Western Governors University is a nonprofit online university founded in 1997 that serves working adults seeking to advance their careers through higher education. Operating across all 50 U.S. states, it has enrolled over 300,000 students and operates as the nation's largest nonprofit online university.
The institution offers competency-based bachelor's and master's degrees in Business, Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions including Nursing. Rather than measuring progress by time spent in class, WGU's model assesses whether students have demonstrated required competencies, allowing those with existing knowledge to accelerate through material and focus on new learning. Students pay flat-rate tuition per six-month term rather than per credit hour, reducing overall costs and enabling faster degree completion for many working adults.
Each student receives one-on-one faculty mentorship throughout their program. Course scheduling and delivery are designed explicitly for working professionals, removing traditional barriers to access for those balancing employment with education. Program offerings have been developed with input from industry experts to ensure alignment with workforce needs.
