Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, nonprofit online university based in Utah, with 210,208 students enrolled in fall 2024. Its pros are low tuition, a competency-based model that lets you move as fast as you can prove mastery, open admission and regional accreditation; its cons are fully self-directed study, no campus life and a 46% overall graduation rate for first-time students.
Below are the pros and cons in detail, followed by cost, outcome and accreditation figures from the federal College Navigator database, so you can judge whether WGU is legit and a good school for you.
Western Governors University at a Glance
- Type: private not-for-profit online university.
- Founded: 1997 by the governors of 19 U.S. states; its first degree programs launched in August 1999.
- Format: 100% online, competency-based; no physical campus and no intercollegiate sports.
- Schools: four schools covering business, technology, health (including nursing) and education, with 96 degree programs as of March 2025.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 210,208 total, 155,088 undergraduate; 84% of undergraduates are 25 or older.
- Admission: open admission.
Pros: What WGU Does Well
- Low tuition. College Navigator lists tuition and fees of $8,658 for 2024-2025 and the average net price after grants was $11,328 in 2023-2024.
- Move at your own pace. Competency-based programs measure what you know rather than time spent: students progress through a course as soon as they prove they have mastered the material, instead of waiting for the term to end. Working adults with prior experience can move quickly.
- Built for working adults. Every student studies online, most are over 25, and each student is assigned a program mentor who builds a personalised term plan and stays with them until graduation.
- Legitimate, regionally accredited degrees. WGU has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 2003. Its Teachers College was the first exclusively online school to receive NCATE accreditation, in 2006, and its education programs are accredited by CAEP. Its nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.
- Nonprofit status. WGU is a private nonprofit founded by state governors, not a for-profit company.
- Open admission and modest borrowing. WGU has an open admission policy, and in 2023-2024 about half of first-time students (51%) took out federal loans, averaging $4,469.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at WGU
- You must be self-driven. There are no scheduled lectures to keep you on track. Students who struggle to set their own deadlines can stall.
- Low completion for first-time students. Of first-time bachelor’s students who began in 2018-19, 33% finished in four years and 46% in six. 65% of first-time students returned for a second year.
- Very large classes on paper. The student-to-faculty ratio is 42 to 1; much of the support comes through mentors, course instructors and evaluators rather than traditional classes.
- No campus experience. There is no physical campus, no campus housing and no intercollegiate athletics.
- Not ranked in the usual way. U.S. News listed WGU as “Unranked” among western regional universities in its 2020 rankings, so it does not carry the name recognition of a traditional state university with some employers.
What WGU Costs: Tuition and Net Price
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, 2024-2025 | $8,658 |
| Total estimated cost living off campus (not with family), 2024-2025 | $17,958 |
| Average net price, 2023-2024 | $11,328 |
| Average grant for first-time students, 2023-2024 | $5,455 |
By income, the 2023-2024 net price ranged from $12,064 for families earning up to $30,000 to $14,824 for families earning $75,001-$110,000. Because students who accelerate can finish more courses in less time, your real cost depends heavily on your pace.
Is WGU a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For a motivated working adult who wants an accredited, affordable online degree in business, IT, nursing or teaching, WGU is a good school and a legitimate one. Its accreditation, nonprofit status and low tuition set it apart from many online options.
It is a weaker fit for recent high school graduates. Federal graduation data for first-time students, a 46% overall graduation rate and 65% retention, suggest that students who need structure or campus support may do better elsewhere.
Who Accredits WGU, and Is It Legit?
Yes. WGU is institutionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), with accreditation dating from 2003, and College Navigator lists its next review for 2030. Before that it was accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission from 2001 to 2012. Education programs hold CAEP accreditation and nursing programs CCNE accreditation, and students can use federal financial aid.
Who WGU Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
A good fit for: working adults, career changers, students with prior college credit or industry experience, and teachers or nurses seeking an accredited online credential.
Worth comparing alternatives if: you want a traditional college experience, need structured class times, or want a degree from a well-known local university.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is WGU a real university? Yes. It is a private nonprofit university accredited by NWCCU.
- Is WGU a for-profit school? No. It is a private not-for-profit institution.
- Is WGU hard to get into? It has an open admission policy, though programs may have their own requirements.
- Does WGU have a campus? No. All study is online.