WGU and National Military Family Association Announce New Scholarship for Military Families

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of Military Appreciation Month, nonprofits Western Governors University (WGU) and National Military Family Association (NMFA) have teamed up to announce a new scholarship to help active-duty military, their spouses, and veterans go back to school and earn their bachelor's and master's degrees.

The WGU Military Appreciation Scholarship, valued at up to $2,000 per student, will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU's already-low tuition of about $3,000 per term. WGU will award up to 50 scholarships to new students nationwide, five of which are reserved solely for NMFA and their network of military spouses. Applications are being accepted now through February at www.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.    

WGU—honored six consecutive years by Military Advanced Education Magazine as a Top Military-Friendly School and five consecutive years as a Military Friendly® School by militaryfriendlyschools.com—is designed to provide the kind of flexibility that nontraditional students like service members and their families need. Of the 50,000 students currently enrolled in WGU nationwide, more than 3,000 are active-duty military personnel, veterans, or dependent family members of military personnel.

WGU uses an innovative approach to earning a degree called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money.

WGU's 50-plus accredited degree programs—in the high demand fields of business, information technology, education, and health professions including nursing—are designed in collaboration with councils of experts from industry and academia, ensuring that students graduate knowing what they need to know to be successful. Students begin their terms on the first day of any month, and they graduate as soon as they are able to complete all the required coursework.

To be eligible for a WGU Military Appreciation Scholarship, an applicant must be a new WGU student, and be officially admitted to WGU. While multiple scholarships will be awarded, it is a competitive program, with scholarships awarded based on a candidate's academic record, readiness for online study, and current competency, as well as other considerations. The deadline to apply is February 28, 2015.

For more information, visit www.wgu.edu/militaryappreciation.   

About Western Governors University
WGU is the pioneer and leader in competency-based education. Today, the online university is among the 25 largest nonprofit or public universities in the U.S. Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, WGU has been named one of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies and featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. In addition, WGU has been recognized as a top military-friendly school by Military Advanced Education Magazine and G.I. Jobs. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

About National Military Family Association
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit dedicated to serving the families who stand behind the uniform. Since 1969, NMFA has worked to strengthen and protect millions of families through its advocacy and programs. They provide spouse scholarships, camps for military kids, and retreats for families reconnecting after deployment and for the families of the wounded, ill, or injured. NMFA serves the families of the currently serving, retired, wounded or fallen members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA. To get involved or to learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org

Contact for media inquiries:
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SOURCE Western Governors University