WGU North Carolina Announces $150,000 in Scholarships for North Carolina Residents

RALEIGH — State-endorsed, nonprofit WGU North Carolina announced $150,000 in a scholarship program for new students in North Carolina who enroll in any of its 60 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. Applications are now being accepted through December 31, 2017, for the WGU North Carolina Take Flight Scholarship.

Each WGU North Carolina Take Flight Scholarship is valued at up to $2,000—500 per six-month term for up to four terms. To be eligible for one of these scholarships, applicants must be officially admitted to WGU North Carolina, complete the scholarship application, and be interviewed by a WGU scholarship counselor. While WGU North Carolina will award up to 75 scholarships, recipients will be selected based on their academic records, financial needs, and readiness for online study at WGU, among other considerations.

“WGU North Carolina makes it possible for more North Carolinians to earn the degrees they need to advance their careers and better provide for their families,” said Catherine Truitt, WGU North Carolina Chancellor. “The WGU North Carolina Take Flight Scholarship will expand access and help more students, particularly working adults, on the pathway to earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree.”

Earlier this month, WGU North Carolina was created through a partnership by the state and nationally recognized Western Governors University (WGU). Currently, there are more than 1,100 students in the state, and more than 2,000 North Carolinians have already graduated from WGU.

WGU North Carolina’s competency-based learning model makes it possible for working adults to fit studying into their busy lives. While WGU’s online degree programs are rigorous and challenging, students can earn their degrees without sacrificing work, family, and financial obligations. Students complete courses as soon as they demonstrate that they have mastered the materials, enabling them to move quickly through material they already know and spend more time on what they still need to learn. As a result, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing faster and saving money—the average time to complete a bachelor’s degree is about two and half years.