Back to School for Grown Ups: WGU Announces $200,000 in Scholarships

Competency-based university to award 100 scholarships to working adults going back to school

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Aug 03, 2016, 11:47 ET

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- It's back-to-school time across the country, and as kids and young adults are returning to the classroom many adult students are thinking about going back to school as well. To help busy adults take the leap in 2016, Western Governors University (WGU) is offering 100 Back-to-School Scholarships.

The scholarships, worth up to $2,000 each, will be awarded to 100 new students who are accepted to WGU by the end of the year. To be considered, prospective students must have previously completed at least 20 college credits, be admitted to WGU, and submit a scholarship application by December 31st. Applicants must also complete an essay explaining their motivation for returning to college and participate in an interview with a scholarship counselor. Students may apply for the scholarship here.

Many adults need a degree to improve their employment situation, as was the case for Donna Law from Cedar City, Utah. Donna achieved early career success as a marketing manager, but not having a college degree was making it difficult for her to advance in her career. Donna returned to school to earn her bachelor's degree at WGU while working full time, and after she graduated was promoted to executive director of her organization.

WGU's competency-based education model is designed to meet the needs of adult learners and allows students to take advantage of their knowledge and experience to move quickly through material they already know so they can focus on what they still need to learn. WGU faculty members work one-on-one with students as mentors, offering guidance, support, and individualized instruction. While WGU's degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competency-based learning makes it possible for students to accelerate their programs, saving both time and money.

The Back-to-School Scholarship is a competitive program and is for any of WGU's more than 50 bachelor's and master's degree programs in business, information technology, teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. Scholarships will be awarded based on the student's academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, as well as other considerations. The application deadline is December 31, 2016. The scholarship will be applied at the rate of $500 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, toward WGU's already-low tuition of about $3,000 per term for most programs.

About WGU

Established in 1997 with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU now serves more than 70,000 students nationwide and has 65,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation's leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. It has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and enabling the workforce needed in today's rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. The University's 2015 Annual Report is available online.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Joan Mitchell – VP of Public Relations
801-428-5463
[email protected]

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

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SOURCE Western Governors University