WGU Named Best Value Among Online Colleges and Universities

SALT LAKE CITY, Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The No. 1 best value in online college degrees is Western Governors University (WGU), according to the publisher of a free guide covering the nation's online universities and colleges.

OnlineU named WGU, with its annual tuition of $5,780 for most programs, as the best overall value in its new Best Value Online College Rankings. The rankings were compiled using data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the Federal Student Aid Office, and the schools' official websites. Student reviews from GradReports.com also factored into determining a school's value.

WGU's tuition is charged at a flat rate, which means in addition to being remarkably low—about half the cost of many other online universities—it also allows students to complete as many courses as they are able within a six-month term. WGU's competency-based programs measure learning, not seat time, so as soon as a student has mastered a course's subject matter—real-world competencies developed with employer input—they complete an assessment to demonstrate their knowledge and then move on to the next course. Students who dedicate more time to studying, as well as students whose work and previous college experience have armed them with prior mastery of certain subjects, can often accelerate, completing many more courses than the standard full-time load, graduating faster, and saving money.

In addition to taking the top overall spot on the list, WGU earned a top ranking in five of the guide's program-specific rankings:

• #1 for accounting
• #1 for business
• #1 for education
• #1 for human resources
• #2 for nursing

WGU serves more than 50,000 students in all 50 states and has awarded more than 40,000 bachelor's and master's degrees in the 17 years since it opened its virtual doors. The OnlineU ranking is the latest in a string of awards and recognitions dating back to the university's founding by 19 U.S. governors. Recent recognitions include:

• The White House highlighted WGU in a report on post-secondary job-training and education programs that are achieving results.
• The National Council on Teacher Quality named WGU's secondary teacher-preparation program the best in the country.
• Affordable Online College ranked WGU #1 in the nation for combining affordability with academic quality.
• Accounting Degree Review named WGU #1 on its list of top affordable online bachelor's degree programs in accounting.
• The 2015 Military Friendly® Schools list included WGU as a top school for military service members, veterans, and their families for the fifth year running.
• For the sixth consecutive year, WGU received the Best of State medal in its headquarters state of Utah for best online education.

WGU offers 55 degree programs—including bachelor's and master's degrees as well as post-baccalaureate and teacher endorsement preparation programs—in four disciplines: business, information technology, teacher education, and nursing. Learn more at http://www.wgu.edu.

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. Regionally 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. 

WGU has earned the support of more than 20 leading corporations and foundations, including 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.

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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    

SOURCE Western Governors University