The GI Bill® is very generous for WGU students. Most benefit chapters pay a monthly set amount directly to the student based on full-time, 3/4-time, or half-time enrollment in an undergraduate program. (Half-time benefits are considered to be 12 competency units—a standard full-time load for undergraduate students at WGU.) You can vary your attendance time from term to term. Graduate students will always qualify for full-time benefits when enrolled in the minimum requirement of 8 competency units. Post 9/11 benefits determined by a rate of pursuit calculation and not by full-time, 3/4-time, or half-time attendance.
WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Ready to Achieve Your Future Career Goals? We Can Help You Afford Them.
MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE NOW
With our many military-focused scholarship opportunities, you fill the gap between tuition assistance benefit amounts and WGU's tuition.
Choosing to pursue a degree is a smart decision. WGU helps make paying for it easier on your wallet.
Affordable tuition. Most of our bachelor’s degree programs cost on average $8,300 a year—and most master’s degrees cost on average $8,856 a year. With your military benefits, there’s a good chance that you’ll pay little to nothing for your degree.
Military scholarships. WGU offers several scholarship options for military students, including one specifically for spouses. Scroll down to explore the current available scholarships.
Military-specific support. Once you complete your enrollment, connect with our Military Support Team to work with one of our Military Benefits Specialists to learn the essentials of utilizing your military benefits to help pay for school. You’ll also enjoy one-on-one support from a Program Mentor who is dedicated to your success, as well as a subject matter expert in your degree field.
Total flexibility. All coursework is available online 24/7. With no set class times or test dates, you can work anytime from anywhere.
Career-focused programs. We work with industry leaders to develop our curriculum so that you graduate with the skills and knowledge employers are looking for.
Respected. In a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU grads, 97% said that they would hire another WGU grad.
Get Started in Two Simple Steps
Step 1: Apply for Admission
To be considered for WGU scholarships, you must be provisionally accepted as a WGU student. Please complete the admissions application and work with your Enrollment Counselor to move through the admissions process.
NOTE: Returning WGU graduates should complete the Returning Graduate Application.
Step 2: Apply for Scholarships
To access the scholarship application, you will need your MyWGU student portal credentials, which will be sent to you after Step 1. You are eligible to apply for scholarships 90 days before and up to 30 days after your degree start date.
NOTE: Completing a current aid year FAFSA is highly recommended if eligible to do so.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
Partnering with USNCC and CCAF
WGU partners with the U.S. Naval Community College (USNCC) and Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) to make it easier to earn an associate or bachelor's degree.
The USNCC has selected WGU to provide an Associate of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. Through this program, you can earn a professional certificate in network and cyber defense foundations, along with six CompTIA IT certifications. WGU accepts the required USNCC courses as part of the requirements to earn the associate of science degree (15 of the 61 required competency units). Learn more here.
The Air University—Associate-to-Baccalaureate Cooperative (AU-ABC) program allows students who are currently receiving their associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force to jump into an eligible business or IT program at WGU. If you've earned an associate degree, you may be able to transfer credits toward a bachelor's degree in IT or business. See more information about eligible programs here.
Reach out to our transfer team for specific information on how your current credits can help you earn a degree from WGU.
Earn Your Degree for about Half the Cost of Other Universities*
You pay tuition per six-month term, not per course or credit. So when you move faster through your courses, you also lower your total bill!
WGU students pay about half the tuition,* and end up with half the debt of the national average.**
- Low, flat-rate tuition.
- Graduate faster and with less debt.
- Financial aid and scholarships available.
- Online education with supportive faculty.
- VA and military benefits accepted.
- Great return on investment.
- All course materials for a low, flat fee.
*WGU average annual bachelor’s tuition rates are 47% lower than the national average, compared to national rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Systems in 2023. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science, Nursing Prelicensure program.
**WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
Undergraduate
Most undergraduate programs
$3,755 - $4,365
Graduate
School of Education graduate programs
$4,125
School of Technology graduate programs
$4,040 — $4,655
School of Business graduate programs
$4,755 — $4,755
Leavitt School of Health graduate programs
$4,995
Tuition rates effective September 1, 2024. Costs are per six-month term. Tuition covers unlimited courses per term.
All programs: $200 per-term Resource Fee covers e-textbooks and learning resources. Other fees: Some programs have small per-term or one-time fees specific to that program's costs. Your Enrollment Counselor can provide more information.
Undergraduate
Most undergraduate programs
$3,755 - $4,365
Graduate
School of Education graduate programs
$4,125
School of Technology graduate programs
$4,040 — $4,655
School of Business graduate programs
$4,755 — $4,755
Leavitt School of Health graduate programs
$4,995
Tuition rates effective September 1, 2024. Costs are per six-month term. Tuition covers unlimited courses per term.
All programs: $200 per-term Resource Fee covers e-textbooks and learning resources. Other fees: Some programs have small per-term or one-time fees specific to that program's costs. Your Enrollment Counselor can provide more information.
GI Bill® Education Benefits
All degree programs offered at Western Governors University are approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for all education benefits offered under the GI Bill®. Education benefit options are available for veterans and active-duty service members, dependents, and those with service in the National Guard and Reserves. Eligibility for benefits and the amounts available depend upon the service member's period of military service, years of service, and other factors.
Because of WGU's already-low tuition rates, most education benefits will generally more than cover the full cost of tuition, fees, and books. Check out the Net Price Calculator for an estimate of your costs.
After you are admitted to WGU, your Enrollment Counselor can direct you to WGU’s Military Support Department for specific instructions on completing the necessary paperwork.
Note: Forever GI Bill®– Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, signed into law August 2017. The new Forever GI Bill® offers significant changes to veterans’ education benefits. For example, it expands the number of veterans eligible to use the GI Bill® to include National Guardsmen, Reservists and those who received a Purple Heart post-9/11. It also eliminates the previous 15-year time limit for veterans who left active duty on or after January 1, 2013. The Forever GI Bill® requires applicants to have 90 days of active duty after September 10, 2001. Find out more at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/forevergibill.asp.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered through Veterans Affairs is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
WGU has received the Military Friendly School designation for the 13th consecutive year. For 2024-2025, we have also been ranked as the #1 online school by Military Friendly.
Named among the “Top Military-Friendly Colleges and Universities” for 10 consecutive years.
“I come from a military family, so it came as no surprise when I joined the United States Air Force after graduating high school. I spent seven years in the military and deployed multiple times to Afghanistan as a flight engineer. After separating from the Air Force, I became a Quality Engineer at Boeing, working on the KC-46 Tanker program for the Air Force. I was presented an opportunity to deploy as a government contractor in 2016 and have been doing that ever since. I started as an Airborne Sensor Operator on a United States Army contract performing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. To progress further in my career, I needed to complete an undergraduate degree. While deploying overseas, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Business Management and was promoted to Operations Manager."
—Ralph Richmond
B.S. Business Management,
M.S. Management & Leadership
Military FAQs
Because any veterans’ benefits paid under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is not considered income, it should not be reported on your application for financial aid as such. Submitting a FAFSA is necessary to know whether you qualify for a Pell Grant and/or student loans. Students utilizing Military Tuition Assistance funds must indicate this on their FAFSA as an additional resource toward their tuition cost, which may affect the amount of their award. Click here to learn more about or apply for financial aid.
After you have started your degree program and developed your personalized Degree Plan, the VA department at WGU will certify your program of study to Veterans Affairs. This is done by the last day of the first month of each term. You should receive your first benefit payment within five to eight weeks after a certification is submitted each term. You should then regularly receive a monthly payment after the last day of each month and your verification of attendance (if applicable). But first, you must apply to WGU and be admitted. And you will need to have received notice of your VA education benefit eligibility. WGU’s VA department can help you complete the necessary steps for attendance certification.
WGU does not award traditional “credits” directly for military experience, but an incoming student may have certain requirements waived when the military experience has been ACE-reviewed and applied directly to the WGU degree program. WGU can also waive requirements based upon DANTES and CLEP exams that match with WGU program requirements and meet minimum grading standards. A transcript review is required to determine exactly what can be waived. More importantly, everything you’ve learned that’s relevant to your degree program can potentially help you accelerate your degree. Talk to an Enrollment Counselor to get a detailed explanation. If you have served in any branch of the military, you should be able to obtain a military transcript. WGU’s VA department can direct you to the online resources to request it.
Post 9/11 (CH 33) benefits are paid differently than older chapters. Based on your entitlement, which is factored from your length of qualifying active-duty service, a percentage of your tuition and fees will be sent directly to the school. 100% entitlement will cover your tuition and fees completely each term you have remaining entitlement. You will also receive a monthly stipend sent directly to you if you are not on active duty or the spouse of an active-duty service member utilizing a transfer of entitlement. This payment is 50% of the amount paid to a student attending an on-campus school, multiplied by your rate of pursuit and percentage of entitlement. In an undergraduate program, 18 CUs is considered 100% pursuit, but you do not have to enroll in 18 CUs to get the benefit. 12–17 CUs will be paid at the corresponding lesser percentage. In a graduate program, 8 CUs is considered 100% pursuit. You will also receive a book stipend once each term up to the capped amount for your entitlement.
WGU is committed to helping servicemembers and their families with their career. Our Military and Veteran career resources range from career coaching to military skills translation.
For assistance with your VA Education Benefits or Military Tuition Assistance, contact Military Support or call 1-877-435-7948, ext. 3127.
Contact our Military Engagement team for information or questions about the CCAF AU-ABC Transfer Program
Your Degree Is Closer Than You Think
New students can begin their first term at the beginning of any month. So you can start when you’re ready, rather than rushing (or waiting) for fall or spring enrollment.
MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Step 1: Apply for admission to WGU for free.
Step 2: Apply for one of many scholarship opportunities available to active duty military, veterans, spouses, or dependents.
BACHELOR'S WITH LICENSURE
Special Education and Elementary Education (Dual Licensure) – B.A.
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – B.S.
Science Education (Middle Grades) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – B.S.
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – B.S.
_____
MASTER'S WITH LICENSURE
Teaching, Elementary Education – M.A.
Teaching, English Education (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Mathematics (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Teaching, Mathematics (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Science (Secondary) – M.A.
Teaching, Special Education (K-12) – M.A.
_____
GRADUATE DEGREES FOR LICENSED TEACHERS
Educational Leadership – M.S.
English Language Learning (PreK-12) Endorsement Preparation
Science Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Chemistry) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Physics) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Biological Science) – M.A.
Science Education (Secondary Earth Science) – M.A.
Mathematics Education (Middle Grades) – M.A.
Mathematics Education (Secondary) – M.A.
_____
Other Education Programs
Educational Studies – B.A.
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Network Engineering and Security – B.S.
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree
Health Information Management – B.S. (from the Leavitt School of Health)
Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration (from the School of Business)
User Experience Design – B.S. (from the School of Business)
____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Information Technology Management – M.S.
MBA Information Technology Management (from the School of Business)
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Accounting – B.S. Business Administration
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Healthcare Administration – B.S.
Human Resource Management – B.S. Business Administration
Information Technology Management – B.S. Business Administration
Supply Chain and Operations Management – B.S.
Accelerated Information Technology Bachelor's and Master's Degree (from the School of Technology)
Health Information Management – B.S. (from the Leavitt School of Health)
_____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Human Resource Management – M.S.
Management and Leadership – M.S.
Master of Business Administration
MBA Information Technology Management
Master of Healthcare Administration (from the Leavitt School of Health)
Data Analytics – M.S. (from the School of Technology)
BACHELOR'S DEGREES
Nursing (RN to BSN online) – B.S.
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S. (Available in select states)
Health Information Management – B.S.
Health and Human Services – B.S.
Healthcare Administration – B.S. (from the School of Business)
____
MASTER'S DEGREES
Nursing – Education (BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Nursing Informatics (BSN to MSN) – M.S.
Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – M.S. (Available in select states)
Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (BSN to MSN) – M.S. (Available in select states)
Nursing – Education (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Nursing – Leadership and Management (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Nursing – Nursing Informatics (RN to MSN Option) – M.S.
Master of Healthcare Administration
MBA Healthcare Management (from the School of Business)
____
CERTIFICATES
Nursing – Education, Post-Master's Certificate
Nursing – Leadership and Management, Post-Master's Certificate
Family Nurse Practitioner— Post-Master's Certificate
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner— Post-Master's Certificate
*The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.