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An introduction to Western Governors University.

So, whatÌýisÌýºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ?

This is the most common question that I receive as the VP of External Affairs for ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ. The easy answer is: ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is an online, competency-based higher education institution that promises students a high-quality, low-cost education.

But there is so much more to the ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ story. I’ve spent the past eight years sharing this story with legislators and community leaders across the country. And now, through ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s Sage Advice blog, I’ll strive to share it with you.

As with most stories, it’s best to start at the beginning.ÌýOnce upon a time…

The History of ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ

In the mid-1990s, governors across the western United States were challenged by the rising cost and underwhelming performance of higher education in their states.ÌýThey lacked the college-educated workforce needed to fill their states’ open positions, and they needed to create an alternative–something that could avail itself to mid-career professionals looking for either a way up in their current career or a way on to the next opportunity.

At the same time these conversations were happening, a revolutionary new technology was emerging.ÌýThe internet would provide a means to deliver education online to the maximum number of people.Ìý

And so, at a 1997 meeting of the Western Governors’ Association, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ was born.Ìý

By harnessing the power of the internet and following a competency-based education model, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ revolutionized the way students learn. For the first time, higher education was no longer restricted by time and place; instead, learning met the students where they were, when they were available.Ìý

In the 25 years since, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ has transformed the landscape of higher education–and we have the numbers to prove it.

ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ By the Numbers

FOUR:ÌýºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ offers programs in four high-demand colleges: Information Technology, Business, Healthcare, and Education. Within these four colleges, there are 67 distinct programs, each established to meet an existing workforce need.

37:ÌýThe average ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ student is 37 years old, although we serve students in their teens all the way up to their late 80s.

95:ÌýOver 95 percent of employers surveyed say they would hire another ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ Ìý student.

$8,000:ÌýThe cost to pursue a degree at ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is 8,000 dollars, broken down into two six-month terms. As a completely self-sustaining university, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ uses these tuition dollars to cover all costs incurred in order to provide students the educational resources they need to receive a degree.Ìý[ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ Financial Aid]

8,000:ÌýºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ currently employs a staff of roughly 8,000 across the country.

45,000:ÌýºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ awarded 45,000 degrees in 2021 alone, bringing us to a total of 285,000 in our first 25 years.

132,000:ÌýAs of 2022, there are 132,000 students enrolled in ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ across the country.

800,000:ÌýOn average, a student who enrolls at ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ at the average age of 37 and earns a bachelor’s degree will receive an additional 800,000 dollars before retirement.

39,000,000:ÌýThere are more than 39 million American adults with some college education, but no degree.

These numbers tell just a fraction of the story of ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ. Over the coming weeks, I will share more about who ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ was designed to serve, how ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is making education work for everyone, and why we proudly claim to be the most student-centric university in the world.

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