Western Governors University (WGU) is the nation's largest nonprofit online university, founded in 1997 by a group of U.S. governors to expand access to higher education. The institution serves over 300,000 students across all 50 states, focusing specifically on working adults seeking to advance their careers through degree completion.
The university operates on a competency-based education model, which measures learning outcomes rather than classroom time. This allows students to progress through material they already know and concentrate on acquiring new skills. Degrees are offered in Business, Education, Information Technology, and Health Professions, including Nursing, with curricula developed in partnership with industry experts to align with employer needs.
WGU's financial structure uses a flat-rate tuition per six-month term rather than a per-credit model, designed to improve affordability. Each student receives one-on-one support from a faculty mentor. The university's mission centers on solving persistent barriers to higher education access, particularly cost and flexibility constraints that affect working adults.