WGU Graduates Get High Ratings from Employers

Survey by Harris Interactive Shows High Level of Satisfaction with Graduates of Western Governors University

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the vast majority of adults returning to college to earn a bachelor's or master's degree, there is a goal in mind: advancing their careers. While busy adults increasingly choose online universities for their flexibility, they need assurance that the degrees they earn will be respected by employers. Western Governors University (WGU), www.wgu.edu, recently commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a survey of employers of its graduates, asking questions about their preparation and job performance. The responses by employers demonstrate that WGU graduates are well prepared and highly valued employees:

• 96 percent said that WGU graduates exceed their expectations.
• 97 percent rated WGU graduates' job performance as good as or better than the job performance of graduates from other colleges and universities; 57 percent rated it better.
• 98 percent indicated that they would be willing to hire another WGU graduate.
• 100 percent said that the WGU graduates they hired were prepared for their jobs; 88 percent said they were very well or extremely well prepared.

WGU's competency-based learning model is ideal for busy adults who want to increase their education to advance their careers. Competency-based learning measures learning rather than time spent in class, allowing students to advance as soon as they demonstrate their mastery of course subject matter. Required competencies for each degree program are defined in collaboration with employers, ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the workforce. Students have 24/7 access to course materials and have the individualized support and guidance of faculty mentors. They study and learn on their own schedules and at their own pace, moving quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. In many cases, this shortens the time to graduation—the average time to complete a bachelor's degree at WGU is about 3 years.

Tuition at WGU is affordable—about $3,000 per six-month term for most programs—and it is charged at a flat rate, regardless of the number of courses taken. The university is committed to keeping costs as low as possible; tuition has not increased since 2008.

More information about WGU student and graduate success can be found at http://www.wgu.edu/gradsuccess. 

About Western Governors University
Recognized by President Obama as an innovative university that "awards credits based on learning, not seat time," Western Governors University is the only university in the U.S. offering accredited, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs at scale. Named one of  Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies for 2013," WGU has been featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times.

WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WGU's Teachers College is the first exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. The WGU bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs are accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education).

Western Governors University has partnered with five states to establish state-based universities aimed at adding affordable capacity to state higher education systems. WGU Indiana, WGU Missouri, WGU Tennessee, WGU Texas, and WGU Washington are key elements in their states' strategies for increasing the percentage of adults with bachelor's or master's degrees. These state-endorsed universities offer degree programs that are accredited through WGU.

The university has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations. They include institutions such as AT&T, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lilly Endowment, HCA, Hewlett-Packard, Lumina Foundation, Microsoft, Oracle, SunGard Higher Education, and Zions Bank. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

*Western Governors University offers nursing programs that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791).

Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – VP of Public Relations
801-428-5463
[email protected]

Contact for enrollment information:
866-225-5948
www.wgu.edu

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SOURCE Western Governors University