Attend a university
that's innovative
and affordable
degree at WGU
Choose from over 60 flexible degree options
Explore our career-aligned bachelor's and master's programs
Earn a respected degree for about half the cost
Affordable Education
Many students want to go back to school and pursue higher education, but the cost can be overwhelming and deter many students from attending college. This doesn’t have to be the case! At WGU, we work hard to keep our tuition as affordable as possible.
Get a fully accredited education at about half the national average:
- Average WGU yearly bachelor’s tuition: $7,452—Compare this to the national average yearly bachelor’s degree tuition price of $12,112, according to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
- Average WGU yearly master’s tuition: $7,842—Compare this to the national average for yearly master’s tuition degree price of $22,913, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
We call it competency-based education. Our grads call it the best way to learn.
An Innovative Learning Experience
Student success is our focus
WGU has pioneered a unique learning model that allows you to be in the driver’s seat of your education. We want you to utilize your past knowledge, capitalize on your experience, and follow the best process for your own learning. That’s why we developed competency-based education.
What is competency-based education?
Simply put, it measures skills and learning rather than time spent in a classroom. Students progress through courses as soon as they can prove they’ve mastered the material, rather than advancing only when the semester or term ends. If you can learn faster, spend more time on schoolwork, or lean on knowledge you already have from previous work or school experience, you can accelerate through your courses.
More than $23 million in scholarships were awarded last year
WGU Scholarships
Through the generosity of numerous corporations and foundations, plus our own suite of scholarships, WGU maintains a robust program of scholarships made available to qualified students.
Here are some of the WGU scholarships that can make your education even more affordable:
- Year of You Scholarship—For a limited time, the Year of You Scholarship—worth up to $2,500 toward our already-low tuition—is one more way we’re putting your degree, and the change you’ve been wanting, within reach.
- Online Access Scholarship—WGU has partnered with T-Mobile for this scholarship to provide the coverage, capacity, and devices needed to empower students to participate in higher education online.
- Opportunity Grant—This $10,000 grant will help up to 50 potential WGU students earn a bachelor’s degree from any of WGU’s four colleges.
Discover what graduating from WGU means for your future
Student Success
Return on investment isn’t just something we talk about—it’s real. WGU graduates reported an average salary increase of $22,200 within two years of graduation, compared with pre-enrollment. Four years after graduation, that number grows to an average increase of $29,200.†
WGU also prepares its students for successful careers:
- 97% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
- 95% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
- 99% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
†From a 2022 Harris Poll survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.
*From a 2022 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates
Accreditations
WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), an institutional accreditation body of colleges and universities in a seven-state region. WGU also has the distinction of being the only university to have received regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions at the same time.
