About WGU

WGU is the recipient of the USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2008, awarded in recognition of our success in expanding access to higher education.

Your competence is the ultimate focus of every degree program at Western Governors University. The university emphasizes mastery of essential skills and knowledge in your field, basing progress toward your online degree on passing rigorous assessments (such as tests, projects, assignments, etc.) instead of accumulating credit hours. We call it competency-based learning.

Online degrees giving you the skills and knowledge you need.

Your competence is the ultimate focus of every degree program at Western Governors University. The university emphasizes mastery of essential skills and knowledge in your field, basing progress toward your online degree on passing rigorous assessments (such as tests, projects, assignments, etc.) instead of accumulating credit hours. We call it competency-based learning.

With bachelor's and master's degree programs in education, business, information technology, and health professions, WGU's rigorous yet flexible approach to education gives the university a unique advantage over other online programs. Here's what the WGU Advantage means to you:

• Flexibility and Affordability. Our competency-based approach allows for extensive personalization of your degree program. In most cases, you'll access course materials or study independently at the time and place you choose. If you come into your program with years of experience, you may be able to complete your assessments faster. This could save you thousands because you pay tuition at a flat rate every six months, regardless of how many assessments you successfully complete.
• Credibility through Accreditation. WGU is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). WGU's Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online teacher education institution to receive accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU is also the recipient of two International Distance Learning Awards from the U.S. Distance Learning Association, including the 21^st Century Best Practices in Distance Learning Award.
• Commitment and Support. As a student at WGU, you'll have the support of a dedicated mentor to keep you motivated as you progress toward your degree. You will work with your mentor until you graduate. You get to know your mentor as an advisor, coach, cheerleader, even a friend. You'll also interact with an online learning community of students in your same program, so you're never alone.

Here's what the WGU Advantage means to you:

• Lower costs for education through the ability to accelerate your degree completion. You pay tuition at a flat rate every six months, regardless of how many competency units you attempt. If you're able to pass the assessments at a faster pace, you can save a substantial amount of money.
• WGU's online learning and assessment model gives you considerable flexibility and control over your education. At WGU, you'll be able to cut through the clutter and focus on what's important to you: gaining the competencies you need to graduate and succeed in your career.
• You'll work with a dedicated mentor who is committed to your success and graduation. Your mentor will keep you motivated and steer you toward your degree.
• Multiple degree programs in education, business, information technology, and healthcare. Whether you're earning a bachelor's or a master's degree, you'll find the program that can help you break through to the next level of career success.

College of Business

WGU's College of Business emphasizes mastery of skills and knowledge that are essential for continued advancement in the competitive business world. A five-time GetEducated.com Best Buy Award winner, the College of Business offers bachelor's degrees in business management, marketing, accounting, finance, HR, and IT management, as well as three MBA programs.

College of Information Technology

WGU's information technology programs ideally fit today's challenging IT world. The College of Information Technology offers bachelor's degrees that incorporate up to 10 current IT certifications—without adding classes or costs. With degrees in databases, software, security, health informatics, networks administration, design and management, the IT certification exams are fully integrated into your degree program.

College of Health Professions

To address the growing need for compassionate, competent health professionals, WGU has developed several accredited degree programs designed for busy healthcare professionals. Emphasizing mastery of essential skills and knowledge, the College of Health Professions offers degree programs in nursing, nursing education, nursing leadership and management, health education, health informatics, and healthcare management.

New students may enroll any time and begin their program on the first of any month. WGU only accepts inquiries and applications from individuals living in the U.S., Guam, and from U.S. military personnel and spouses residing at overseas installations.

Western Governors University