WGU Education Blog (2024)

FAQs

Are degrees from WGU respected? ›

It is an accredited and reputable online university that offers bachelor's and master's degree programs. WGU has been regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition to the community impact you make as a skilled and newly credentialed member of your local workforce, there's a real monetary return. WGU grads see a salary increase of $22,200 on average, just two years after graduating. Within four years, that number grows to $29,200 for WGU grads.

WGU is accredited by the “Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accreditation body of colleges and universities in a seven-state region that includes WGU's headquarters of Utah,” according to WGU's website.

Competency-based education at WGU puts the student in the driver's seat of their education. Efficient: Education pathways are focused on learning, not seat time. Students are able to spend time on areas where they need more understanding and accelerate where they already have knowledge.

WGU is not a degree mill; it is a legitimate online university that is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

GradReports. GradReports gives WGU the #1 spot for best online marketing bachelor's degrees, #6 for best online business bachelor's degrees, and puts its curriculum and instruction master's degrees at #23.

WGU's online master's degrees in education provide a path to those skills that prepare you for initial licensure as a teacher in any of the U.S. states. While WGU doesn't grant initial licensure, our programs help you fulfill the requirements to be prepared to obtain licensure in your state.

Does WGU have GPA? WGU students do not get letter-grades or a GPA as part of their degree program. Instead students either pass or do not pass a course.

Unlike traditional universities, WGU allows students to study at their own pace, which means they can complete their degree programs faster or slower than the traditional timeframes. This flexibility is ideal for individuals with busy schedules or those who need to balance work and family responsibilities.

Average yearly bachelor's degree tuition at WGU is $8,010, compared to the national average yearly bachelor's degree tuition price of $16,618 according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (2022).

Is WGU 100% online? ›

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.

Overall Quality

This puts it in the top 10% of all schools in the nation. This is an improvement over the previous year, when WGU held the #148 spot on the Best Overall Colleges list. WGU is also ranked #2 out of 13 schools in Utah. See all of the rankings for Western Governors University.

Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 38 months. Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term. Courses: 44 total courses in this program (45 for Washington residents).

Leads to teacher licensure. Specific grade levels will vary depending on teaching certification in your state. Time: 68% of students finish this degree within 36 months. Tuition: $3,825 per 6-month term.

You can take as many courses as you're able in a term and not pay additional tuition or fees.

WGU bachelor's and master's nursing degrees are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE.) The CCNE is nationally recognized as an accreditation agency by the U.S. Department of Education.

Considered the most prestigious and widely-recognized type of accreditation, regionally-accredited schools are reviewed by their designated regional agency. Nationally-accredited agencies review institutions of a similar type, such as career, vocational, and technical (art & design, nursing, etc.) schools.

The official graduation rate of WGU is 51%. This is the percentage of students who completed their degree within 150% of the published time.