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IPEDS ID: 433387
OPE ID: 03339400
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Western Governors University
All programs offered completely via Distance education
4001 South 700 East Suite 700, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107
General information:  (801) 274-3280
Website:  www.wgu.edu/
Type:  4-year, Private not-for-profit
Awards offered:  Less than one year certificate
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Campus setting:  Suburb: Large
Campus housing:  No
Student population:  156,935 (112,807 undergraduate)
Student-to-faculty ratio:  42 to 1
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open-close General Information
Admissionswww.wgu.edu/admissions/requirements.asp
Apply Onlinewwwforms.wgu.edu/wgu/app/app_step0
Financial Aidwww.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/financial_aid_application.asp
Net Price Calculatorwww.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/net_price_calculator
Tuition Policies for Servicemembers and Veteranswww.wgu.edu/tuition_financial_aid/veterans
Disability Serviceswww.wgu.edu/wgu/ada_form
Athletic Graduation Rates
Mission Statement
  www.wgu.edu/about/story/mission.html
Special Learning Opportunities
Distance education – undergraduate programs offered
Distance education – graduate programs offered
Teacher certification (below the postsecondary level)
Student Services
Academic/career counseling service
Undergraduate students enrolled who are formally registered with office of disability services
3% or less
Carnegie Classification
Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs
Religious Affiliation
Not applicable
Federal Aid
Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and other federal aid (e.g. Direct Loans).
For-credit instruction programs offered
Academic
Continuing professional
Noncredit education offered
Institution does not offer noncredit education
Credit Accepted
Advanced placement (AP) credits
Faculty and graduate assistants by primary function, Fall 2022Full timePart time
Total faculty2,9741,220
Instructional2,9741,220
Research and public service00
Total graduate assistants-0
Instructional-0
Research-0
open-close Tuition, Fees, and Estimated Student Expenses
Estimated Expenses for Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
Estimated expenses for academic year2019-20202020-20212021-20222022-2023% change 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Tuition and fees$6,940$7,452$7,452$8,0107.5%
Books and supplies$200$200$200$2000.0%
Living arrangement
Off Campus
Room and board$6,000$6,000$6,000$6,0000.0%
Other$1,000$1,000$1,000$1,0000.0%
Off Campus with Family
Other$700$700$700$2,200214.3%
Total Expenses2019-20202020-20212021-20222022-2023% change 2021-2022 to 2022-2023
Off Campus$14,140$14,652$14,652$15,2103.8%
Off Campus with Family$7,840$8,352$8,352$10,41024.6%
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This calculator uses estimated student expenses data to estimate the total tuition and fees charged over the duration of a typical 4-year program at this school.
1. Select starting academic year
2. Select tuition inflation rate
 
 
% (0-100 allowed)
  • The output is only an estimate and not a guarantee of the actual amount the student may be charged; it is not binding on the Secretary, the institution of higher education, or the State; and it may change, subject to the availability of financial assistance, State appropriations, and other factors. The student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for, and receive, an actual financial aid award that includes federal grant, loan, or work-study assistance.
  • The estimated price does not include room and board, books and supplies, &c. (where applicable) and is based on previous years' tuition and fees data. Tuition and fees may vary by program. Please contact this institution for detailed price information.
  • Estimated yearly tuition and fees may not sum to totals because of rounding.
Estimate the total tuition and fee costs over the duration of a typical program.
 Multiyear Tuition Calculator
Average graduate student tuition and fees for academic year2022-2023
Tuition$7,765
Fees$679
Alternative Tuition Plans and Promise Program
Type of PlanOffered
Tuition guarantee plan
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment planX
Other alternative tuition plan
  • Does not participate in Promise program
open-close Financial Aid
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2021-2022
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
Type of AidNumber awarded aidPercent awarded aidTotal amount of aid awardedAverage amount of aid awarded
Any student financial aid161261%————
Grant or scholarship aid42542%$2,039,286$4,798
Federal grants37838%$1,811,981$4,794
Pell grants37838%$1,686,506$4,462
Other federal grants16717%$125,475$751
State/local government grant or scholarships576%$145,952$2,561
Institutional grants or scholarships778%$81,353$1,057
Student loan aid42042%$2,307,342$5,494
Federal student loans42042%$2,307,342$5,494
Other student loans00%$0—
  • 1 Includes students awarded Federal work study aid and aid from other sources not listed above.
  • Interpret data with caution. The institution has a small number or no first-time, full-time undergraduate students.
All Undergraduate Students
Type of AidNumber awarded aidPercent awarded aidTotal amount of aid awardedAverage amount of aid awarded
Degree/certificate-seeking
Grant or scholarship aid141,46638%$180,754,355$4,359
Pell grants36,22434%$152,213,752$4,202
Federal student loans47,47944%$258,500,635$5,445
  • 1 Grant or scholarship aid includes aid awarded, from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
  • Institution did not report non-degree/non-certificate-seeking undergraduate students in 2021-2022.

  • For more information on Student Financial Assistance Programs or to apply for financial aid via the web, visit Federal Student Aid.
open-close Net Price
Average Net Price for Full-Time Beginning Students
Full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.
2019-20202020-20212021-2022
Average net price$8,786$10,336$9,207
  • Interpret data with caution. The institution has a small number or no first-time, full-time undergraduate students.
Full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded Title IV aid by income.
Average net price by Income2019-20202020-20212021-2022
$0 – $30,000$9,283$10,714$8,708
$30,001 – $48,000$8,387$11,447$9,661
$48,001 – $75,000$12,942$11,071$10,939
$75,001 – $110,000$13,790$14,374$13,060
$110,001 and more—$14,652$13,827
  • Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses.
  • Beginning students are those who are entering postsecondary education for the first time.
  • Title IV aid to students includes grant aid, work study aid, and loan aid. These include: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant), Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Subsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan, and Unsubsidized Direct or FFEL Stafford Loan. For those Title IV recipients, net price is reported by income category and includes students awarded federal aid even if none of that aid was provided in the form of grants. While Title IV status defines the cohort of student for which the data are reported, the definition of net price remains the same – total cost of attendance minus grant aid.
  • Interpret data with caution. The institution has a small number or no first-time, full-time undergraduate students.
Net Price Calculator
An institution’s net price calculator allows current and prospective students, families, and other consumers to estimate the net price of attending that institution for a particular student.
Visit this institution's net price calculator
open-close Enrollment
Fall 2022
Total enrollment156,935
Undergraduate enrollment112,807
Undergraduate transfer-in enrollment34,557
Graduate enrollment44,128
Undergraduate Attendance StatusUndergraduate Student Gender
Undergraduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 100% Part-time: 0%Undergraduate Student Gender: Male: 40% Female: 60%
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity
Undergraduate Race/ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native: 1% Asian: 4% Black or African American: 11% Hispanic/Latino: 13% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0% White: 58% Two or more races: 3% Race/ethnicity unknown: 8% U.S. Nonresident: 0%
Undergraduate Student AgeUndergraduate Student Residence
Undergraduate Student Age: 24 and under: 12% 25 and over: 88% Age unknown: 0%Undergraduate Student Residence: In-state: 9% Out-of-state: 91% Foreign countries: 0% Unknown: 0%
  • Age data are reported for Fall 2021.
  • Residence data are reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates.
Undergraduate Distance Education Status
Undergraduate Enrollment by Distance Education Status: Enrolled exclusively in distance education courses: 100% Enrolled in some, but not all, distance education courses: 0% Not enrolled in any distance education courses: 0%
Graduate Attendance Status
Graduate Attendance Status: Full-time: 100% Part-time: 0%
Graduate Distance Education Status
Graduate Enrollment by Distance Education Status: Enrolled exclusively in distance education courses: 100% Enrolled in some, but not all, distance education courses: 0% Not enrolled in any distance education courses: 0%
open-close Admissions
Undergraduate application fee (2022-2023): $65
  • This institution has an open admission policy. Contact the institution for more information.
open-close Retention and Graduation Rates
First-to-Second Year Retention Rates

Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor's degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.

Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Student retention: Full-time students: 65%
Percentage of Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2021 and Returned in Fall 2022
  • The institution enrolled relatively few full-time, first-time bachelor’s students in the fall 2021 cohort.
Overall Graduation Rate and Transfer-Out Rate

The overall graduation rate is also known as the "Student Right to Know" or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of "normal time" for completing the program in which they are enrolled.

Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution without completing at the current institution.

Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate.

Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students Who Began Their Studies in 2016-17
Overall graduation rate: Overall graduation rate: 49% Transfer-out rate: 1%
Percentage of Full-time, First-Time Students Who Graduated or Transferred Out Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rates

Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.

Graduation Rates for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
Bachelor's degree rate: [Began in 2014-15] 4-year: 32% 6-year: 47% 8-year: 52% [Began in 2016-17] 4-year: 33% 6-year: 49%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Graduated in the Specified Amount of Time and Began in 2014-15 or 2016-17
  • Interpret data with caution: WGU enrolled a small number of first-time, full-time undergraduate students in this academic year. In general, first-time, full-time students are approximately 1.0% or less of the total undergraduate headcount.
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: Male: 44% Female: 57%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in 2016-17 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees
6-Year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor's Degrees: American Indian or Alaska Native: 40% Asian: 50% Black or African American: 25% Hispanic/Latino: 46% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0% White: 52% Two or more races: 0% Race/ethnicity unknown: 75% U.S. Nonresident: 0%
Percentage of Full-time, First-time Students Who Began Their Studies in 2016-17 and Received a Degree or Award Within 150% of "Normal Time" to Completion for Their Program
  • Interpret data with caution: WGU enrolled a small number of first-time, full-time undergraduate students in these academic years. In general, first-time, full-time students are approximately 1.0% or less of the total undergraduate headcount.
open-close Outcome Measures
  • Alternative measures of student success are reported by degree-granting institutions to describe the outcomes of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who are not only first-time, full-time students, but also part-time attending and non-first-time (transfer-in) students. These measures are also reported for students receiving Pell grants and those students that do not receive Pell grants. These measures provide the 8-year award-completion rates by award level (certificates, associate's and bachelor degrees) after entering an institution. For students who did not earn any undergraduate award after 8-years of entry, the enrollment statuses are reported as either still enrolled at the institution, or subsequently transferred out of the institution. Unlike the Graduation Rates data, all reporting institutions must report on their transfer outs regardless if the institution has a mission that provides substantial transfer preparation.
FULL-TIME, FIRST-TIME DEGREE/CERTIFICATE-SEEKING UNDERGRADUATES WHO ENTERED IN 2014-15
Award and enrollment rate: [All students] Received a Bachelor's degree: 52% Enrolled at same institution: 4% Enrolled at different institution: 1% [Pell] Received a Bachelor's degree: 51% Enrolled at same institution: 4% Enrolled at different institution: 1% [Non-Pell] Received a Bachelor's degree: 52% Enrolled at same institution: 3% Enrolled at different institution: 1%
FULL-TIME, NON-FIRST-TIME DEGREE/CERTIFICATE-SEEKING UNDERGRADUATES WHO ENTERED IN 2014-15
Award and enrollment rate: [All students] Received a Bachelor's degree: 55% Enrolled at same institution: 2% Enrolled at different institution: 1% [Pell] Received a Bachelor's degree: 46% Enrolled at same institution: 2% Enrolled at different institution: 1% [Non-Pell] Received a Bachelor's degree: 60% Enrolled at same institution: 2% Enrolled at different institution: 1%
  • Interpret data with caution. Western Governors University enrolled a small number of first-time, full-time undergraduate students in these academic years. In general, first-time, full-time students account for approximately 1.0% or less of the total undergraduate headcount.
open-close Programs/Majors
Completions (Number of awards conferred) 2021-2022
Completions are the number of awards conferred by program and award level.
sort byProgramUndergraduate
Certificate		Postgraduate
Certificate		BachelorMaster
  • Data shown are for first majors.
  • (-) Program is not offered at this award level.
  • d identifies programs and award levels that are offered as a distance education program. For program category totals, d is shown if one or more programs in the category are offered as a distance education program.
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Accounting--1,170d320d
Business Administration and Management, General--2,594d2,623d
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other---0d
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General--835d-
Information Resources Management---599d
Management Information Systems, General--679d-
Marketing/Marketing Management, General--556d-
Organizational Leadership---1,368d
Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General--1d-
Category total--5,835d4,910d
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Cloud Computing--219d-
Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance--1,060d1,007d
Computer Programming, Specific Applications--0d-
Computer Programming/Programmer, General--619d-
Computer Science--698d-
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications---0d
Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration--201d598d
Information Technology0d-659d486d
Network and System Administration/Administrator--1d-
System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager--475d-
Category total0d-3,932d2,091d
Education
Biology Teacher Education--91d74d
Chemistry Teacher Education--13d32d
Curriculum and Instruction---2,461d
Early Childhood Education and Teaching--0d-
Earth Science Teacher Education--18d24d
Educational Leadership and Administration, General-9d-468d
Educational/Instructional Technology---1,962d
Elementary Education and Teaching-14d1,802d1,010d
English/Language Arts Teacher Education---202d
Learning Sciences--1,782d61d
Mathematics Teacher Education-0d153d701d
Physics Teacher Education--8d35d
Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education-1d17d172d
Social Science Teacher Education-0d-0d
Special Education and Teaching, General--785d139d
Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor-39d-381d
Category total-63d4,669d7,722d
Health Professions and Related Programs
Family Practice Nurse/Nursing---4d
Health Information/Medical Records Administration/Administrator--328d-
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General--51d-
Health/Health Care Administration/Management--912d1,774d
Nursing Administration-0d-1,505d
Nursing Education-0d-1,211d
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, Other---398d
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse--8,503d-
Category total-0d9,794d4,892d
Grand total06324,23019,615
open-close Servicemembers and Veterans
Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
Tuition policies specifically for Veterans and Servicemembers
Educational Benefits, 2021-2022
Number of students receiving benefits/assistance
Number of students receiving benefits/assistance: Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits - undergraduates: 4677 Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits - graduates: 1076 DoD Tuition Assistance Program - undergraduates: 3337 DoD Tuition Assistance Program - graduates: 620
Average amount of benefits/assistance disbursed through the institution
Average amount of benefits/assistance disbursed through the institution: Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits - undergraduates: $3,495 Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits - graduates: $3,783 DoD Tuition Assistance Program - undergraduates: $2,911 DoD Tuition Assistance Program - graduates: $2,770
RETENTION RATES
RETENTION RATES FOR FIRST-TIME, DEGREE/CERTIFICATE EDUCATION BENEFIT USERS PURSUING BACHELOR'S DEGREES
RETENTION RATES FOR FIRST-TIME, DEGREE/CERTIFICATE EDUCATION BENEFIT USERS PURSUING BACHELOR'S DEGREES Full-time students: 96% Part-time students: 91%
Retention rate is the percentage of undergraduate students who began their studies in academic year 2013-14 and returned in academic year 2014-15
open-close Varsity Athletic Teams
  • No varsity sports data reported for this institution. Data on varsity athletics are submitted annually as required by the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA), by all co-educational postsecondary institutions that have an intercollegiate athletics program. For the most recent data collection, EADA did not collect data on varsity athletics for programs that were cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
open-close Accreditation
Institutional Accreditation
AccreditorStatusNext Review Date
Distance Education Accrediting CommissionAccredited (06/02/2001 - 12/31/2012)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and UniversitiesAccredited since (02/13/2003)10/01/2023
Programmatic Accreditation
Accreditor / ProgramStatusNext Review Date
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levelsAccredited since (11/19/2008)6/30/2024
Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levelsAccredited since (11/19/2008)6/30/2024
 No Longer Recognized  National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Teacher Education (TED) - Baccalaureate and graduate programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional personnel for elementary and secondary schoolsAccredited since (10/21/2006)6/20/2012
National League for Nursing, Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation
Nursing - Bachelor’s degreePreaccredited since (02/18/2022)02/28/2025
Nursing - Master’s degreePreaccredited since (02/18/2022)02/28/2025
  • For more detailed information on accreditation for this institution, including all actions and justification for actions, visit OPE's Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs: ope.ed.gov/dapip/#/institution-profile/165820.
open-close Campus Security and Safety
  • The crime data reported by the institutions have not been subjected to independent verification by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, the Department cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data reported here.
  • The crime statistics displayed only includes On-Campus data associated with the main campus as listed on College Navigator. For statistics associated with each campus location, off campus data, and for additional information covering Hate Crimes, and Fire statistics see https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety.
  • The On-Campus data do not include incidents that: (a) took place on public property, including thoroughfares, streets, sidewalks, and parking facilities, that is within the campus, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus; (b) took place on any building or property owned or controlled by a student organization that is officially recognized by the institution; or (c) took place on any building or property owned or controlled by an institution that is used in direct support of, or in relation to, the institution's educational purposes, is frequently used by students, and is not within the same reasonably contiguous geographic area of the institution.
open-close Cohort Default Rates
Three-year Official Cohort Default Rates
Fiscal Year201920182017
Default rate0.7%3.0%4.1%
Number in default253813922
Number in repayment31,87326,42622,204
Aid Programs
  • Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan)
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