Online university recognized in annual guide for best educational options for active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses, and dependents

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Western Governors University (WGU), www.wgu.edu, has been included in the 2013 Guide to Military-Friendly Colleges & Universities by Military Advanced Education for the sixth consecutive year. Initiated in 2008, the annual guide recognizes institutions that provide the best educational options and fit for military service members, veterans, and their families.

Nonprofit and online, WGU was selected as a military-friendly school based on factors of particular interest to service members such as academic support and quality, flexibility, accessibility, and financial assistance. WGU's competency-based learning model lets students complete program requirements based on their prior work experience and academic knowledge, allowing them to accelerate through things they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn.

WGU's programs are highly portable and easily accessible; students can access coursework and learning resources 24/7 from anywhere with an Internet connection. Airman 1^st Class Ben Engel of the Air National Guard is a WGU student earning a bachelor's degree in marketing management. He says that at a traditional brick-and-mortar school there isn't much flexibility and it's common for service members to have to drop classes mid-semester for work or other priorities. "With WGU I don't have to worry—life can change at a moment's notice and I don't have to stress about it. If I get deployed, or have to travel, or go on a training mission, I can get online and work on my courses no matter where I am," Engel said. In addition to accessibility, all students are supported by one-on-one mentors through their entire degree program.          

As a military-friendly institution, WGU is an affordable option for military families. Tuition for most programs is about $6,000 per year. Students who can devote additional time to their studies can accelerate their program, saving both time and money. WGU's online degree programs are approved for tuition assistance for active-duty, reserve, and National Guard personnel. Veterans are eligible for education benefits through the G.I. Bill. Because of WGU's modest tuition, veterans will generally be eligible for benefits that more than cover the full cost of tuition, fees, and books. Additionally, WGU offers several scholarships specifically for active-duty personnel, reservists, veterans, and military spouses.

WGU offers 55 accredited online bachelor's and master's degree programs in the fields of business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. Terms are six months long and can begin on the first day of any month.

For more information about WGU and military or veterans' benefits, please visit www.wgu.edu/military.

About Western Governors University

Featured on NPR's "All Things Considered," The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, CNN's "Schools of Thought," and in The New York Times, WGU is the only university in the U.S. offering accredited, competency-based bachelor's and master's degree programs. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. WGU's Teachers College is the first and only exclusively online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation for its teacher licensure programs from NCATE, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.  The WGU bachelor's and master's nursing degree programs have been accredited by the Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and its B.S. in Health Informatics is accredited by CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education).

On June 11, 2010, WGU Indiana was created by Governor Mitch Daniels as Indiana's eighth state university. WGU Washington was established by the Washington State Legislature on April 22, 2011.  On August 3, 2011, the state of Texas created WGU Texas. WGU Indiana, WGU Washington, and WGU Texas are state-endorsed and offer degree programs that are accredited through Western Governors University.

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. More information is available at www.wgu.edu or by calling 866.225.5948.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – Director of PR
801-428-5463
jmitchell@wgu.edu

Contact for enrollment information:
866-225-5948
www.wgu.edu

SOURCE Western Governors University