Do you have the intention of going to Western Governors University but have doubts due to the school’s reputation? Then this article is for you.
In this article, we will be looking at if Western Governors University is respected by employers or not, and the most important matters you need to know about the school and being a student of it. Let’s get started!
Overview
When non- for-profit schools are being talked about, there is one name that almost always turns up. It’s none other than Western Governors University, for short, it offers online classes.
However, not a lot of people are aware that the school also has campuses as well as learning centers. See Best Environmental Science Schools in the US.
While it is the good school of its kind in the US, many people are questioning the fact of whether Western Governors University is a legitimate school.
That’s because its programs and degrees are said to be not being taken seriously by employers, which is usually the case when a for-profit or online school is involved.
So, is Western Governors University legit? See if Western Governors University is a Diploma Mill.
Western Governors University is a legitimate school because it has regional accreditation, which is considered more prestigious and recognized than the national kind. Due to this, credits earned by its students are transferable to other colleges.
Because it is regionally accredited, there is no denying that Western Governors University is a legitimate school. Otherwise, it would have already lost its accreditation and been shut down, too, by now.
However, it is still operating to this date. Western Governors University is still offering classes online as well as at its many campuses and learning centers. What’s more, there are a lot of famous people who are graduates of the said school.
Some of them are politicians, businessmen, and athletes. It is unlikely for them to be successful if the school where they earned their degrees is not legitimate. See Best Masters in Journalism Program in the US.
Is Western Governors University an Accredited School?
Western Governors University Online is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
One important step you need to take before sending an application to any online school is none other than checking if it’s accredited or not.
Worry not if Western Governors University online is at the top of your list. That’s because it’s far from being a diploma mill — here’s an informative article on how to know if a college is a diploma mill.
One proof that Western Governors University online is not a diploma mill is the fact that it’s accredited by a legitimate accrediting body that provides accreditation to various US colleges and universities.
NWCCU is the one responsible for the accreditation of Western Governors University online. It’s one of the seven regional accrediting bodies in the US recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The other six are:
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
- WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
It’s not just any accreditation that Western Governors University online has — what it has is regional accreditation. Compared to national accreditation, regional accreditation is considered more prestigious. Going to a regionally accredited school comes with a few benefits, and they include:
- Education that meets or surpasses standards for quality.
- Trouble-free transfer of credits from one accredited college to the next.
- Eligibility for financial aid in the form of grants, work-study programs, loans, etc.
- Degree that’s better received and trusted by employers.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western Governors University?
The yearly tuition for a bachelor’s degree at Western Governors University costs $7,290. On the other hand, the yearly tuition for a master’s degree costs $7,570.
Western Governors University’s tuition is paid per term instead of by credit. This means that students pay the same per term regardless of the number of courses.
The steep cost of college is one of the reasons why many high school graduates choose to work rather than earn a degree.
Nowadays, the average cost of yearly tuition for a bachelor’s degree at US colleges and universities amounts to $12,705. For a master’s degree, the average cost of tuition per year is $23,138.
Clearly, the tuition cost at Western Governors University, whether for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, is significantly lower.
And the nicest thing about it is that the online school has flat-rate tuition. This means that you will pay the same amount no matter how many courses you complete each term.
To keep steep college debt at bay, Western Governors University helps its students reduce or eliminate the need to take out a loan through its Responsible Borrowing Initiative and financial aid packages and military benefits.
Conclusion
If an employer does not have a bias against an online degree, they will accept a diploma from Western Governors University.
It is regionally accredited by a recognized accrediting body. The school also appears in various legit college ranking sites and receives donations from well-known foundations.
Last Updated on May 27, 2023 by Admin