Scholarship to Make "Back-to-School" a Reality for More Working Adults

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As children and young adults head back to school, thousands of working Missourians who desire a bachelor's or master's degree find college out of reach. WGU Missouri is helping adult students finish what they started and advance their careers—online and on a flexible schedule—with the Back-to-School Scholarship. Scholarships of up to $2,000 are available to aspiring students with some previous college experience who wish to finish their degree.

"Back-to-school is an exciting time, and it's not too late for adults, even those with full-time jobs, to have a new beginning of their own," said WGU Missouri Chancellor Angie Besendorfer. "We're excited to help more Missourians discover how attainable a college degree can be."

The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU Missouri's already-low tuition of roughly $3,000 per term for most programs. Applications are currently being accepted at missouri.wgu.edu/bts.

Students enrolling in any of WGU Missouri's more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs are invited to apply. To be eligible for the Back-to-School Scholarship, applicants must have at least 60 prior college credits, complete an essay about "My Motivation for Going Back to School," be admitted to the university, and participate in an interview with a scholarship counselor. While WGU Missouri enrolls new students every month, the scholarship is available to students enrolling this fall—applications are due October 31. 

WGU Missouri offers more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. The online university uses an innovative approach to learning called competency-based education, where students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of subject matter. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of prior learning and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU Missouri faculty members work one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU Missouri's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their progress to their degrees, saving both time and money. For more information about WGU Missouri, visit missouri.wgu.edu.

While multiple scholarships will be awarded, the Back-to-School Scholarship is a competitive program. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student's academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is October 31, 2014. For more information about the Back-to-School Scholarship, visit missouri.wgu.edu/bts.  

About WGU Missouri

WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the high-demand fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including Nursing. WGU Missouri employs full-time faculty who serve as mentors, working one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Established by the state through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University (WGU), WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. Through WGU, all WGU Missouri programs are accredited, and the university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $6,000 per year for most programs.

More information is available at missouri.wgu.edu or by calling 855.948.8493.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Kelly MacNeil
314-677-2303
[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:
855-948-8493
missouri.wgu.edu

SOURCE WGU Missouri