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WGU Texas
A University Built For You

Get a Degree on Your Time, in Less Time

About WGU Texas

WGU Texas was established in 2011 as a partnership between Western Governors University and the state of Texas with a unique mission to help Texans obtain a quality education. When WGU was established in 1997, the founding governors realized that technology, the internet, and a new model of competency-based education could transform higher education by creating new opportunities for working adults.
Western Governors University is available to learners across the country, and coursework is offered online so students do not have to go to a campus location. Students in Texas can recieve unique scholarship, financial aid, and other opportunities at WGU as a result of the partnership between WGU and the state of Texas.

WGU Texas Celebrates 11 Years


 

On August 3, 2022, WGU Texas marked 11 years of providing expanded access to affordable, career-focused degrees to adult learners across the state. 

Established by the state of Texas in August 2011, WGU Texas’ innovative competency-based education has helped strengthen the state’s workforce by expanding access to affordable higher education and creating better lifestyles for graduates and their families. 

But the real success stories are our students and graduates. The university’s enrollment has grown to more than 14,000 full-time students, and it has awarded more than 25,000 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in high-demand fields, changing lives one degree at a time.

The WGU Texas mission is to help more Texans obtain a quality education.

Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?

What Our Alumni Are Saying


People love their WGU experience. See why it means so much to them and what makes us different.

"I found my educational 'home' at WGU, I couldn't imagine going anywhere else!"

— Misty Wagnon
B.S. Accounting, WGU Texas

"My MBA helped me leverage my way into a C-Suite position in SaaS firm specializing in telemedicine."

— Cameron Ramirez
MBA, WGU Texas

"I pursued a degree to follow my dream of becoming a teacher. I have been teaching for 3 years and absolutely love what I do. Being a military spouse, we traveled continuously and I was able to finish my degree online while also being a new mom." 

— Brooke Rodriguez
B.A. Elementary Education, WGU Texas

"I've always wanted to become a RN. I took the longest route to get here and now I'm 27 and finally accomplished my dream! All thanks to WGU for making a program that I could work and get my school work done."

— Brittney Burns
BSN Prelicensure, WGU Texas

"My degrees from WGU has given me a relevant and valuable skill set that has improved my income and life. My email box always has emails from recruiters looking to fill roles with my education and experience. Basically I never have to look for a job, the job finds me."

— Mark Alvarado
M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, WGU Texas

Linda Garza Battles, WGU Regional Vice President, South

A longtime leader in higher education policy, Linda Battles brings 28 years of leadership and management experience in higher education policy development, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement to WGU as Regional Vice President, South Region.

Before joining WGU, Battles worked at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas House of Representatives, where she dedicated her career working on statewide policies to expand access to higher education, improve student success, and increase funding for state financial aid programs. She worked on landmark legislation to expand access to higher education for underserved populations, such as the Top Ten Percent Law, providing automatic admission to the state's public universities for graduates in the top ten percent of their high school class. 

Battles earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Public Affairs from The University of Texas at Austin. She is a doctoral candidate in the Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate from the University of Southern Florida and a Basic Mediation Certificate from Austin's Dispute Resolution Center. She serves on the Board of Austin Voices for Education and Youth, and is a member of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) in Austin. In 2017, the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce recognized Linda as a Woman of Distinction and in 2022, she received the Community/Business Leader Award from the Pflugerville Education Foundation, and the 2022 Trailblazer award from the El Paso in Austin Network.

As RVP, she expands the university's partnerships and drives the region’s operational strategy and oversight of university initiatives to deliver high-quality education and graduates that meet workforce needs.

Manuel Gonzalez, WGU Regional Director, South

As WGU Regional Director, Manuel Gonzalez, Ph.D. helps grow brand awareness and enrollment through partnerships with community colleges, school districts, the healthcare industry, corporations, and organizations. He advocates for policies that benefit WGU students, including expanding access to underserved/underrepresented communities.

Gonzalez brings more than 10 years of higher education, policy, and advocacy to WGU and has served on numerous college advisory boards throughout the state. Most recently, he served as the Director of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees (CCATT), a membership organization representing more than 400 elected trustees and regents across the state’s 50 public community college districts. He previously worked at the Trellis Company, where he led “Project Success,” a federal financial aid pilot program aimed at assisting over 40 under-resourced minority-serving institutions across a 10-state region. He has worked with the Texas Legislature, the White House Domestic Policy Council, and as policy director of the national coalition, Student Advocates for Graduate Education (SAGE).

Gonzalez holds a baccalaureate degree from Trinity University, an M.Ed. in College & University Personnel Administration and Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership & Policy, both from the University of Texas at Austin. During his higher education academic career, Dr. Gonzalez received several graduate fellowships to support his studies, along with various recognitions commending his scholarship. Gonzalez serves on Leadership Austin’s Board of Directors and is board secretary for the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees and trustee, representing Place 5. He serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Children – Austin, the Trinity University National Alumni Association Board, and the Austin Community Foundation Somos Austin Steering Committee. 

WGU Texas Board Members

Andres Alcantar, Management & Public Policy Consulting, Alcantar Public Policy Consulting– Austin

Andres Alcantar is the former Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and previously served as Deputy Director of the Governor’s Budget, Planning, and Policy Division, focusing on workforce, economic development, and competitiveness issues. He also served as an advisor to former Governor George W. Bush in the Office of Budget and Planning and was a director for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. He is currently principle at Alcantar Public Policy Consulting.

Patricia Diaz Dennis, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, AT&T, Retired – San Antonio

Patricia Diaz Dennis was responsible for AT&T Corporate Litigation,

Procurement, Corporate Real Estate, Environmental, Corporate Compliance, IT, Trademark and Copyright legal matters until she retired in November 2008. A leader in community service, Diaz Dennis broke ground when she became the first Hispanic woman to serve as the chairperson of the National Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of the USA. Diaz Dennis was appointed to multiple federal government positions including Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. 

John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of Educate Texas – Austin/Dallas

John Fitzpatrick serves as the Executive Director of Educate Texas (formerly the Texas High School Project). Educate Texas, a public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, is an innovative alliance of public and private groups that share a common goal: improving the public education system so that every Texas student is prepared for success in school, in the workforce, and in life. Before taking the helm at Educate Texas, Mr. Fitzpatrick served as Executive Director of the Capital Area Training Foundation, now Skillpoint Alliance, a nonprofit organization working to build relationships between industry, education, and communities to benefit Central Texans. He is a former school board member, Chamber of Commerce executive, middle school teacher and coach. 

Bernie Francis, Owner and CEO of Business Control Systems, and First Class Caregivers, Inc. – Dallas

Bernie Francis is owner and CEO of two businesses, Business Control Systems, LP a technical and professional staffing firm and First Class Caregivers, Inc., a non-medical care-giving services firm. He is a Vietnamera veteran of the United States Air Force. He serves on the executive committee of the Texas Business Leadership Council (formerly the Governors Business Council) and chairs its P-16 Taskforce. As a volunteer and one of five board members, he’s developed and built five not-for-profit, resort-style, retirement communities for seniors across Texas. He is called upon occasionally to serve the governor and/or legislators on special commissions. 

Bonnie Gonzalez, Chief Executive Officer, Knapp Community Care Foundation - Weslaco

Bonnie Gonzalez leads Knapp Community Care Foundation, a private nonprofit corporation that serves the mid-valley communities in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. Her passion for community and economic development has helped her be instrumental in the development of a comprehensive strategic Corporate Plan of Action for the organization. She previously served as President/CEO for the Rio Grande Valley

Empowerment Zone Corporation for nine years. During her tenure, she was responsible for a $40 million federal grant that she used as seed money to create a $416 million return on the initial investment. She also previously established and led the successful Teenage Parent Alternative Program providing educational programming for high school students with children. 

George V. Grainger, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships, Texas A&M Foundation - Houston

George Grainger recently joined the Texas A&M Foundation (TAMF) as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships. In coordination with the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Research, he will work across campus to provide strategic grant solicitation support to academic and research programs which have projects and/or scholarly expertise that aligns with the programmatic interests of regional and national private foundations.

Prior to joining TAMF, Mr. Grainger served as Senior Program Officer-Education at Houston Endowment Inc., one of the largest private philanthropic foundations in Texas. Mr. Grainger joined Houston Endowment in 1999 where he oversaw approximately $15 million in new commitments to the K-12 and higher education sectors annually. He was responsible for approximately $250 million in aggregate grant making during his tenure at Houston Endowment. 

Mr. Grainger has over twenty-five years of experience in organized philanthropy, serving as President and Trustee of the George & Anne Butler Foundation since 1983. Prior to joining Houston Endowment, he was a senior member of the Institutional Advancement division at the University of Houston. Mr. Grainger received his business degree from the University of Houston. 

Stephen C. Head, Chancellor, Lone Star College – The Woodlands

Stephen C. Head, Ph.D. was appointed as the fourth chancellor of Lone Star College in 2014 after a thirty-year history of high-level positions at LSC including President of Lone Star College-North Harris, Executive Vice Chancellor, acting Chief Executive Officer, interim President at Montgomery College and President of Kingwood College. His focus is on student access, equality, success and completion; academic quality; workforce programs in alignment with community needs; and collaborative agreements with educational, business and local civic organizations. His values include operating the college on a sound, fiscally conservative model based on data, efficiencies, accountability and common sense. He also emphasizes transparency, ethical behavior and a culture of high expectations and achievement. 

Dr. Head received his Ph.D. in History from Texas Tech University. He earned a Master of Arts degree in History and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Lamar University in Beaumont Texas. In addition, he previously taught history undergraduate and graduate classes for LSCS and university partners, and graduate classes in community college leadership and higher education finance. 

Dr. Head currently serves on the American Association of Community Colleges board of directors and has served on the board of five area chambers of commerce and three economic development districts or councils. He has served on the Executive Committee for the Texas Association of Community Colleges and on the Executive Committee for the American Association of Community Colleges. 

He is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences on community college issues. In 2016, he was appointed by Governor Abbott to serve on the Texas Economic Development Corporation and a special Governor’s Committee for Safety and Security.

William Serrata, President, El Paso Community College – El Paso

Dr. William Serrata was named the President of the El Paso County Community College District effective August 1, 2012. Dr. Serrata comes to EPCC from South Texas College in McAllen where he served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management for over seven years. Dr. Serrata has provided enrollment management leadership in retention, dual credit enrollment, and graduation rates with an emphasis on first-generation and Hispanic populations and establishing a college-going culture. 

He has served on the Texas Workforce Education Leadership Committee and on the Executive Committee for the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. Dr. Serrata serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande, Board of Directors for the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the United Way of El Paso, the Executive Committee of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for Sierra Providence Hospital on the national level, Dr. Serrata is a member of the Board of Directors of Excelencia in Education, Catch the Next and the National Student Clearing House Advisory Council. He serves as an Advisory Board Member of the Higher Education Research and Development Institute (HERDI) and was recently selected to join the 2015 class of Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows. 

Dr. Serrata and his wife Jessica have been married for over a decade and are blessed with two wonderful sons, Nathan and Joshua. 

Cristie Remmel, Founder and President of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce

Cristie Remmel is the Founder and President of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Veterans Chamber of Commerce. She is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served as a Marine FMF Corpsman (Medic) during Desert Shield/Storm. She was attached to Marine Air Wing 39 out of Camp Pendleton, CA, and deployed to Bahrain with MWSS 373. Cristie received the Fleet Marine Force Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with Globe Anchor and 2 Stars, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal during her enlistment. After her Honorable discharge from the military, Cristie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and her Master’s degree in Fine Arts.

Partner With WGU

If you are a company or community college that is looking to do something more for your employees or students, a partnership with WGU could be the perfect fit. Learn more about creating a partnership with WGU for tuition reimbursement, a scholarship, or other opportunity.

Featured Partners

WGU partners with hundreds of companies to help increase learning opportunities for every individual. Some of our partners include:

WGU has Strong Partnerships Across Texas and the South Region

Through our partnership with Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions, the following companies receive benefits:

Allstate
Bright Horizons
Children's Medical Center Dallas
Dell
Edward Jones
Halliburton
Houston Medical
Microsoft
Shell
Sprint
Texas Children's Hospital
Toyota
USAA

Alamo Colleges District
Alvin Community College
Amarillo College
Angelina College
Arkansas Northeastern College
Austin Community College
Blinn College
Brazosport College
Central Texas College
Cisco College
Clarendon College
Coastal Bend College
College of the Mainland
Collin College
Dallas College District
Del Mar College
El Paso Community College
Foundation Communities
Frank Phillips College
Galveston College
Grayson College
Hill College
Houston Community College System
Howard College
Kilgore College
Laredo Community College
Lee College
Lone Star College System
Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS)
McLennan Community College
Midland College

Navarro College
North Central Texas College
Northeast Texas Community College
Odessa College
Panola College
Paris Junior College
Ranger College
San Jacinto College
South Plains College
South Texas College
Southwest Texas Junior College
Southwest University at El Paso
Tarrant County College
Temple College
Texarkana College
Texas Association of Community Colleges
Texas Southmost College
Texas State Technical College
The College of Health Care Professions
Trinity Valley Community College
Tyler Junior College
Vernon College
Victoria College
Weatherford College
Western Technical College (Western Tech)
Western Texas College
Wharton County Junior College

7-Eleven
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, LLC Southwestern Region 
AT&T
Builder Homesite, Inc.
Business Control Systems, LP
Cisco
City of Austin
City of Corpus Christi 
City of Dallas
City Year
City of Houston
City of New Orleans
City of Sunland Park (NM)
Costco
CPS Energy
Edcor (Xcel Energy)
El Paso County
Evins Personnel
Fifth Third Bank
Fort Bend County
Goodwill San Antonio
Harps Food Stores (Arkansas, Oklahoma)
Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
JP Morgan Chase
Kroger
Michaels Store, Inc.
Navient
Rush Enterprises
Scholarship Management Services
State of Texas Agency Employees and Retirees
Veryable Incorporated
Walmart
Wells Fargo

AmerisourceBergen

Arkansas Children’s Hospital System

Ascension Health

Baylor Scott and White Healthcare

Centene

CHI St. Luke's

CHRISTUS Health

Crescent Medical Center

Doctors Hospital at Renaissance

Edlink (Exelon and Texas Children's Hospital)

Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center (Alamogordo, NM)

Gonzales Healthcare Systems

Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)

JPS Health Network

Kindred Healthcare

Knapp Medical Center

Legacy Community Health Services, Inc.

Memorial Hermann Health System

Methodist Healthcare System

Methodist Hospital Houston

Midland Memorial Hospital Nix Health

PSN Services, LLC
Red Cross

Seminole Hospital District

Seton

Tenet Healthcare (Lake Pointe Medical Center and Sierra Medical Center)

Texas Health and Human Services

Texas Health Resources

The College of Health Care Professions

Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics

Universal Health Services

University Health System

Vibra Healthcare

Westpark Springs

Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

AT&T
Engineering Solutions & Products (ESP)
Microsoft
T-Mobile
Tyler Technologies

Aubrey Independent School District

Brownsville Independent School District

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Coppell Independent School District

Del Valle Independent School District

Digital Creative Institute

Distance Learning Systems, LLC

Dripping Springs Independent School District

Education Service Center, Region 5

Education Service Center, Region 19

Education Service Center, Region 20

Epic Charter Schools, Oklahoma

Grand Prairie ISD

Gadsden Independent School District (NM)

Harmony Public Schools

Gradulet 

Houston Independent School District

IDEA Schools

KIPP Houston Public Schools

La Joya ISDLeander ISD

Little Elm ISD

National Education Alliance (Fundamental)

North East Independent School District (NEISD)

Northside ISD

Round Rock Independent School District

Southwest ISD

Upgrade

Con Mi MADRE

El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

EPCC Veterans One Stop Center

Found A Way Foundation

Foundation Communities

Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

The Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT-LIP)

Latinitas

National Association of Peer Supporters

Project ARRIBA

Single Mom’s Society

The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce

Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color (TECMSC)

Via Hope

Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo

Connect with WGU Texas

MAIN OFFICE:

402a W. Palm Valley Blvd., #323

Round Rock, TX 78664

877-214-7011

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kathy Koza

Frequently Asked Questions at WGU

WGU is approved to offer federal student aid. You will need to apply using the FAFSA, which is used to determine your eligibility for aid. WGU’s FAFSA school code is 033394.

Scholarships are available for new WGU students and returning graduates. This video shows more about scholarship opportunities and how they can help you pay for school. Get information on:

  • How to apply
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Examples of scholarships
  • What happens after you apply
  • FAQs
  • Other financial aid options

WGU's tuition is a flat rate that is charged every six months. You can take as many courses as you are able in that six-month term—with no extra cost. You simply pay for the term and do as much work as you can or want to during that time. This means that finishing faster helps you save money—a major benefit you won't find at most other schools. 

You will be expected to maintain regular communication with your Program Mentor while enrolled at WGU. 

During a student's first term, the Program Mentor and student meet once each week by phone for a substantive discussion about engaging learning resources and assessments until the student achieves on-time progress (OTP).

After the first term, for students who meet and maintain on-time progress (OTP), the Program Mentor and student meet at least once every two weeks by phone for a substantive discussion about engaging learning resources and assessments.

For students on financial aid warning, probation, or termination, the Program Mentor and student meet at least once each week by phone for a substantive discussion about engaging learning resources and assessments until the student achieves OTP.

WGU offers flexible pacing, meaning you can move through courses at a pace that meets your learning style and knowledge level. Students can go as fast as they can but not as slowly. Students are required to complete a minimum number of competency units per term to meet on-time progress. However, if you choose to study at 3 am daily, that we can accommodate. 

Your personal progress will be determined by the extent of your transfer units, your time commitment, and your determination to proceed at a faster rate. Traditionally, without an associate’s degree or equivalent, it will take 2 to 2.5 years. Master's degree programs are designed to be completed within 2 years. However, we work on a competency-based model, which gives you credit for passing assessments and proving you can perform a task or understand a course of study proficiently. 

Yes! If you are able to complete the minimum requirement before your term is over, you can add more courses, with no tuition increase.

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

An accredited online college offers the same valuable and respected degrees that an on-campus college offers. The main difference is that online colleges offer you flexibility in your program. For example, you don't have to go to campus and sit in a classroom. You can move faster through courses. You are largely independent in your education. These are benefits that help many students pursue degrees who may not be able to attend an on-campus college.

It depends on the type of degree and online school you choose. Some online bachelor's degree programs will take 4+ years, and some online master's degrees will take 2+ years.

However, WGU is designed to help students accelerate their online degrees. Our unique education model allows students to move through courses as quickly as they can master the material. This means that, on average, students finish bachelor's degree programs in three years or less, and master's degree programs in 18 months or less.

Source: WGU internal data

We may be biased, but we believe WGU is truly the best online college. Our unique education model, affordable tuition, and complete flexibility mean that students are truly in charge of their own education.

An online degree helps you learn skills and earn credentials that will boost your résumé and prepare you for a meaningful career. Either a bachelor's or master's degree will be key in helping you be prepared for a new job, promotion, or salary increase. The specific jobs you can be qualified for with an online degree will depend on the specific degree you pursue.

An accredited online college offers the same valuable and respected degrees that an on-campus college offers. The main difference is that online colleges offer you flexibility in your program. For example, you don't have to go to campus and sit in a classroom. You can move faster through courses. You are largely independent in your education. These are benefits that help many students pursue degrees who may not be able to attend an on-campus college.

It depends on the type of degree and online school you choose. Some online bachelor's degree programs will take 4+ years, and some online master's degrees will take 2+ years. However, WGU is designed to help students accelerate their online degrees. Our unique education model allows students to move through courses as quickly as they can master the material. This means that on average students finish bachelor's degree programs in three years or less, and master's degree programs in 18 months or less.

Typically online universities are able to offer less expensive tuition compared to brick and mortar universities. This is often because there are less building maintenance requirements, staffing needs, living expenses for students, etc. At WGU for example, tuition for an undergraduate program is approximately $4,005 for a six-month term. This is much lower than most online and traditional degree programs.

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.