What WGU Students Look Like: A Study in Diversity
Modern education is far from a one-size-fits-all learning experience, and Western Governors University tailors its educational experience to each student’s needs and objectives. As a pioneer of online education and the innovative competency-based education model, WGU attracts students from a broad array of backgrounds.
One university, many students.
About two-thirds of WGU students are female, and the other third are male. The average WGU student is almost 37 years old, but the school serves students of all ages, ranging from 17 to 98. And many of WGU’s students are Pell Grant recipients—about 22 percent of them, in fact.
If you’ve already attended college, you'll be in good company at WGU. In fact, almost every WGU student—99.6 percent of them—began their studies at another college or university before coming to WGU.
A bridge to career success.
The path to a fulfilling career is built on a strong education—and professionals across many fields and at every stage of career development can cite WGU as their foundation.
Take proud alumnus Kwesi Williams, for example. Kwesi is proof that WGU students can, with hard work and dedication, work their way through the university’s competency-based education and embark upon the career of their choosing. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, then a master’s in management and leadership, and then an MBA. He and the tens of thousands of students who earn degrees and certifications from WGU each year demonstrate that the will to succeed is all you need.
And while it takes dedication, the path to a value-added degree or certification can be surprisingly time- and cost-efficient. WGU student Rayna Moore pivoted from the promotional marketing industry to a career as a high school science teacher. She ultimately obtained her master’s degree from WGU and then got her teaching license.
“I loved that I could complete courses at my own pace and on my own schedule,” Rayna says. “I was able to complete the entire program in about 16 months. I also appreciated the low cost of the program and the fact that it included as many courses as I wanted to take in a six-month period and was not a price-per-credit.”
Opening doors starts with a commitment.
Whether you’re in the middle of your career or you're just starting it, there’s a place for you at WGU. WGU graduates have been employed by some of the largest, most recognizable companies in the world, including Bank of America, Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Pfizer, the Walt Disney Company, Toyota, and Visa.
So what do WGU’s students look like? They look like new teachers seeking their first teaching license and experienced classroom teachers adding endorsements and specializations to their licenses through WGU's suite of education degrees.
They look like the health professionals of today and tomorrow, who wish to upgrade their skills with WGU’s popular selection of healthcare degrees.
They look like IT professionals who want to broaden their skill sets and earn marketable certifications through WGU’s programs in cybersecurity, data analytics, and other tech-enhanced areas.
They look like the market influencers, strategic thinkers, and team leaders in WGU’s industry-relevant, value-added business programs.
They look like the leaders of today and tomorrow—leaders like Jared Preusz, who had more than 10 years of experience in marketing, social media, and journalism when he enrolled in an MBA program at WGU.
“I decided to pursue an MBA because I wanted to take my career to the next level and become a people manager,” Preusz says. “The MBA and its curriculum were a perfect fit for my career aspirations because it teaches you valuable skills in business, management, and strategy, which are all essential for successful people leadership.”
There are WGU programs for people from all walks of life. The common denominators are a passion for learning and a desire to succeed—and with WGU’s flexible program offerings, the university experience is as varied as the student body.
