Company Profile
Western Governors University
Company Overview
WGU is a nonprofit, online university that was founded by 19 U.S. governors. However, WGU is a private university, not a state university. WGU developed out of a vision for the future of higher education that emerged among the governors of the Western Governors Association (hence our name), but WGU operates independently with its own governance structure. This allows us to keep our focus on students, following the vision that got us started.
As the most student-centric university in the world, the story of WGU is centered on our students. We are directly invested in their struggles, their lives, and their successes.
Too many people have felt that education was out of their reach. Distance, cost, and life situations led them to believe that education was unattainable. From our inception, we have taken these barriers to education head-on so our students have access to the surest way to change their lives for the better—a degree.
Although our university has grown and our focus has widened, our single commitment to our students has not. Our ambition to help individuals bridge the gap from talent to opportunity will never rest.
Company History
Why are we called Western Governors University? Our name tells the story of our founding—a story that dates back to 1997 when a group of U.S. governors came up with an innovative answer to a question of growing concern: "How can we ensure more of our residents have greater access to a college education that fits their schedule?" That meeting of the Western Governors' Association marked the beginnings of a new national university.
From the beginning, we were designed to be different. The U.S. governors who founded WGU knew that the college student of the 21st century would be very different from students in the past. For millions of working adults, the dream of pursuing a college education could only become a reality once the boundaries of time and place could be removed. Overcoming this challenge was at the heart of the WGU idea.
It was the mid-1990s, and a new technology was quickly emerging—the internet. As more and more Americans were able to get online, the possibility of an “anywhere, anytime” education became a reality. And more than simply delivering traditional, lecture-based learning via modem and monitor, our founders recognized that technology could be used to fundamentally change the way college students learn. Harnessing the power of the internet and our innovative learning model—competency-based education—WGU revolutionized the way students learn, master concepts, and progress to a degree.
As a nonprofit, online university founded by governors, WGU is different. But even beyond the unique story of our founding and the foresight of our founders, WGU is different for a more fundamental reason—We do education differently.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
Western Governors University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
WGU also has the distinction of being the only university to have received regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions at the same time.
A repeat Best Value School Designee
The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) has recognized WGU 10 times for leadership in distance learning.
WGU received the 2018 CIQG Quality Award from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation/International Quality Group.
Benefits
Paid maternal and paternal benefits
Emotional health and well-being programs
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs
Tuition discounts