WGU Washington Tops 10,000 Student Enrollment Milestone

Elizabeth Shin of Seattle recognized as the online, nonprofit university's "10,000th Student"

News provided by

Nov 16, 2016, 02:55 ET

KENT, Wash., Nov. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the first time ever, WGU Washington's current, annual enrollment has topped 10,000 students. The online, competency-based university graduates and adds new students every month, year round – and the addition of this month's new starts pushed enrollment to 10,076 – the highest figure since the university launched in 2011.

The person recognized as the 10,000th student is Elizabeth Shin of Seattle. Shin started work on her master's degree in Integrated Healthcare Management this month. She works as an imaging technologist in Seattle and enrolled in WGU Washington through the SEIU Healthcare 1199NW Multi-Employer Training and Education Fund – one of the university's strategic partners.

"I chose WGU Washington for my master's because it's online and I can study when it's convenient for me," said Shin. "I'm passionate about using new technologies to raise the potential and quality of healthcare. What I'll learn in my degree program will help me make a greater impact in that area."

To celebrate, the university is offering its largest scholarship opportunity ever: the WGU Washington 10,000 Students Scholarship. Three scholarships are available, each worth up to $10,000 ($2,500 per term up to four terms). The awards can be used for any of WGU Washington's more than 60 degree programs.

In addition to over 10,000 currently enrolled students, WGU Washington has granted bachelor's and master's degrees in business, IT, teacher education, and health professions to well over 7,000 graduates. The university's students and alumni live in all 39 counties in this state and work in nearly 4,000 businesses.

"Since our state's Legislature helped create WGU Washington in 2011, the university has become an important solution to several, significant issues facing our state – including a widening skills-gap in the workforce and skyrocketing tuition costs in higher education," said Jean Floten, chancellor of WGU Washington. "Additionally, our university is allowing Washingtonians to gain new knowledge and skills and, in turn, create better lifestyles for themselves and their families."

About WGU Washington
WGU Washington was established by the State Legislature in 2011 in partnership with nationally recognized and accredited Western Governors University to expand access to higher education for Washington residents.

The state-endorsed, online university offers more than 60 bachelor's and master's degree programs in Business, Information Technology, Teacher Education and Health Professions, including Nursing. WGU Washington's competency-based learning model is designed to meet the needs of working adults by providing an affordable, flexible option for earning an accredited, respected college degree. It's non-profit and receives no money from the state.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and Nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*).

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.

* One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 5380, Washington DC 20036, 202-877-6791

Contact for media inquiries:	Contact for enrollment information:
Jake Riddell – Public Relations Manager	877.214.7004
(206) 512-0025	washington.wgu.edu
[email protected]