per Scholas, WGU is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as part of its mission.
  • WGU follows a competency-based model in which students progress by demonstrating mastery rather than seat time, a further benefit for working professionals.
  • Tuition is comparatively less than similar universities. WGU charges tuition at a flat rate per six-month term rather than per course or per credit, allowing students to complete as much learning as possible during any term.

Per Scholas alumni are able to transfer up to 54 credits towards their degree. Updated information on transferable course credits is available on the WGU's partner website, linked below. At a high level:

  • Network Support transfers 15 credits
  • CompTIA A+ 8 credits

Per Scholas alumni will have their application fee waived and receive a 5% discount on tuition.

For the most up-to-date transfer information, please visit Partners.

The partnership began in September 2020, with the first alumni enrolling shortly thereafter. WGU has rolling admissions at the start of every month.

All Per Scholas alumni and interested staff are eligible for admission. Per Scholas courses and/or certifications will transfer as credits to WGU. There is no additional documentation required for admission. There is no need to produce a high school transcript.

Learn more about credit transfer to WGU.

Most Per Scholas alumni will be interested in earning a degree from WGU's College of IT. The program eligibility requirements have already been met by Per Scholas alumni through the industry-recognized certifications earned through Per Scholas coursework. The only exception to this is the B.S. in Computer Science. However, depending on your individual situation, you may have to meet other admission requirements applicable to your program.

There is a math eligibility requirement for admission to the B.S. in Computer Science. Students must demonstrate math readiness through successful and verifiable completion of a precalculus, calculus, or higher-than-calculus math course from an accredited post-secondary academic institution or WGU-approved third-party provider. There are several ways for Per Scholas alumni to meet this eligibility requirement:

  • Students may enroll in WGU Academy to complete precalculus and satisfy your admission requirement by offering specialized calculus tutors to give you the best chance at being successful. The WGU Academy approach also includes PACA (Program for Academic and Career Advancement). PACA will also help you build your self-confidence, increase your resiliency, and put you on track for success at WGU. Plus, you’ll gain college credit and be guaranteed admission to WGU when you successfully complete WGU Academy! 
  • Students also have the option of enrolling in StraighterLine to complete a precalculus course. This is a self-paced course that students must pay for and complete. There is no tuition discount.
  • Students may produce proof of completion of precalculus by submitting a transcript from another institution, such as a high school AP course or a completed course (grade C or above) from another college for WGU’s evaluation.

Note again: the math readiness requirement applies ONLY to the B.S. in Computer Science.


Prospective students need to submit proof of industry certification from CompTIA, Cisco, Google, etc. Per Scholas alumni can request a transcript by contacting the site from which they obtained certification.

Per Scholas alumni may transfer up to 54 credits from Per Scholas to any of WGU’s College of IT programs upon meeting the admission requirements for that program. Credit transfer requirements for other colleges may vary. Per Scholas alumni will need to work with those colleges for program admission and credit transfer.

If admitted, these are additional steps in the WGU admission process

  • Prospective students meet with an Enrollment Counselor to discuss the student's plans and determine whether WGU is the best program for the student's academic and career goals. This is a 20- to 30-minute meeting.
  • Prior to being enrolled, students need to make a tuition payment installment or have a payment plan in place
  • Students must complete an orientation session. This provides basic WGU information and ori

Per Scholas enrollees who did not graduate but did earn industry-recognized credentials can transfer these towards a degree from the College of IT.

Per Scholas enrollees who did not graduate but did earn industry-recognized credentials can transfer these towards a degree from the College of IT.

WGU has a generous transfer policy. Our transcripts department can accept official copies of transcripts from your previous educational institutions for a course-by-course evaluation that compares the context of your courses to those in our programs, to tell you what is comparable and transferable.

Yes! WGU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the highest form of accreditation.

It depends on the program you are interested in pursuing. Some programs will have additional requirements however, the general admissions process is as follows: 

  1. Complete the enrollment application
  2. Contact Enrollment at 866-225-5948 to go over the program and admissions process specific to your desired degree program
  3. Submit official transcripts
  4. If desired, complete FAFSA form for financial aid

The enrollment process can take approximately 4-6 weeks. Start dates are the first of each month once enrollment has been completed.

Every school sets its own guidelines however, accreditation plays a big part in recognition and acceptance. WGU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the highest form of accreditation. WGU graduates go on to continue their education at many colleges and universities. When WGU alumni self-report acceptance into graduate or doctorate programs, we add the university to a list so you can see where WGU graduates are continuing to pursue higher education.

Online degrees won't mean you'll be alone.

College is challenging, and even the best students need help from time to time. To steer students toward success we created a unique support system—it’s consistent, dedicated, and personalized.

Faculty mentoring from day one through graduation. 
Your Program Mentor will help you develop an online degree plan that works for you, and then help you stick to it. Through regular, ongoing interaction and instruction from enrollment to graduation, they will advise and guide you through your chosen program.

Subject-matter experts for every course. 
In every course you take, you’ll also have access to instruction from faculty members who serve as a subject-matter experts and guides through the curriculum.  Use them for one-on-one or cohort-based help to get you resolve sticking points so you can truly master the learning material.

We’re student-obsessed, and proud of it. 
Our innovative support structure extends to all aspects of your student experience, including an IT help desk, student support, and centers to provide help with writing and math, counseling, budgeting, and more.

 

Enrolling in a college degree program is scary. That's a good thing.

The very real benefits of earning an online college degree are many. Here's one you may not have thought of: pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. Doing something that scares you is a great way to "exercise your bravery muscle," as Reshma Saujani—who founded her groundbreaking organization Girls Who Code despite having just lost an election and having no experience with coding—recently told an audience at a lecture series hosted by WGU.