WGU Scholarship to Make "Back-to-School" a Reality for 100-Plus Working Adults

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Back-to-school season is in full swing across the country. And while children and young adults are heading back to school, millions of working adults who need a bachelor's or master's degree to advance their careers find college out of reach. Western Governors University (WGU) is helping adult students finish what they started and advance their careers—online and on a flexible schedule—with the Back-to-School Scholarship. WGU will award more than 100 scholarships of up to $2,000 in value to aspiring students with some previous college experience who wish to earn a bachelor's or master's degree.

The scholarship 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 roughly $3,000 per term for most programs. Applications are currently being accepted at www.wgu.edu/bts.   

Students enrolling in any of WGU'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 enrolls new students every month, the scholarship is available to students enrolling this fall—applications are due October 31. 

WGU offers accredited 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 earning a degree called competency-based education, which measures learning rather than time spent in class. Students earn their degrees by demonstrating mastery of the subject matter they need to know to be successful—real-world competencies developed with employer input. 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. For more information about WGU, visit www.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 www.wgu.edu/bts.

About Western Governors University 
Established in 1997 by a bipartisan group of U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU has been recognized by the White House as what works in post-secondary education. The online university, which is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has more than 49,000 students and 37,000 graduates in all 50 states. It has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies for 2013 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
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Contact for enrollment information:
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SOURCE Western Governors University