WGU Study Suggests Improved Earning Potential for Graduates

Average earnings of 2006-2009 graduates of online university have increased an average of $18,600 annually compared with pre-enrollment levels

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There's good news for busy adults considering going back to college to complete a bachelor's or master's degree—nonprofit, online Western Governors University (WGU), www.wgu.edu, appears to be worth the investment. In a study conducted last year by Harris Interactive, currently employed WGU graduates from 2010-2012 reported a net increase in their annual incomes of $9,000, on average, compared with the incomes they were earning prior to enrollment. In addition, currently employed WGU graduates from 2006-2009 reported a net increase in their annual incomes of $18,600, on average, compared with the income they were earning prior to enrollment. The survey was conducted online in August and September of last year by Harris Interactive among 1,079 graduates of WGU.

As the economy and job markets have changed over the past several years, many Americans have begun to question the value of a college degree, but even during the recession, college graduates were able to keep their jobs at a higher rate and earn more than those without degrees. And forecasts by the Georgetown University Center for Education and the Workforce show that by 2018, 63 percent of new jobs will require a college credential. So, despite the questioning, a high-quality college education is still worth pursuing.

There are about 37 million adults in the U.S. who have started college but have not completed a degree.* Busy adults with job, family, and financial responsibilities need to know that the time and money they invest in earning a degree will help make life better for them and their families. These adults, who've often completed some college, frequently consider online universities for their flexibility, but sometimes worry that a degree from an online school may not be as effective in helping them achieve their career and financial goals.

"While no university can guarantee its students an increase in income after graduation, the study conducted by Harris Interactive provides strong evidence that the online, competency-based degree programs offered by WGU are worth the investment," said Jason Levin, WGU's Vice President of Institutional Research. "In addition, we survey employers of our graduates annually, and their feedback indicates that WGU graduates are well prepared for their jobs. In last year's survey, 95% of employers rated the performance of their WGU graduate as about the same as or stronger than the job performance of employees who were graduates of other universities."

WGU offers accredited bachelor's and master's degree programs in four high-demand career fields: business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. The university uses an innovative approach to learning called competency-based education, which allows students to earn their degrees by demonstrating what they know and can do rather than spending time in class to accumulate credit hours. Designed to meet the needs of adult learners, competency-based education allows students to apply prior education and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members, called mentors, work one-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

Course curriculum and requirements are developed in collaboration with representatives from industry and other academic institutions, ensuring that students graduate with the knowledge and skills employers need. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, often finishing sooner, saving both time and money. Tuition for most WGU degree programs, which has not increased since 2008, is charged at a flat rate of about $3,000 per six-month term.

About Western Governors University
Named one of  Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies 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 the only university in the U.S. offering accredited, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs. 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).

On June 11, 2010, WGU Indiana was created by Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's eighth state university. WGU Washington was established by the Washington State Legislature on April 22, 2011.  On August 3, 2011, the state of Texas created WGU Texas. On February 15, 2013, Governor Jay Nixon announced the establishment of WGU Missouri, and on July 9, 2013, Governor Bill Haslam announced the establishment of WGU Tennessee. These state-based universities are state-endorsed and offer degree programs that are accredited through Western Governors University.

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.

About the Survey
The 2012 Successes and Experiences of Recent Graduates survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Western Governors University between August 2 and September 10, 2012, online among 1,079 WGU graduates (including 745 currently employed graduates from 2010-2012 and 197 currently employed graduates from 2006-2009) and 1,548 graduates from other U.S. colleges/universities who were between the ages of 20-64 and received at least one degree since 2006 in one of the following areas: education/teaching, business, information technology, or nursing, and by telephone among 100 employers of WGU graduates. Data for WGU graduates and national graduates were weighted by key demographic variables to align with their actual proportions in the population. Data for WGU employers were not weighted. No estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.  A complete survey methodology is available upon request. For more information on the survey, including methodology and questionnaires providing answers to each survey question, please contact Joan Mitchell at 801.428.5463 or [email protected].

*Source: "A Stronger Nation through Higher Education," The Lumina Foundation for Education, September 2010.

**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).

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – Director of PR
801-428-5463
[email protected]

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

SOURCE Western Governors University