Western Governors University: A History of Innovation and Accessibility

Western Governors University (WGU) stands as a unique institution in the landscape of higher education, distinguished by its competency-based learning model and commitment to accessibility. From its inception to its current status as a nationally recognized online university, WGU has consistently challenged traditional educational norms to better serve its students.

The Genesis of WGU: A Vision of Western Governors

The seeds of WGU were sown in June 1995 at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association. Then-governor of Utah, Mike Leavitt, proposed the idea of a competency-based university that would cater to the needs of working adults. Formally proposed the following November, the initiative gained momentum, and in June 1996, each signing state governor committed $100,000 towards launching the new institution.

While the initial funding came from government sources, WGU was established as a self-supporting private, nonprofit institution. This unique structure allowed WGU to maintain its focus on student success and innovation without being constrained by traditional bureaucratic structures.

Early Program Launches and Accreditation

In August 1999, WGU launched its first degree programs, including an Associate of Arts in General Education, three technology-focused Associate of Applied Arts degrees, and a Master of Arts degree in Learning and Technology. Genevieve Kirch became WGU's first graduate in December 2000, marking a significant milestone in the university's history.

The university continued to expand its offerings and gain recognition. In 2001, the United States Department of Education awarded $10 million to found the Teachers College, and the first programs were offered in Information Technology. In 2003, WGU achieved another significant milestone by becoming the first school to be accredited in four different regions by the Interregional Accrediting Committee.

Expansion and Recognition

WGU's growth continued in the following years. In 2006, the fourth college, the College of Health Professions, was founded, and the school's Teachers College became the first online teacher-preparation program to receive NCATE accreditation.

In 2010, WGU expanded its reach with the establishment of its first state-established offshoot, WGU Indiana, by Governor Mitch Daniels. This marked a new era for the university, with state-based subsidiaries offering increased name recognition and access to state-based aid. The university also reached 20,000 students for the first time in 2010, demonstrating its growing popularity and impact.

State-Based Subsidiaries: Expanding Access and Recognition

The success of WGU Indiana paved the way for the creation of several other state-based subsidiaries. On January 8, 2013, Governor Bill Haslam announced the creation of WGU Tennessee. Shortly after, on January 28, 2013, Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri announced the founding of WGU Missouri. Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada launched WGU Nevada on June 16, 2015.

These subsidiaries share the same academic model, faculty, services, accreditation, tuition, and curricula as WGU. They were established to provide official state endorsement and increased name recognition to WGU in those states, as well as to qualify students of those affiliates for state-based aid.

Further expansion included WGU North Carolina, launched on October 5, 2017, and WGU Ohio, which opened on June 21, 2018. Each of these state-based entities further solidifies WGU's commitment to accessible, high-quality education across the nation.

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Addressing Challenges and Maintaining Integrity

WGU has faced challenges throughout its history, including scrutiny from the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General. However, in a response from WGU, enclosed with the final audit report, WGU president Scott D. Pulsipher expressed confidence in the university's compliance with federal regulations. The Department of Education's Federal Student Aid (FSA) office ultimately issued their final decision disagreeing with the inspector general and determining that WGU was indeed eligible to participate in federal student aid.

FSA reviewed the OIG's report, examined WGU's records regarding interactions between students and academic staff, and also reviewed the favorable findings of WGU's accrediting agency. FSA determined that WGU's efforts to comply with the governing law and regulations were reasonable and undertaken in good faith, particularly in light of a lack of clear guidance from the department at the time of the audit period.

The WGU Model: Competency-Based Education and Personalized Support

WGU's competency-based education model is a cornerstone of its success. This approach measures acquired skills and learning rather than time on task, allowing students to progress through courses as soon as they can prove they have mastered the material. Students demonstrate their competency through various assessments, including writing-based and test-based evaluations.

WGU was one of the first accredited schools to embrace competency-based education, and its success has inspired other universities to adopt similar models. Former United States Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan has stated, "While such programs [like WGU] are now the exception, I want them to be the norm."

In addition to its innovative learning model, WGU provides personalized support to its students. After being cleared for enrollment, each student is assigned a Program Mentor, who is an expert in their field. The program mentor creates a personalized term plan, provides information on programs, policies, and procedures, and assesses students' strengths and development needs to help establish a study plan. When a student begins a course, they are assigned a primary course instructor for that course. These subject matter experts have advanced degrees such as a doctorate or other significant post-graduate work in the courses they instruct. Evaluators are subject-matter experts who review assessments to determine if competency has been demonstrated. They are experts in their areas of evaluation, with doctoral degrees or other significant post-graduate work. They review submissions extensively, providing clear and comprehensive feedback to support student development.

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Colleges and Programs: A Wide Range of Opportunities

WGU is composed of four colleges, each offering bachelor's and master's degree programs:

College of Business: Offers degrees designed to expand skill sets for the 21st century, with online schooling options for both experienced business professionals and motivated learners.
Teachers College: Provides a variety of bachelor's, post-baccalaureate, endorsement-preparation, and master's degree programs in education, preparing students for teacher licensure in all 50 states.
College of Information Technology: Offers degrees designed to help IT professionals earn online degrees, with certifications included in most programs at no extra cost.
College of Health Professions: Provides opportunities to earn a nursing or healthcare degree and fill a vital role in today's dynamic healthcare environment.

WGU offers 17 business degrees, 12 IT degrees, 16 healthcare degrees, and 30 education degrees, alongside 7 certificate programs.

Online Learning and Assessment

All aspects of learning at WGU, with the exception of demonstration teaching for teacher licensure programs and clinical experiences in the pre-licensure program for nurses, are completed entirely online. Performance-based assessments are typically completed by submitting written assignments, which are checked for academic integrity using the online plagiarism checker Unicheck. Objective assessments usually consist of exams created by the university, containing multiple-choice, multiple-answer, true-false, and/or matching questions. Exams are taken online and are monitored by an online proctoring service such as ProctorU or Examity. Some objective assessments require students to obtain a professional certification, many of which require students to attend a commercial testing center such as Pearson VUE to complete the relevant exam(s).

Admissions and Faculty

WGU has a multi-step admissions process. To qualify for the general graduate admission requirement, the applicant must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and complete an interview with the enrollment office. Many programs require either an associate degree from an accredited college, significant previous college credits, or significant related work experience. The school does not require SAT or ACT scores for undergraduate admission.

WGU's faculty consists of program mentors, course instructors, program faculty (who oversee course content), and evaluation faculty. Some courses require students to take exams remotely with an online proctor.

Career Support and Affordability

The WGU Career and Professional Development Center offers student resources, individual support, and a job board to assist students and alumni in their career development and job search. These services involve assisting students and alumni to get job interviews, career planning, assistance in applying to graduate and professional schools, and internship placements.

WGU is committed to affordability. As of 2025, WGU's average yearly tuition was $8,300 for undergraduate programs and $8,856 for graduate programs. Tuition is charged at a flat rate per six-month term, regardless of the number of courses taken or credits completed. WGU scholarships and federal financial aid are available for qualified students. WGU also accepts military tuition assistance, VA education benefits, and is a designated Yellow Ribbon School.

Military Support

WGU recognizes the work and commitment it takes to serve the country and strives to make educational opportunities available to service members, veterans, and their families. Military FriendlyÂ® Schools has recognized WGU for 14 consecutive years. WGU supports, empowers, and assists its military-affiliated students through a dedicated Military Tuition Assistance Team. WGU is proud to provide the nationâs young leaders multiple pathways to pursue higher education through partnerships with the Defense Acquisition University, the Community College of the Air Force, and the United States Naval Community College. More than 29,000 service members, veterans, and their families are currently enrolled.

A Look into the Future

WGU continues to innovate and expand its reach. In July 2018, WGU launched the Center for Applied Learning Science (CALS), a laboratory which focuses on innovation. In October 2018, Carnegie Mellon University and WGU's CALS teamed up to work on an artificial intelligence professional development project.

With its acquisition of Craft Education, WGU is exploring new ways for full-time working students to earn degrees through skills demonstrated on the job.

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