WGU to Offer $50,000 in Scholarships

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Western Governors University (WGU), which recently surpassed enrollment of 50,000 students, is marking this important milestone with the WGU 50K Scholarship Program. The competency-based, online university will award 50 scholarships of $500 per six-month term for up to two terms to new students enrolling in any of WGU's bachelor's or master's degree programs in business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, or health professions, including nursing.

A $1,000 scholarship goes further at WGU, where tuition is charged at a flat rate of about $3,000 per six-month term, and the average time to complete a bachelor's degree is less than 3 years. WGU's competency-based learning model allows students to apply prior learning and experience to move quickly through what they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. In many cases, this allows students to accelerate their progress toward a degree, finishing faster and saving tuition costs. WGU's low tuition, which hasn't increased since 2008, allows many students to graduate with less debt…or none at all.

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be accepted to WGU, submit their academic transcripts, and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on academic record, readiness for online study, financial need, and other considerations. The deadline to apply is November 30, 2014. For more information, visit www.wgu.edu/50K

WGU's online, competency-based degree programs are ideal for busy adults. Competency-based education allows students to study and learn on a schedule that fits their lives, moving through coursework at a pace that works for them and advancing as soon as they demonstrate mastery of subject matter. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction.

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 50,000 students and 40,000 graduates in all 50 states. WGU was 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. In 2014, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) recognized WGU for having the number one secondary teacher education program in the U.S.

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               

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SOURCE Western Governors University